Creating a relative of someone else&#39;s character?
<p>I'd like to write a fiction series based on the son of a character from another novel. There were no children in the original story published in 1986, and it seems the author has retired from writing--to my great regret. 
While the son is an entirely new character, this concept would necessary entail references to the original main character as well mention of some others in that story, and also use of some of the tools used in the original.</p>

<p>That'll be breach of copyright. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>would necessarilly entail references to the original main character as
  well mention of some others in that story, and also use of some of the
  tools used in the original.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>You are using the original author's creative work, and you can't do that without a license.</p>

<p>Sorry, no authoritative reference for that but I <em>am</em> confident of its accuracy in England and Wales.  Other jurisdictions <em>might</em> have other rules, but I would be slightly surprised.</p>

copyright