Mary Sue

Mary Sue is a term in fiction and fandom for a character, usually female, who is perceived as unrealistically competent, attractive, or lacking meaningful flaws.

Mary Sue is a term in fiction and fandom for a character, usually female, who is perceived as unrealistically competent, attractive, or lacking meaningful flaws. The label is often used pejoratively, and the term originated in a 1970s Star Trek fan fiction parody by Paula Smith. In Canada, writers, readers, and fandom communities use the term in the same broad way as other English-speaking audiences, especially in discussions of fan fiction and character criticism.

Origin

The term originated in a 1973 parody short story by Paula Smith, written to satirize idealized female characters common in Star Trek fan fiction. The character name became the basis for the later fandom term.

Meaning and usage

A Mary Sue is typically described as a fictional character who is unrealistically talented, admired, or central to the story, with few meaningful flaws. The term is usually used negatively, especially in fan criticism.

Related terms

The concept is often linked to author-insert or wish-fulfillment characters. Male variants such as Gary Stu and Marty Stu are sometimes used for similar character types.

Debate over definition

The label is not always applied consistently, and different communities define it differently. Some use it narrowly for fan fiction originals, while others apply it more broadly to any over-idealized character.