character
Mary Sue
An implausibly perfect character โ usually a thinly veiled self-insert by the author.
Origin
Coined in a 1973 Star Trek fan-fiction parody by Paula Smith, 'A Trekkie's Tale', whose protagonist Lieutenant Mary Sue was a 15-year-old genius adored by the entire Enterprise crew. The phrase spread in fan-fiction communities and crossed into mainstream criticism through online writing in the 2000s. The male equivalent โ 'Gary Stu' or 'Marty Stu' โ never quite caught on.
Modern usage
Standard in fan-criticism and increasingly in mainstream reviews. The label is sometimes contested when applied to female protagonists who are simply competent; sometimes warranted.
Tags
character
fan-fiction
criticism