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Mary Sue (or simply Sue) is a pejorative expression for a fictional character who is an idealized stand-in for the author, or for a story with such a character. Originally, the Mary Sue concept came out of Star Trek fan fiction and described an original female character who had a romantic liaison with an established, "canon" character, particularly if she possessed unrealistic or unlikely traits above and beyond those expected of a character in that particular series, or a conventional author surrogate. However, as of 2005 author surrogate characters are also being defined as Mary Sue. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A fictional character is any person who appears in a work of fiction. ... http://www. ... Fan fiction (also spelled fanfiction and commonly abbreviated to fanfic) is fiction written by people who enjoy a film, novel, television show or other media work, using the characters and situations developed in it and developing new plots in which to use these characters. ... Jump to: navigation, search In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ... As a literary technique, an author surrogate is a character who expresses the ideas, questions, personality and morality of the author. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Another definition states that Mary Sue is any original character who possesses unusual qualities, parentage, or appearance — particularly in, but not limited to, science fiction or fantasy, (whether original or fan fiction). By this definition, Ged from Ursula K. LeGuin's Earthsea tales, Lessa of Anne McCaffrey's Pern stories, Vanyel of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series, Rudyard Kipling's intrepid orphan Kim, and Elminster from Ed Greenwood's "Forgotten Realms" novels and RPG setting, are all Mary Sues. Some have gone further, changing previously understood definitions, and have begun to define any original characters in fiction as Mary Sue. Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... Jump to: navigation, search Look up fantasy on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Fan fiction (also spelled fanfiction and commonly abbreviated to fanfic) is fiction written by people who enjoy a film, novel, television show or other media work, using the characters and situations developed in it and developing new plots in which to use these characters. ... Ged is the main protagonist in Ursula Le Guins Earthsea book series. ... Ursula K. Le Guin at an informal bookstore Q&A session, July 2004 Ursula Kroeber Le Guin (born October 21, 1929), is an American author. ... Earthsea is a fictional realm that was created by Ursula K. Le Guin for her short story The Word of Unbinding, published in 1964, but became more famous in her novel A Wizard of Earthsea, first published in 1968. ... Jump to: navigation, search At the 63rd World Science Fiction Convention in Glasgow, August 2005 Anne Inez McCaffrey (born April 1, 1926) is an American science fiction author best known for her Dragonriders of Pern series. ... Pern is a fictional planet in the universe created by science fiction writer Anne McCaffrey for her Dragonriders of Pern series of novels. ... Mercedes Lackey (born June 24, 1950) (also known as Misty Lackey) is a prolific American author of fantasy novels. ... Several kings in Denmark and Sweden were named Valdemar: Valdemar I of Sweden Valdemar I of Denmark (Valdemar the Great) Valdemar II of Denmark (Valdemar the Victorious) Valdemar III of Denmark Valdemar IV of Denmark (Valdemar Atterdag) The fictional country of Valdemar is the setting for a number of books... Rudyard Kipling, British author Joseph Rudyard Kipling (December 30, 1865 – January 18, 1936) was a British author and poet, born in India. ... This article is about the novel by Rudyard Kipling. ... Jump to: navigation, search Symbol of Elminster Elminster Aumar, the Sage of Shadowdale, is a powerful wizard in the Forgotten Realms, a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. ... Ed Greenwood (born 1959) is a Canadian library clerk who invented the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. ... The Forgotten Realms Second Edition logo. ...

Male "Sues" may be called "Marty Stus", "Murray Stus", "Harry Stus", and/or "Gary Stus", although the original "Mary Sue" term is often considered unisex. A rarer unisex variant is "Airy Ooh". Authors of such characters (of either sex) are sometimes referred to as Suethors. Male symbol Male is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces sperm. ... Gender-blind (or unisex) is a term describing activities undertaken and services provided without regard to the sex of those who participate. ...

