Yeah, Mary Sue is usually stronger than that. They have to be the main focus. Side characters really can’t be Mary Sues unless they essentially take over.
And, no, Mary Sue does not necessarily mean an author insert–the main thing is that they are perfect in a story-breaking way. And The Pollyanna refers to people who are always happy. They are far from perfect.
We should create a new term.
Call them a Beth or a Wesley Crusher. See if it catches on.
Which is funny, because in real life Thomas Malory was quite the criminal. I believe the theory is that he wrote Le Morte d’Arthur while he was in jail. Thomas Malory - Wikipedia
Of course, there is some debate about which Thomas Malory is actually the author, but it’s my understanding he’s the most likely candidate.
Hannibal Lecter - epicure, music buff, art expert, doctor AND a serial killer to top it all off.
And with an extra finger on a hand and funny-colored eyes (they have blood-red flecks in them??) - he’s special, we get it.
Lord Peter Wimsey. It’s been a long time since I read any of the books, in large part because he could do absolutely anything he set his mind to–brilliant detective, charming, wealthy (and managed his money well), professional-quality athlete (not that he would have taken MONEY for participating in sports, heavens, no)…didn’t he develop the world’s most effective ad campaign in one of the books, almost as a throwaway at the end?
Anyway, him.
Tohru Honda from Fruits Basket. No one could possibly be that sweet or patient.
After re-watching MASH I realized how annoying Hawkeye’s constant snide remarks were, I don’t think I could stand to be around him for more than five minutes. A pretty major character flaw if you ask me.
I forgot about Joe Gargery in Great Expectations, as well.
Anne Rice has said that Lestat is her husband, she is Louis, and Claudia is a niece of hers that died.
So, definitely some author insertion going on.
Honor Harrington began as a gawky but competent space navy officer, but as the series went on, she became the most awesome human ever, able to toss around Marine sergeants in unarmed combat, able to shoot a professional duelist half a dozen times before he got a shot off, and the same thing with swords after a few months of training. Plus being the greatest tactical genius of her age, and so damned noble that her worst enemies strove for her approval. Plus being gorgeously beautiful.
But even that wasn’t enough; it came out that she was literally superhuman, the result of a eugenics program.
And even THAT wasn’t enough, as she now has all kinds of cybernetic body parts, an eye with telescopic, microscopic, and infrared vision, and an arm that is super strong and has a built-in gun.
Oh yeah, and she can read minds.
Yeah, but I love Peter Wimsey. Somehow that one doesn’t bother me.
Now Honor Harrington on the other hand does tend to get on the nerves.
This is a totally different tack than everyone else is taking, but I could never enjoy the Star Wars extended universe novels featuring Grand Admiral Thrawn because he was too perfect a tactician, preposterously so (despite having plenty of flaws in other ways).
Yahweh
Nah. Absolute bastard. He invented death just because someone ate some fruit. Wiped out nearly all the human race (and nearly all of all land animal species too) just because people ticked him off. Tricked someone into almost killing his own son, just for a joke, had His own Son actually killed! I could go on…
I’m surprised no-one has mentioned Superman, though.
Ayla, of Clan of the Cave Bear fame.
She invented artificial respiration, sewing needles, fire, domestication of horses, cave lions, and wolves, and probably penicillin.
A LOVELY thread on this topic:
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=640196&highlight=Jean+Auel
~VOW
Jack Reacher
You left out brilliant wine connoisseur, code breaker, and - off course - lover! Personally I love the books but he is annoyingly perfect. His only fault is his “turns” - caused by shell-shock from the Great War - that hits him at the end of cases.
The ad campaign was in *Murder Must Advertise *but it was a pretty major point in the book, not exactly a throwaway!
Yeah, I LOVE that book but he does invent the ad campaign of the century before bringing about the end of the case by his magical cricket playing powers.
Amelie. So cute and charming. You can’t imagine her ever stinking up the bathroom.