So I've been writing a comedy novel (it's also sci-fi thus this post's placement) but I've had this plot twist in mind where a real famous historial figure (but not that historical only died in 1973) turns out to be an alien and actually still alive and the protagonist meets him. There are various reasons surrounding this (my novel revolves around conspiracy theorys to some extent), and it's only supposed to be funny, a little bad-taste perhaps and I can see that this could easily be seen as spreading lies about this person and I could see it being a legal problem.
I can remember kind of similar things beeing done before with little problem though, Kennedy in Red Dwarf series 7 Tikka to Ride comes to mind...
So now i'm thinking of making it a fictional character but bacing it on that person.... what do people here think? think im evil and insane? I was planning on presenting him in a good light which people have not done in many articles about him.... I'm lost. Help...
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50,113 / 50,000
Mar 9, 2008 - 15 17
I can't see a problem with using the real person. Men in black did it with Evlis and Denis Rodman as well as many others.
If you like humerous Sci-fi. Check out the Hal Spacejock series of books www.spacejock.com.au - Simon Haynes is a brilliant writer and a member of Nano.
Jeff
77,000 / 50,000
Mar 10, 2008 - 07 32
If the person is dead I believe you're in the clear. The dead can't sue you for libel and neither can their ancestors.
50,223 / 50,000
Mar 10, 2008 - 19 05
If they're dead, it's not a problem. If it's obviously fictional, it's not a problem either. I don't think anyone is going to seriously believe so-and-so was an alien from reading your novel. :P
1,516 / 50,000
Mar 11, 2008 - 20 41
What about their descendants?
32,310 / 50,000
Mar 12, 2008 - 10 04
Check out a movie called Bubba Ho-Tep. If they could get away with making a movie in which an aged Elvis Presley and a guy who thinks he's Jack Kennedy team up against a mummy, then I think you're probably safe.