Hello! I have returned. And if you guessed that I would have 220 queries waiting for me, you would be both correct and psychic.
Needless to say, since I have about 100 non-query e-mails to attend to, query responses will be a bit delayed until further notice.
A quick You Tell Me for Wednesday, which was originally suggested by Dylan Ford, and partially inspired by The Atlasphere, which is in part an Ayn Rand fan dating site.
Fictional characters possess all of the power of real people when it comes to influencing and changing lives. So the question: what fictional characters have most affected you? Who has changed your personality, worldview, and/or ethics?
jaylake says
Severian, from Shadow of the Torturer.
Or possibly Wakko…
Bane of Anubis says
Wanda, didn't you see the sign:
"Don't feed the lions."
JuLo says
I try to be as brave as Harry Potter (though much less clueless), as confident as Elizabeth Bennett, to love as deeply as Bella Swan, to be as constant as Jane Eyre, as intuitive as Ender Wiggin (Speaker for the Dead years), and as philosophical as Lee (from East of Eden).
Model1911a1 says
Kenneth McCoy
WEB Griffin's, The Corps, Semper Fi, Book 1
Donna says
I will also add in Nancy Drew- her go-getter attitude and constant curiosity groomed me into wanting to pursue journalism, as well as in general, I have a love for research, finding solutions, etc. and I think Ms. Drew had a big part in building my inquisitive nature and love for learning more about the world. (Plus- I even got to try my hand at being a PI on a TLC reality show a few years ago, and used my love of Nancy Drew in my audition tape!)
Scott says
Captain Francis Crozier, made fictional by Dan Simmons in The Terror. Read it and you'll find reserves of courage, discipline and appreciation for the simple things like you've never imagined.
Maritzia says
More than any other character, I would say Ayla from Clan of the Cave Bear. I know, I know, many consider her a Mary Jane. But in a society where there is so much pressure on women to fit into a certain way of being and acting, she is a heroine. She struggled for years to be what was expected, but when it came down to it, she would rather be completely on her own than compromise any longer with who she was inside.
For someone like myself who's always marched to a different drummer and often lived on the fringes of society, the character of Ayla was inspiring to me.
Maritzia says
Ahhh…several have mentioned Jo March from Little Women and Anne of Green Gables.
What can I say, I have a thing about strong women.
Anonymous says
Antonia was Willa Cather's most memorable character. I loved that character because she was based on a person Cather knew.
Being of immigrant Bohemian stock myself, I grew up around farmers and their wives of the same stock as grew from the Red Cloud area.
Mary Jo
Elaine 'still writing' Smith says
I found a book that cost 2p in a sale when I was 11 and my need to read exploded – Manfred, Gonsalez and Poiccart
donnie. a says
jay gatsby and raul duke
donnie. a says
sorry, Raoul Duke
sex scenes at starbucks says
Aleksander from Carol Berg
Marie McKenna from Stuart Neville
FitzChivalry from Robin Hobb
Jaime from George RR Martin
And I won't mention him by name, but one of my own characters has been teaching me a lot about life.
Marilyn Peake says
Welcome back, Nathan!
I was profoundly moved by the characters in THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by Barbara Kingsolver, A FINE BALANCE by Rohinton Mistry, THE ROAD by Cormac McCarthy, and other books that show the difference between characters who remain ethical in situations of extreme adversity vs. those who succumb to it by giving up their morality and sense of humanity.
Kristi says
As naive as it sounds – Nancy Drew. I read the entire series in 1st grade and feel like she had a huge influence on me. She's honest, smart, fiercely loyal, and never gives up – plus she had a cool car and sweet boyfriend. A girl couldn't ask for a better role model that that.
Deb says
I agree with Bane. I've had no fictional characters influence my life, but that doesn't mean that I haven't admired many. Jo March and Laura Ingalls come to mind. They were two independent-minded young women struggling in a harsh world.
KayKayBe says
Nathan, thanks for being so courteous in your reply email! I was feeling like a jerk after sending it when I realized that you would be buried from the vaca backlog.
I saw myself in every character I've ever read- Jo March, Sara Crewe, Mary Lennox, Carina from 'the island of the blue dolphins'.
But the character that made me want to do better and be more was Eustace Scrub from The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. He was such a snot!
