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Q&A Can I publish a book based on the Library of Babel?

The idea that inspired you has a Wikipedia page! Let me narrow down your question from (basically): Can I take another author's idea and base a book on it? to Can I use a well-known sett...

posted 5y ago by Cyn‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:40:34Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40836
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T10:23:22Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/40836
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T10:23:22Z (over 4 years ago)
The idea that inspired you has a Wikipedia page!

Let me narrow down your question from (basically):

> Can I take another author's idea and base a book on it?

to

> Can I use a well-known setting and place my novel inside it?

You aren't using Borges' characters or plots. It's not like writing a story inside, say, the Harry Potter universe. You're still doing all the hard work. Lots of stories use settings from other authors.

Normally I'd say, go ask the author. But obviously this is impossible in this case. So yeah, I think you're on solid ground here.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-12-20T01:58:32Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 3