In fan fiction, Mary Sue characters are usually the original creation of the author, but sometimes "canon Sues" are created by adapting pre-existing canon characters. Conversely, such original or adapted characters are not necessarily Mary Sues. The Peter Jairus Frigate character of the Riverworld series, for instance, is deliberately based on his author but rarely the focus of the story (unlike Tom Sawyer, for instance — a Mary Sue by 2005 standards). However, there are a great number of what many fans think of as pre-existing Sues in canon, particularly in Japanese anime cartoons, Japanese manga comic books, and roleplaying video games (which often include complex stories). Riverworld is a fictional universe and the setting for a series of science fiction books written by Philip José Farmer. ... For Tom Sawyer, British politician and trade unionist, see Tom Sawyer, Baron Sawyer Tom Sawyer is the protagonist of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and a character in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, two Mark Twain novels. ... Jump to: navigation, search A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation, sometimes referred to by the portmanteau Japanimation. ... Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version) Manga (漫画) is the Japanese word for comics and/or cartoons (not necessarily animated, this includes print cartoons); outside of Japan, it usually refers specifically to Japanese comics. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ...

Some fan critics believe that young writers tend to create "narcissistic" Sues and "unintentional" Sues (characters that develop into Sues due to the author's supposed subconscious) desires. Some authors now write Mary Sues deliberately as a form of parody. Narcissism is the pattern of traits and behaviors which involve infatuation and obsession with ones self to the exclusion of others and the egotistic and ruthless pursuit of ones gratification, dominance and ambition. ... The unconscious mind (or subconscious) is the aspect or aspects of the mind of which we are not directly conscious or aware. ... Jump to: navigation, search In contemporary usage, parody is a form of satire that imitates another work of art in order to ridicule it. ...

Typical Sues

The stereotypical Mary Sue may be tougher, smarter, and cooler than the established characters and so win their admiration. Alternately, the Sue may be nicer, sweeter, and more charming than the established characters (often despite being tortured by a tragic past) and win their love. Either way, the setting's protagonists are upstaged by the new character's perfection. If this new character dies in the story (typically as an act of self-sacrifice), other characters may memorialize her with excessive grieving.

Mary Sue characters are generally marked by overdescription with extraneous, seemingly tacked-on paragraphs describing in great detail their distinctive appearance or possessions, even if they have no significance for the plot and seem out of place. For example, a Mary Sue would not merely be said to carry a gun. The model, color, appearance, and special features of the gun would be described all at once.

Characters who are perceived as Mary Sues are abundant in both fanfiction and actual series, particularly Japanese anime cartoons. Miaka Yūki from Fushigi Yūgi, Hitomi Kanzaki from Vision of Escaflowne, Aerith from Final Fantasy VII, and Lacus Clyne from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED are canonical main characters who demonstrate possession of some, if not all, of the typical Mary Sue traits (arguably, one should expect to find unusual beauty and amazing gifts among anime characters male or female). Some readers of the Harry Potter series also accuse the characters Hermione Granger (an admitted author surrogate of JK Rowling) and Ginny Weasley of being Mary Sues. Jump to: navigation, search A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation, sometimes referred to by the portmanteau Japanimation. ... The Cast of Fushigi Yugi Fushigi YÅ«gi (ふしぎ遊戯; lit. ... The Vision of Escaflowne ( Japanese: 天空のエスカフローネ;Tenkū no Esukafurōne or Escaflowne of the Heavens) is a 26-episode anime television series by Sunrise. ... Jump to: navigation, search Aerith Gainsborough (formerly Aeris Gainsborough and originally Aerith Gainsbourg), is a major character from the role playing game Final Fantasy VII, and one of the main playable characters. ... Jump to: navigation, search Final Fantasy VII is a console and computer role-playing game released by Square Co. ... Jump to: navigation, search Lacus Clyne Lacus Clyne is a character from the anime series Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny. ... Title of the series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (or Gundam SEED) is an anime television series from Japan. ... Jump to: navigation, search Cover of the original novel in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. ... Jump to: navigation, search Hermione Jane Granger (born 19 September 1979) is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series of books. ... Joanne Rowling OBE (born July 31, 1965 in Chipping Sodbury, South Gloucestershire), commonly known as J.K. Rowling (pronunciation: roll-ing; her former students used to joke with her name calling her the Rolling Stone), is a British fiction writer. ... Ginevra Ginny Molly Weasley (born August 11 1981)[1][2] is a fictional character in the Harry Potter series. ...