Robena Grant says
As a child, I'd have to say Nancy Drew influenced me the most. I think it's fairly common in the formative years to identify with fictional characters.
As an adult, while I've enjoyed certain character traits, I don't think I've personally been changed by any. Could be that I admire more the creator, the author's ability to bring the character to life.
writtenwyrdd says
No particular character (except perhaps Paul or Jessica in Dune) but Frank Herbert's writings really influenced me in high school. It was the psychological approach to his stories that grabbed me.
Also the Narnia Books (the horse from The Horse and His Boy–thus explaining my love of snarky characters) and too many other books to name. Mostly, I think I took encouragement from empowered characters who overcame hardships. (I was very shy.)
Anonymous says
I can't believe how few people have said Harry Potter or one of the lesser characters in Harry Potter canon for this! I swear, Harry Potter has made me a better person — I've reread this series every year for as long as I remember. The characters are relistic, honest, and very driven. Love the books, love the author (who's an inspiration in and of herself) — just an amazing series! ^_^
Christine H says
I was deeply affected by the animals in Felix Salten's Sixteen Rabbits. I always think of them when I see a rabbit. And Bambi. The book, not the movie.
He had a way of getting inside the animals minds that was utterly compelling. He didn't humanize them, but made their instincts sympathetic and accessible, including the way they react to and perceive humans. It has always affected the way I react to animals, domestic or wild.
Mira says
Lol. Thanks for that Wanda.
The issue of whether I'm real or not has been raised before. Although some people might think otherwise, I am almost 100% certain that I am a fictional character.
I assume I've inspired you to be a stalker? If so, my good work here continues.
Malanie says
I would have to say Tex, but as I am rereading Of Mice and Men, grumpy ole' George's heart is making an impact upon me.
Sorry about all those emails!
Scott says
You sent Nathan 220 queries, Malanie? Phew, that's quite a body of work you have. 😉
~Jamie says
Actually I am the one that sent him 220 queries… most of them are just for projects I have in my mind, but a couple of them have a page or two written 🙂
For me it's always Scarlett O'Hara. She's the ultimate girl power, even before the spice girls were shimmying all around and winding their bodies down 🙂
Kristin Laughtin says
SLAUGHTERHOUSE-FIVE in general had a big effect on me, and especially Billy Pilgrim. Vonnegut and I often have different ways of looking ways of looking at the world, but his work has always been a huge influence on me, especially when he wrote through Billy. His way of looking at life, death, and time made me question my own perceptions and expand them.
Dale Emery says
Ishmail. Not the whaler, but the telepathic gorilla philosoper from Daniel Quinn's Ishmael and My Ishmael.
AmyB says
Hmm, Atticus Finch maybe.
Or any of the female characters in Barbara Hambly's early work. I loved reading SFF, but so much of it (in my day–talking about my formative years here) was sexist/misogynistic. I found myself having to identify with the male characters in the books, because the female characters weren't interesting. Then I discovered Barbara Hambly and her wonderful, strong female characters who team up with wonderful strong, male characters. And I read those books until they were dog-eared.
Erin Cabatingan says
Well, I did decide to name my daughter Lucy while my husband and I were reading the Chronicles of Narnia together…
playingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Liana Brooks says
An unpublished character I created to cope with some extreme circumstances. The book has since been shoved under the bed, but verbalizing the internal conflict from the situation helped me deal with everything.
For published characters, hmmm…. it's hard to say. Let's try an amalgam of Granny Weatherwax, Ender Wiggins, Lessa of Pern, and the Metadi siblings.
A cookie for anyone who knows all those books/series ;o)
T.Wolfe says
I would have to say it is a character I created for a cyberpunk role playing game that then turned into a character for a novel. She has been with me for a while. She has taught me how to deal with things beyond my control and still have fun. 🙂
Thomas Burchfield says
I honestly have to say . . . none! And as I tend to like bad guys and villains quite a bit, that's probably a darn good thing.
Using fictional characters as "role models" has never been my thing. I still prefer real-life figures, like Franklin Roosevelt for one. Maybe I find fictional characters a little too shadowy and insubstantial.
Certainly writers like Donald Westlake et al have inspired me in my "writing work."
