"Mary Sue"

[greygirlbeast]

So, a while back, I came across a nitwit somewhere online who described Echo, a character I wrote in The Dreaming, as a "Mary Sue." Previous to seeing this particular comment, my familiarity with the phrase was extremely limited. Indeed, I only had some vague impression that it was used by writers of fan fic who wished to complain about characters

Comments

[martianmooncrab]

every time I read the words Mary Sue, I cue up the Buddy Holly song, and hear "hello Mary Sue, Goodbye Heart".. and not in a good way either..

[octoberland]

I wish you were coming to Pi-Con. :( We're doing a panel on Mary Sues. I just recently discovered that Litmus test myself.

Ah, well. Have fun bowling. :)

[highway_west]

Keep in mind that several very popular fiction characters that have lasted decades would not pass such tests.

For example, The Batman, Sherlock Homes, Nero Wolfe.

[greygirlbeast]

I think this is one of the points I'm making here. And it indicates the deep flaws with the concept of "Mary Sues."

[b4_sunshine]

That test is really stupid. I tried to use it to test one of my characters but I couldn't get past the first question. What if you just want to give your character a name?

[greygirlbeast]

What if you just want to give your character a name?

Then it should be a very ordinary name, and one that's not your own, and not a noun. Unless, of course, these things are commonplace in the world of your character. Or something like that. Did I mention how dumb this is?

[b4_sunshine]

Oh, but don't forget it had better not be a name that you like.

[greygirlbeast]

Oh, but don't forget it had better not be a name that you like.

Yes! Right!

[ardiril]

Weird. The main character in my current story is supposed to be a Mary Sue, although I only first heard that phrase when you mentioned it the other day. Anyway, Ali only scored a 16!

[ardiril]

Oh, I just realized that Ali's middle name is Sue. heheh
Yes, her full name is Alexandria Suzanne Day. shudder
I think I will just slink off and hide for the night.

[greygirlbeast]

I've taken lots of shit over the years for character names. But Dancy Flammarion could never be anything but Dancy Flammarion. Same with Chance Matthews, Soldier, Deacon Silvey, Salmagundi and Salammbô Desvernine, Jimmy DeSade, Magwitch, Constance Hopkins, Spyder Baxter, Starling Jane, Scarborough Pentecost, Sailor Li, Lark and Crispin, and so on and on and on...

[ardiril]

Just between you and me, Ali's original name was Veronica Dearheart.