Common traits of Mary Sues in fanfiction:

• Has only sympathetic flaws; Mary Sues may be paraplegic, or dangerously naïve, but are very rarely selfish or petty-minded. Alternatively, they may be outspoken, even rude, and get away with it.
• Can do no wrong - or, if she does do anything wrong, has strong justification for it.
• Distinctive physical features (odd-coloured eyes, birthmarks, scars, etc.).
• Owns an unusual pet (especially, 'one that only she could tame').
• Deliberately exotic name.
• Name based on that of the author (such as an anagram).
• Cultural/racial background very different from her peers (often adopted out of her culture).
• Deeply traumatic past.
• Attitudes contemporary to the author in a setting where these are unheard of.
• Close relationship with a major canonical character (long-lost brother, etc.).
• Unwanted connection to a canonical antagonist (virtuous daughter who rebels against her evil father, etc.).
• Well-liked by all the canonical protagonists.
• Powers or abilities closely paralleling those of a major canon character.
• Centrally involved in every part of the story.
• Invokes powers impossible (or at least unheard-of) in the canon.
• If the published universe is set in a different country to the one the author is from, the Mary Sue will probably be from the author's country of origin.
• Unusually young compared to the canon characters, especially when the author is young too. May have skills that are less likely in a person that young.
• If much of the tension in a series is largely dependent upon a sequence of ongoing character flaws and misunderstandings (such as the works of Rumiko Takahashi), the Mary Sue character almost invariably possesses a 'big picture' view that allows them to solve all of these little problems, thereby sewing up the series in a happily-ever-after fashion.

None of these traits in and of themselves make a Mary Sue by the old standard definition. For example, basing a character on oneself, with no other distinguishing traits and no romantic involvement, was once considered acceptable. Rather, a Sue depends on the author's reliance on such gimmicks to make a character unique and appealing. Jump to: navigation, search An anagram (Greek ana- = back or again, and graphein = to write) is a type of word play, the result of rearranging the letters of a word or phrase to produce other words, using all the original letters exactly once. ... Rumiko Takahashi (高橋 留美子 Takahashi Rumiko, October 10, 1957– ) is a Japanese manga artist. ...

In the world of fantasy, anime, and comic-book or manga literature, in which over-the-top characters, powers, and situations are quite normal, it is obviously necessary to be cautious about labeling a character a Mary Sue simply because she possesses one or more of the above traits; they are all recognized plot elements from legitimate stories. For example, the orphan adopted out of her culture, who seems unusual to the people around her, is the subject of many fairytales. And, of course, unusual people exist in real life. One has to measure the "possible Mary Sue" elements for appropriateness in the context of the canon (if fan fiction) or the general setting of the story (if original).

Another "yardstick" used to see if a character is considered to be a Mary Sue is character reaction. For example, if a character is impossibly beautiful or talented, at least some other characters are likely to be envious or jealous of her. In Mary Sue fanfiction, this tends not to occur. Jealous characters, if they appear at all, are often female canon characters whom the author intensely dislikes. Their behavior is invariably vicious, cruel, and completely out of character.

It is also worth noting that the "perfection" of a Mary Sue is first and foremost in the eyes of the author, not of the audience. A Mary Sue may have obvious flaws, but the author will not percieve or portray them as being flaws and will likely have such traits considered endearing rather than annoying by the canonical characters.

Controversy exists as to what exactly constitutes "impossibly beautiful or talented". For example, a fan critic on a Lord of the Rings mailing list stated that any female character who used a sword well, particularly if she could outfight male characters, was a Mary Sue, because (she claimed) differences in male and female physiology make it impossible for a woman to use a sword well. This writer was undoubtedly unaware of the many hundreds if not thousands of women warriors in recorded history (to say nothing of the Lord of the Rings canonical character Eowyn, who is a female warrior), or that swordsmanship was even considered healthy exercise for girls in late Victorian times. One of the Mary Sue litmus tests states that a character must not speak several languages fluently, particularly if they include languages not understood by the main canonical characters, but that is not an impossible trait in real life. Dust jacket of the 1968 UK edition The Lord of the Rings is an epic fantasy story by J. R. R. Tolkien, a sequel to his earlier work, The Hobbit. ... Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Accession to the Throne, June 20, 1837) gave her name to the historic era. ...

