Literary Resuscitation

I read an article today in the WaPo about how three book franchises: The Hitchhiker's Guide the Galaxy, Dracula and Winnie the Pooh are all being presented with sequels, years after the creators of those characters have died. What I find so fascinating is the idea that those who hold those literary properties in trust would allow others to add to the authors' original legacy. I'm not saying it's right or wrong (although, the idea of anyone other than A.A. Milne writing Pooh gives me the shivers), I guess I'm just wondering, would romance authors who have written famous franchises allow someone else to write their characters?

For example, I can't imagine that Nora Roberts would say to another author, "Go ahead and write an in Death book." Even after her death (knock on wood), I can't imagine allowing someone else to continue the series. Although the source material for Eve and Roarke is copious. We know a ton about this histories, their personalities, those closest to them. But I'm not sure that another author could recreate the tone of Dallas, or the romance of their relationship.

Or how about JR Ward, who has such a particular voice that she employs with her books. Plus, the arc of the mythology in the Black Dagger Brotherhood's world seems so particular.

All that being said, there have been several movie franchises that have changed directors. The most recent (and IMO one of those most successful) is the Star Trek franchise. This summer's version of the movie is almost universally adored (I saw it twice, and loved it each time), and while hard core fans were nervous about the movie before it came out, the response to it was overwhelmingly positive.

So I put the question to you.

What do you think about literary resuscitation? OK for another author to pick up where one has left off (with appropriate permissions, of course), and keep the franchise going? Are there series where this has been undertaken successfully?