Speaking of writing work, I typed "The End" on my novel "Dragon's Ark" late Saturday afternoon and will post about that later in the Red Room.
That may make me around number 110-120 . . . but whatever number I am, I have plenty to do while I'm waiting. So. take your time, Nathan!
Joy says
I have to echo the other women and say Jane Eyre and Anne of Green Gables. I still freely use the term "bosom buddy" to describe my dearest friends.
Walter says
It switches with almost every new book. I feel like I take on characteristcs of my favorite character in each new book during the time I'm reading it.
Marsha Lyn says
I would have to say Eve Lavigne from Kelley Armstrong or Anita Blake from Laurell K Hamilton's series.
Lara says
I can't believe no one else has mentioned Hopey & Maggie from Love & Rockets. I think of those characters all the time.
Diana, I'm a huge Barbara Pym
Lara says
oops, meant to say "Diana, I'm a huge Barbara Pym FAN" 🙂
Anita says
HARRY POTTER-courage
STARGIRL-individuality
BRIDGET JONES-hope
ATTICUS-integrity
JUNIE B. JONES-persistance, spunk
POOH BEAR and friends-loyalty
darkened_jade says
Has to be Tori Alexander from the Ancient Future Trilogy. Her attitude of creating positive outcomes was very inspirational when I was in high school and has definitely helped me out along the way.
Mira says
Oh, I didn't say who influenced me.
As a child, Frodo from Lord of the Rings. He was a reluctant, ordinary hero. He gave me the idea that anyone could chose to follow the right path – "I will take the ring…though I do not know the way."
Haste yee back ;-) says
Who could ever forget…
Sticky Valves and Gummy Rings!
Haste yee back 😉
intotheforest says
Sidney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre from, of course, the book of the same name. Carton is such a flawed character and yet he becomes a hero. I think he's one of the most fascinating characters in all of literature and I only aspire to write characters like that. And Jane Eyre is such a spunky independent type, defying the status quo of her times (especially in childhood), that I can't help but love her too.
Mira says
Oh. Ayn Rand's character's inspired me. They inspired me to want to bop them on the head.
Alex Green says
Steven Fuller,
You know as well as anyone that Jesus is not a fictional character! At first I went "Aw." but then I went, "WAIT."
Georgia Nicholson for her ability to make female comradery look enticing. All of the characters in the Idiot for making me remember we're all effed up but also human.
Dawn Montgomery says
Okay, I'm going back to middle school for this one. I grew up in little town Texas with a few old school beliefs about a woman's place in the household. This isn't as long ago as you'd believe since I'm only 30…
Anyway, I picked up a book called Crystal Singer and in it, the heroine chose to leave her world behind and begin a new life elsewhere. I was amazed.
And the reading obsession began. Strong women breaking the mold of those before her, the adventuress, the scientist, the mother who defied convention…
I'll always owe my first spark of adventure to Anne McCaffrey. Nice question!
Anonymous says
Back off, Wanda, that's my job. For a minute I thought you had struck her speechless. Although Jason is after my heart with the Albus Dumbledore and Gandalf answer. I think I’ll let Wanda be your stalker, Mira; I am moving on. But, Mira, don't feel bad if you ever have a fictional book published I will be the first in line to read it.
JO
Nikki Hootman says
Alyosha & Ivan of the Brothers Karamazov. That book changed my life forever. I read it in college, saw myself in Ivan, and realized I wanted to be an Alyosha. One year later I was teaching English in a small Chinese city. I made mistakes. Picked myself up and went on. I fell in love and got married. Made more mistakes. Kept going. Now I'm having a baby. I assume I'll make even more mistakes. But that's the whole point. I gave up my esoteric theological nitpicking – stepped outside and LIVED.
Author Guy says
Tarkas, the hero of my own series. As I was writing him he was writing me. Writing should be a piece of selfexploration as well, otherwise why bother?
Anonymous says
I didn't read much when I was kid. The one that I wanted to be like, in spirit only, was Wonder Woman. Why? She always seemed to have the answers. Knew how to solve a problem. Not only physically but mentally as well.
Nikki Hootman says
PS Just have to say this… sorry for nitpicking, but guys and gals, it's Ender WIGGIN. Not Wiggins, WIGGIN.
Thank you. 🙂