Sueification

"Sueification" is a name that has been applied to the transformation of a canon character to fit the writer's preferences. The character is likely to lose the traits the writer finds uninteresting or unappealing, and to gain characteristics which the writer likes but which the character had previously not possessed and which are radically out of character. Perhaps the most prevalent example is the transformation of Hermione Granger, as seen in a number of Harry Potter fanfics. In a randomly selected story readers are likely to find Hermione with her bushy brown hair straightened and "raven black"; wearing extremely revealing clothing rather than the canonical school robes; disclosing that her father abuses or molests her; learning that she is adopted and "really" a pureblood witch (not muggle-born); abandoning her beloved books and studies in favor of fashion and flirtation; "re-sorted" into a school House other than Gryffindor; romantically or sexually involved with Draco Malfoy or another character; or any combination of these. Fan Speculation sometimes states that J.K. Rowling herself may have been guilty of "sueifying" Hermione by having her allow the school physician to reduce her slightly overlarge front teeth (after she had been cursed with very large beaver teeth) in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire; however, this is not true, as Hermione states that she had been trying to convince her parents to let her do so for a long time. Jump to: navigation, search Blood purity is a concept in the fictional Harry Potter book series. ... The word Muggles has several different meanings A Muggle is a term from the fictional Harry Potter series of books which refers to a human with no magical abilities who doesnt belong to a wizarding family. ... In the Harry Potter series, the Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry is divided into four houses, each bearing the last name of its founder: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw and Helga Hufflepuff. ... << Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix >> This article is about the book. ...

A variant of this is the "Author's Pet", where a canon character gains new powers or abilities that they had not displayed in the original source material, making them more powerful or capable than the other characters. In many cases, this will be a character written into a relationship with a Mary Sue character, and the powers will mirror those possessed by the Mary Sue. For example, if a Mary Sue had the ability to transform into a dragon, while the "author's pet" could not, the canon character would also gain that ability. It is easy to see how this type of "powering up" could be carried to extremes, and such authors run the risk of painting themselves into a Superman-like corner (Kryptonite was invented by Superman's writers because he had become too invincible). However, for a canonical character to learn new skills can also contribute to character growth, as long as the new skills or abilities are not too excessive. Jump to: navigation, search Chinese dragon, colour engraving on wood, Japanese Chinese school, 19th Century A dragon is a mythological creature, typically depicted as a large and powerful serpent or other reptile, with magical or spiritual qualities. ... Jump to: navigation, search Superman, nicknamed The Man of Steel, is a fictional character and superhero who first appeared in Action Comics #1 in June of 1938 and eventually became one of the most popular and well-known comic book icons of all time. ...

Gary Stu

Gary Stus (also known as Marty Stus) are far rarer in fan fiction, partly because this genre is predominantly written by women. Some have also observed [1] that Gary Stus tend to be written into the canon already, enabling them to "hide in plain sight". Again, there is considerable controversy over whether or not an author surrogate, even an idealized one, can be considered a Mary Sue.

Oftentimes canonical Gary Stus, like Mary Sues, tend to have special abilities, or have powers which far exceed that of other characters. As it is quite common for the leading male characters of fantasy narrative, film, comic books and manga, and shōnen (male-oriented) anime, to have such qualities, it must be difficult to tell when they have become Gary Stus. A certain amount of sexual prejudice appears to exist in that a female canonical character with unusual gifts is much more likely to be labeled a Mary Sue than a male with the same gifts.

Gary Stu-type characters are not limited to anime. While it has often been said that Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan character demonstrates many Gary Stu-esque qualities, Clive Cussler has, in fact, taken the Gary Stu to a new level in his Dirk Pitt series of books. Apparently named after Cussler's own son Dirk, the character of Dirk Pitt maintains many of Cussler's own hobbies, including maritime archeology and collecting antique automobiles. However, Cussler has also directly written himself into many of his novels in the form of minor scenes where Pitt receives aid, often crucial, from a character named Clive Cussler. Suspiciously, Pitt never seems to link these meetings together although he often thinks that Cussler looks familiar. Whether this is Mary Sue activity or simply an author having a bit of fun dialoguing with his characters is a matter of speculation. Jump to: navigation, search A scene from Cowboy Bebop (1998) Anime (アニメ) is Japanese animation, sometimes referred to by the portmanteau Japanimation. ... Tom Clancy Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. ... Spoiler warning: Jack Ryan (full name John Patrick Ryan, Lt. ... Clive Cussler (born July 15, 1931 in Alhambra, California) is an American adventure novelist. ... Jump to: navigation, search Dirk Pitt is a fictional character, the primary protagonist of a series of bestselling adventure novels written by Clive Cussler. ...

