Fanfiction: the definition of Mary-Sue - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Evisse the Blue · 02-21-2004, 05:21 AM

Cool thread, very educational and fun! I'm all clear now on what's a Mary Sue. Though I dont read much LOTR fic, much less write any, I can tell there's a plague of them out there. Ick! I only just realized that my sister, who's a lotr fic writer (though thankfully never posted anything on the net yet, is an avid Mary Sue writer. Maybe I'll get hold of one of her stories once so I can get a second opionion from you guys, to make sure I don't make false accusations against her. Anyway, her excuse is that she's only 15, and she hasn't written anything so moronic as the "Laura Sue" fic from Ophelia's link. (

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I went to the library of moria link out of curiosity (I read slash before though not LOTR related) and I must say I was surprised at the quality of some of the stories. Laugh if you will but I thought the Balrog/WK one and the Elrond/Ugluk one were very well done. Don't judge them untill you've read them! Also, I found an Elrond/ Smeagol one in verse, which is just hilarious. I have yet to find the Legolas/Smaug one, though.

Symestreem, as regards your challenge I remember there was a similar one at the henneth annun site (the link to it was already given in this thread), only the requirement was to make them 'well-written', I guess this would include realistic (?) You guys might want to check those out.

Oh, and a question regarding these MS's: If the MS represents the wish fulfillments of the author, sort of an ideal alter ego, why are there so many instances of traumatic past/ present and/or future? What - Is it some sort of death wish?? And should this criterion for a Mary Sue be held so important?

02-21-2004, 05:21 AM	#35
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	Cool thread, very educational and fun! I'm all clear now on what's a Mary Sue. Though I dont read much LOTR fic, much less write any, I can tell there's a plague of them out there. Ick! I only just realized that my sister, who's a lotr fic writer (though thankfully never posted anything on the net yet, is an avid Mary Sue writer. Maybe I'll get hold of one of her stories once so I can get a second opionion from you guys, to make sure I don't make false accusations against her. Anyway, her excuse is that she's only 15, and she hasn't written anything so moronic as the "Laura Sue" fic from Ophelia's link. ( ) I went to the library of moria link out of curiosity (I read slash before though not LOTR related) and I must say I was surprised at the quality of some of the stories. Laugh if you will but I thought the Balrog/WK one and the Elrond/Ugluk one were very well done. Don't judge them untill you've read them! Also, I found an Elrond/ Smeagol one in verse, which is just hilarious. I have yet to find the Legolas/Smaug one, though. Symestreem, as regards your challenge I remember there was a similar one at the henneth annun site (the link to it was already given in this thread), only the requirement was to make them 'well-written', I guess this would include realistic (?) You guys might want to check those out. Oh, and a question regarding these MS's: If the MS represents the wish fulfillments of the author, sort of an ideal alter ego, why are there so many instances of traumatic past/ present and/or future? What - Is it some sort of death wish?? And should this criterion for a Mary Sue be held so important? __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.