[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: More on Mary Sue

[YUkon28209]

Alice asked about Mary Sues, and Abigail wrote:

>Ah, Mary Sue.  {great explanation snipped}
>
>There are some hilarious, and several serious, discussions of Mary 
>Sue online...

If anyone's interested... I recently read a great article available 
online at http://www.merrycoz.org/papers/MARYSUE.HTM, called "150 
Years of Mary Sue," that suggests these type of stories have been 
around a lot longer than Star Trek. Some of the early science fiction 
stories written by fans in the '30s through '50s (like "Slan") spring 
to mind.

Also, I feel duty-bound to note that the male of the species is often 
called "Marty Stu" (yuk, yuk, yuk). I wish I could find where I read 
it, but there was another great article online that noted James Bond 
as being an example of a mainstream Mary Sue-ish character: handsome, 
brilliant, worshipped by women everywhere, adventurous, witty, looks 
great in a suit.

In Star Trek fiction, two authors - Diane Carey and Janet Keegan - 
were singled out as having written pro novels with "Mary Sue" 
characters. One of the things that I've always enjoyed about HP is 
how direct Rowling's been about her similarity to Hermione (and if I 
remember correctly, Ron's based on her best friend from childhood). 
But Hermione isn't a Mary Sue, even if she is a bit of Rowling's 
alter ego - she's too lovably flawed (which is why she's also my 
favorite character).

YUkon 28209
(My first posting, please don't bite)
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