I'm a thief or not?

Sir.
Firstly, I'm very grateful for all of Your work. Reading of Your books, especialy Honor Harrington series or Dahak series, is the best way to relax for me.
Secondly, I need some explanation, because I'm at the crossroads. I'm writing novel in Your Universe, Dahak specify, since May 2007. But I feel like a thief, because it is not my imagination, but Yours. I take many of characters from first Dahak Trilogy and my ideas to make new novel, which, maybe, become new Dahak book in the future. Unluckily, my conscience is revolting about that.
So, I'm a thief or not?
Please, explain my problem. Should I contact You first? Or stop writing? I don't know what to do now.

And, please, forgive me my mistakes, I'm from Poland.

I'm not DW, I don't represent either him or Baen Books,
but I can tell you what we regulars on his forums know,
which is that David Weber does NOT allow anyone to
write in his Universes without his permission.

Sorry, Kthaara, but that is the way it is,
much to the frustration of many here.

If you could develop an interest in Eric Flint's 163x
Universe, then you are allowed to write stories set
there. He has a special magazine that sometimes buys
such stories, if they are good enough. At least one
Pole is already contributing ideas to it.
Learn more at that the Baen's Bar Website,
bar.baen.com
in the forum called 1632 Tech Manual.

Howard T. Map-addict

Kthaara wrote:Sir.
Firstly, I'm very grateful for all of Your work. Reading of Your books, especialy Honor Harrington series or Dahak series, is the best way to relax for me.
Secondly, I need some explanation, because I'm at the crossroads. I'm writing novel in Your Universe, Dahak specify, since May 2007. But I feel like a thief, because it is not my imagination, but Yours. I take many of characters from first Dahak Trilogy and my ideas to make new novel, which, maybe, become new Dahak book in the future. Unluckily, my conscience is revolting about that.
So, I'm a thief or not?
Please, explain my problem. Should I contact You first? Or stop writing? I don't know what to do now.

And, please, forgive me my mistakes, I'm from Poland.

I'm not David Weber either.

First, as the Map-addict said, David Weber doesn't want 'fan-fiction' of his work posted anyplace he may visit.

Second, as long as you are writing in David Weber's worlds for your enjoyment and don't post it where David Weber may see it, I personally don't think there's a problem.

However, I read your comment as implying that you are writing a story in the Dahak universe using David's characters and are going to try selling the story to a publisher.

No publisher will knowingly purchase a story using another author's characters or world unless the other author gives written permission.

Writing a Dahak story for your own enjoyment doesn't make you a thief, but selling a Dahak story without David Weber's permission would make you a thief.

Kthaara wrote:Sir.
Firstly, I'm very grateful for all of Your work. Reading of Your books, especialy Honor Harrington series or Dahak series, is the best way to relax for me.
Secondly, I need some explanation, because I'm at the crossroads. I'm writing novel in Your Universe, Dahak specify, since May 2007. But I feel like a thief, because it is not my imagination, but Yours. I take many of characters from first Dahak Trilogy and my ideas to make new novel, which, maybe, become new Dahak book in the future. Unluckily, my conscience is revolting about that.
So, I'm a thief or not?
Please, explain my problem. Should I contact You first? Or stop writing? I don't know what to do now.

And, please, forgive me my mistakes, I'm from Poland.

I had a similar problem (sort of) but with the opposite twist. For my own amusement, I was writing a short story based around the concept of parallel realities. I'd done several chapters (enough to prove to myself that I wasn't cut out to be a professional writer) when the Hell's Gate series was released, parallelling my basic concept to a degree best described as freaky. As such, I simply tacked on a final chapter hinting that my creation was linked to the Hell's Gate multiverse, then buried the file.

Since I lack the skill to keep to a story-plan or do proper characterisation, the situation described is not really applicable to me, but to all budding authors, I would suggest the following.

1) It is a heck of a lot harder to use someone else's characters well than it is to create and use your own.
2) Do not try to use a professional author's characters/scenarios UNLESS you are a recognised professional author yourself (with a contract to a publishing house) and you have the Author's approval in advance.

Awaiting comments.

Thanks for explanation.
But I realize, it will be hard to stop. My story is so complex (over 37000 words) already to cut it of. Many plots need endings. How can I got permision to write?
And, pardon, my last words are not precise. It's not about money. I do it for my own satisfaction. But, MAYBE in future, with PERMISION of David Weber, I will be allowed to publish it.
Of course, my part of The Dahak Story is in Polish.

BTW I prepared long letter to David Weber about that, but I see is very hard to contact him already.

Kthaara.