Julia said:
Just to settle this one by reference to external factors - Tanith Lee has stated in an interview that she saw Avon as walking death wish. (No, I don't have access to the interview at the moment - I did transcribe it a few years ago, but I have enough respect for copyright not to put it up for public access and I don't have access to my files at the moment.)
As for respect for copyrights--US copyright law permits "fair use," and the very first examples given are "criticism, comment, news reporting." Non-commercial use of a reasonable portion of a copyrighted work in a context like this would therefore almost certainly be considered a non- infringing fair use.
-(Y)
"Gentlemen, please adjust your stress before leaving the room"