When is a Mary Sue . . . ?

[ellenkushner]

"So when a book is about a girl who is the best at something and about the boys (and/or girls) that love her and how she defeats the bad guy, well, that's because she's the protagonist. It is good and right that she be at the center of the story."

My love for Holly Black / blackholly  ,  it knows no bounds.

Comments

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a reader, not an author, I perceive a difference between a protagonist who is special, is the best at something, etc. and the unrealistic, wish-fulfillment perfection of a Mary Sue.

[vgqn.livejournal.com]

Ah, never mind. Now that I've gone off and read the original thread, I see it's about inappropriate over-use of the term.