This sort of cultural self-reference within fiction is not uncommon: the most famous example is probably Hunter S. Thompson, whose main character was also called Hunter S. Thompson. Richard Brautigan did it several times as did J.D. Salinger, and Ben Hecht in his plays about newspaper life. Controversy exists as to whether or not this constitutes Mary Sue activity. Jump to: navigation, search Hunter S. Thompson (Photo by Allen G. Arpadi) Hunter Stockton Thompson (July 18, 1937 – February 20, 2005) was an American journalist and author. ... Richard Gary Brautigan (January 30, 1935 - September 1984) was an American writer, best known for the novel Trout Fishing in America. ... Jerome David Salinger (born January 1, 1919) is an American author best known for The Catcher in the Rye, a classic coming-of-age story that has enjoyed enduring popularity since its publication in 1951. ... Jump to: navigation, search Ben Hecht (February 28, 1894 – April 18, 1964) was one of the most prolific of all Hollywood screenwriters, even though he professed disdain for the motion picture industry, and a human rights and Zionism activist. ...

A Gary Stu is somewhat different from a Mary Sue in that his perfections tend to be less oriented on personality and more on physical traits, skill, or expertise. For example, some Gary Stus are very strong, skilled swordfighters, expert wizards, or legendary heroes with scars who often attract female characters within the story. Most are designed to fill either the role of dangerous action hero or caring, supportive lover. In addition to Mary Sue traits such as unusual background and lack of flaws, the following features are common:

• Dark, brooding, quiet, mysterious, tormented, or otherwise enigmatic, with a dark or tormented past — often showing none of the psychological damage that such a past should inflict; sometimes being almost comic relief silly (according to this definition, some would say that Himura of Rurouni Kenshin is a kind of Gary Stu).
• Either a devoted, monogamous lover, or an accomplished, "badass" action hero
• Plenty of gadgets; accompanied by lists of weapons, technology, etc.
• Penchant for violence or skill in battle (sometimes to the point of seeming sociopathic)
• Reluctant warrior, caught up in a conflict he's not ready for (for example, Luke Skywalker from Star Wars)
• "Strong but sensitive" alpha male type (for example, Wolverine from the X-Men)
• An attractive young ephebe who has earned the respect of his much older companions through his genius-level intelligence and/or skills (for example, Darren Shan from Cirque Du Freak).

Jump to: navigation, search Rurouni Kenshin manga, volume 1 (English version). ... Luke Skywalker (born 19 BBY) is a fictional character of the Star Wars Universe, a Jedi Knight, who plays a major role in the series of films. ... Star Wars began with a 13-page treatment for a space adventure movie which George Lucas drafted in 1973, inspired from multiple myths and classic stories. ... An alpha male or alpha female is the individual in the community to whom the others follow and defer. ... Binomial name Gulo gulo (Linnaeus, 1758) The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is the largest species of the Mustelidae or weasel family, and is also called the Glutton or Carcajou. ... The X-Men are a group of comic book superheroes featured in Marvel Comics. ... EPHEBOS (often in the plural EPHEBOI), also anglicized as EPHEBE, is a Greek word for an adolescent age group or a social status reserved for that age in Antiquity. ... Jump to: navigation, search Darren Shan in Sydney, Australia during a promotional event. ... Cirque du Freak is childrens book series written by Darren Shan. ...

Notable Sue facts

Pat Pflieger's essay "Too Good to be True: 150 Years of Mary Sue" trace the Mary Sue archetype to the idealized young heroines of stories written by the female subscribers to mid-19th century magazines. The much-abused Elsie Dinsmore might be considered a Mary Sue for her perfect, doll-like appearance, extreme wealth, and religious piety, as might the innocent heroine of Ouida's tearjerker Two Little Wooden Shoes and a great many of Charles Dickens's characters. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Caricature of Ouida (Punch, August 20, 1881) Ouida (January 7, 1839 – January 25, 1908) was the pen name of the English novelist Maria Louise Ramé (although she preferred to be known as Marie Louise de la Ramée). ... Jump to: navigation, search Charles Dickens used his rich imagination, sense of humour and detailed memories, particularly of his childhood, to enliven his fiction. ...

