Mary Sue

Discussion in 'Trek Literature' started by UncleRogi, Jul 14, 2017.

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If you were Mary Sue, which series would you prefer?

  1. TOS

    5 vote(s)
    25.0%
  2. TNG

    3 vote(s)
    15.0%
  3. DS9

    4 vote(s)
    20.0%
  4. VOY

    4 vote(s)
    20.0%
  5. ENT

    1 vote(s)
    5.0%
  6. NuTrek

    3 vote(s)
    15.0%
  1. T'Bonz

    T'Bonz Romulan Curmudgeon Administrator

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    The first set was stellar. I still laugh when I read it.

    The second - too many franchises brought into it. Pokemon? Really? Zzz.

    The third somewhere in-between.
     
  2. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    Wait... there's a third? *runs off to Google*
     
  3. Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs

    Burning Hearts of Qo'nOs Commodore Commodore

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    Personally, I would want to just be regular me in DS9, on DS9. Maybe run a restaurant on the promenade. I don't think I'd have the energy to be a Mary Sue, and also the responsibility of being good at everything for no reason sounds daunting.

    But I'd screw all that to be the Doctor's companion any day.
     
  4. Turbo

    Turbo Changeling Premium Member

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    We already had a Mary Sue in the TOS books. Her name was Piper. :p
     
  5. Doom Shepherd

    Doom Shepherd Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    I'm too flawed and self-aware to be a Mary Sue. If you're asking where I'd be a self-insert character, probably late TNG.
     
  6. hbquikcomjamesl

    hbquikcomjamesl Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Yes. The Piper books were arguably the only example of good Mary-Sue fiction, at least as professionally published prose. Partly because they involved a certain level of self-parody. And based on my quick look at them, the Mary-Sue webcomics appear to be nearly pure parody of the genre. Then again, the term itself originated in a fanfic parody of the genre.
     
  7. Commishsleer

    Commishsleer Commodore Commodore

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    Backwaters of Australia
    Same here.
    But really I can't see me as good enough to do that with Spock.
    Kirk would be easy though...
     
  8. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    New Therin Park, Andor (via Australia)
    BTW, last weekend here in Sydney, a "Star Trek" relaxacon was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Australian premiere of TOS. My "Mary-Sue" poem (in multiple-stanza limerick style), placed equal FIRST!

    My art also ended up on the cover!

    [​IMG]
    Beyond Antares special issue
    by Ian McLean, on Flickr
     
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2017
    F. King Daniel likes this.
  9. Tenacity

    Tenacity Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

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    Andy Warhol: "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes"
     
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  10. Therin of Andor

    Therin of Andor Admiral Moderator

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    I had a theory that Dr Evan Wilson, in the excellent novel "Uhura's Song", was either a Mary-Sue of the author, or a fond homage to Bjo Trimble (particularly the references to freckles and short stature). Eventually, I had the chance to correspond with Janet Kagan: she explained in an email that she'd never met Bjo and that Evan was actually based on... Janet's mother.

    Vale Janet! How you are missed!

    Years later, "Star Trek: Voyages of Imagination: The Star Trek Fiction Companion" included this interview snippet: "I had so much fun writing the second draft that, between paragraphs, I sketched out not one but two sequels. Both of them had the same guest star: Evan Wilson/Tail-Kinker/my mom. When a new editor took over the Trek series, I thought perhaps things had gone back to normal in the editorial offices, so I submitted my outline for the second time. To make a long story short, the next two Trek editors in a row wanted me to write it for them but [by then the policy was] that Trek novelists weren't allowed to bring back their own characters. So, no, there won't be any sequels: Star Trek just wouldn't be as much fun for me without Tail-Kinker."

    An oft-forgotten, strong Mary-Sue style character might be Jean Czerny in "Pawns and Symbols" by Majliss Larson. I remember really enjoying that book. Kirk, Kang and Mara, plus Jean.
     
  11. Nyotarules

    Nyotarules Vice Admiral Moderator

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    Location:
    London
    Putting yourself in a fanfic is one thing, but making your character some genius problem solver, that saves the galaxy and everyone likes and falls in love with,,.well that's Kirk's job lol
     
  12. psCargile

    psCargile Captain Captain

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    Location:
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    Little House on the Prairie.
     
  13. F. King Daniel

    F. King Daniel Fleet Admiral Admiral

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    If anyone wants to read an unmade bootleg-Trek feature film script featuring an author insert Marty Sue main character, I direct you to this hilarious walkthrough of the Axanar script: axanarsporking.wordpress.com