Television shows that have generated large bodies of fan fiction have included episodes that draw on the Mary Sue clichés, including the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Hollow Pursuits" and the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode "Superstar". The X-Files character Leyla Harrison, featured in the episodes "Alone" and "Scary Monsters", was both a Mary Sue and an affectionate tribute to a recently-deceased fanfiction writer after whom the character was named. The title as it appeared in most episodes opening credits. ... Jump to: navigation, search Buffy, the Vampire Slayer was a U.S. television series based on the original script for the 1992 movie of the same name. ... Superstar is the seventeenth episode of season four of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. ... X-Files intro from first 8 seasons The X-Files was a popular 1990s American science fiction television series created by Chris Carter. ... Leyla Harrison is a fictional character in two episodes of the long-running television program The X-Files. ...

Some fans have suggested that Star Trek's Wesley Crusher was Gene Roddenberry's Mary Sue character; others state that author surrogate would be a better term, but in view of Wesley's ultimate apotheosis this is still controversial. Other canon characters who have Mary Sue-like traits include Willow Rosenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Kitty Pryde of the X-Men. Both characters are extremely intelligent Jewish women who become highly proficient in their chosen fields and who have less than ideal family lives. http://www. ... Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek Eugene Wesley Roddenberry (August 19, 1921 – October 24, 1991) was born in El Paso, Texas, USA, and spent his boyhood in Los Angeles, California. ... Apotheosis of French soldiers fallen in the liberation war, Anne-Louis Girodet de Roussy-Trioson, beginning of 19th century. ... Willow Rosenberg is a fictional character in the popular television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, played by Alyson Hannigan. ... Shadowcat (Katherine Kitty Pryde) is a comic book superhero in the Marvel Comics universe. ... The X-Men are a group of comic book superheroes featured in Marvel Comics. ...

Diane Carey's "Piper" Star Trek novels (Dreadnought! and Battlestations!) meet most of the criteria defining Mary Sue fiction, and while some fan critics express annoyance at Miss Piper's antics, others consider her to be among the very few Mary Sues good enough to avoid general condemnation. Another well-written Mary Sue is the "Dorothy and Myfanwy" series by Dorothy Jones, which appeared in the early fanzine T-Negative.

The term Mary Sue is often said to have originated from a piece of Star Trek fanfiction about a character named Mary Sue. That story was actually a parody: "A Trekkie's Tale", written by Paula Smith and published in the fanzine Menagerie #2 in 1973. (Source: Verba's Boldly Writing).

Roz Kaveney used the term in her review of the television program Doctor Who in the April 29, 2005 issue of The Times Literary Supplement: "[Rose] is also what is commonly known as a "Mary Sue" — an unironic reflection of the writers' and fans' desire to get in there and help the Doctor out (while managing to stay pretty)." Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television at 5:15 p. ... The Times Literary Supplement (or TLS) is a weekly literary review published in London by News International, a subsidiary of News Corporation. ...

One of the pre-made characters in The Sims 2 is named "Mary-Sue". The Sims 2 is a strategy/simulation computer game from Maxis and is the sequel to the popular game The Sims. ...

External links

• "Too Good to be True: 150 Years of Mary Sue" Essay
• Mary Sue and Family in Fanfiction
• The Official Mary Sue Manual
• Boldly Writing By Joan Verba. A description of Star Trek fan fiction through the decades, including a detailed examination of the Mary Sue concept. "A Trekker's Tale" by Paula Smith is reprinted in this book. (PDF available online)
• The Essential Guide to Mary-Sue
• Self-Insertion and Mary-Sueism examines the difference between a Mary Sue and a character based on the author - and why there often is none.
• The Universal Mary Sue Litmus Test A quiz that supposedly enables writers to judge if a character is a Mary Sue or not.
• Who is Mary Sue?
• A Historical Perspective on Mary Sue: Issues and Trends A chronological description of how the concept has been approached in fan fiction communities, particularly Star Trek, since its inception.
• Mary Sue fannish definion and Mary Sue Revisited essay at KatSpace.org
• Shameless Setteis A critique of the Mary Sue concept, pointing out the fact that at least the anime and manga genres are supposed to contain improbable characters.
• The Official Mary Sue Society Avatar Appreciation Site
• Livejournal Community where people post reviews of the worst Mary Sues.