Favorite Fictional Character: S.A.R.A.H

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I decided to take this Meme out of retirement for the day as an excuse to talk about a TV show that I recently discovered and fell-in-love with, and about some of the fantastic characters that make up the show.

I started watching Eureka a few weeks ago when I mentioned on Twitter that I was looking for a new show to watch, and someone suggested this one to me. I don't think I had ever heard of Eureka before, which was surprising since it's been running for four seasons, but after just one episode I was hooked.

Eureka is about a small town which had been built by the government to house the world's greatest geniuses, and their families, in order to build futuristic inventions and find solutions to scientific problems. In the first episode a US Marshall, Jack Carter, and his juvenile delinquent daughter, Zoe, stumble into this town when their car crashes. After helping solve a case during his stay in Eureka, Jack is relocated there permanently as the town's new sheriff. In each episode there is some crazy situation that has come about from one of the scientist's inventions or experiments, and Jack has to figure out how to solve it.

Eureka has some wonderful characters, which drew me in from the very first episode. There is Jack, an average guy trying to keep in line a town full of crazy scientists, and his deputy, Joe, a weapon-obsessed young woman whose tough exterior hides a secret passion for fashion magazines and weddings. Jack's daughter, Zoe, is also a character that I enjoyed getting to know, especially as she develops from a rebellious teenager with a criminal record to an elegant and intelligent young woman. But none of these characters are the ones that I'm intending on focusing on here. The focus of this FFC post is actually S.A.R.A.H, Jack and Zoe's house.

When Jack moves to Eureka he is provided by one of young scientists with an experimental house that he had been working on, and which is set up in a bunker. This house is equipped to meet the personal needs of its residents and guests, and is even able to communicate with it's occupants by speaking to them directly in female voice. The house was named SARAH (Self Actuated Residential Automated Habitat) and over time SARAH come to develop a personality of her own that leads to many humorous incidents throughout the series.

In the first episode SARAH refuses to allow Jack into the house because he didn't notify her that he would be late for dinner. In another episode SARAH takes Jack and several other characers hostage because she suspects that Jack may be planning to leave town. Though one of my favorite moments is when Jack and  Zoe, are having a heart-to-heart talk and SARAH decides to provide them with stirring background music to help with match the mood.

After catching up with all the episodes I was sad to discover that Eureka has been canceled, and the show will be wrapped up after a six episode season, next year. I'm very disappointed and am already missing this fantastic show and its characters. 

Favorite Fictional Character: Eloise

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Each time I visit my parents' house I make sure to peruse the bookshelves for any of my childhood favorites that I might have overlooked on past visits. If I do come across any of these books I will surreptitiously slip them under my shirt and sneak them out of my parent's house and into mine, where they will find a new home on my bookshelves (and I really hope my mother isn't reading this).

On my last visit I came across an old treasure that I haven't thought about in years, Eloise by Kay Thompson, and under my shirt it went. Once I arrived at home I sat my seven- year old daughter down to read her this book which I had so loved when I was a a little girl. My daughter was rather bemused by Eloise ('Ima [that's "mother"in Hebrew] she isn't appropriate, you can see her underwear!') but I loved reacquainting myself with this wild and fun-loving book character.

Reading about Eloise's antics brings back for me the delight of begin a child and living side by side with your imagination. In Eloise's world egg cups make great hats, turtles wear sneakers, paper cups can be used to talk to Mars and anything you need can be charged to room service.

When I was young the stories that I imagined for myself were almost as real as life to me and that's something I miss about being a child. But reading about Eloise brings it back to me for a bit.

[Side note: Although my daughter wasn't as taken by Eloise as I was, my two year old son really loved her nanny, for some reason. Now he keeps asking me to read him the book about "Nanny." go figure.]

Favorite Fictional Character: Shawn Spencer

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

In honor of the return to television of one of my favorite shows, Psych, this week's FFC will focus on the show's main character Shawn Spencer.

Shawn, played by James Roday, is such a fun and entertaining character to watch and is one of the main reasons that I tune into Psych each week.

Raised by a stern father, and dedicated cop, Shawn was taught to pay close attention to every detail of his surroundings and as a result he developed an acute sense of awareness, able to observe details that most people would never notice. As an adult Shawn uses this skill to help solve crimes for the local police station while claiming that it is his psychic powers allowing him to do so. While the police unit he works with are generally dubious of Shawn's claims, they continue to work with him because he does actually manages to assist them, no matter how much he annoys them along the way.

Shawn is often self-absorbed and irreverent, making jokes in the most inappropriate moments and driving his friends and family crazy with his irresponsible behavior. But somehow he also manages to be engaging and likable, and occasionally even charming. And then there are my favorite moments of the show when we are offered a deeper glimpse into Shawn's personality, past his jokes and carefree attitude to the love and loyalty he feels to his family and friends, and his willingness to do anything for them.

Shawn also plays off of his childhood-friend and business partner, Gus, who is really employed by a pharmaceutical company but keeps getting dragged along on each of Shawn's escapades. Each episode is sure to include one of Shawn's famously odd introductions of himself and Gus along with his creative online liners beginning, "Gus don't be a ..." which regulars of the show will often look out for.

If you are not familiar with this awesome show I highly recommend you give it a try. In addition to the show's wonderful characters and interesting storylines there is also a sense that the actors are really enjoying themselves. There are even certain jokes among the show's cast that have made their way into the show, such as the pineapple that appears somewhere in each episode and a song and dance routine often performed at the end of each show by various members of the cast.

Favorite Fictional Character: Chrestomanci

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

If you are a regular reader of my blog than you are likely to have noticed that I've been reading a lot of Diana Wynne Jones's books lately, and you might have also picked up on my great affection for one of her characters in particular, The Chrestomanci.

Chrestomanci is actually the official title for the powerful sorcerer who is employed by the government to supervise all of the world's magic users. But only those rare magicians with nine lives are powerful enough to someday take on the position of Chrestomanci. The Chrestomancis' are usually discovered by the current Chrestomanci when they are just children and by then they have often unknowingly used up many of their extra lives.

There is actually no one book that provides the full story of the current Chrestomanci, Christopher Chant, though each book in the series adds a little bit more to the picture of who the Chrestomanci is, slowly piecing together a memorable and unique character.

We first meet Chrestomanci as an adult, in the book Charmed Life, where he managed to make a real impression on me even though his role in that book is rather limited. Though it is there that I fell in love with his unintentional humor, his penchant for fancy robes and his deceivingly vague manner that belies his quick wits and vast intelligence. Plus he is handsome too. And whenever there is a crisis the Chrestomanci can be summoned by having his name called three times, at which point he will wander into the scene in a bewildered manner that confuses those who have called him for help, though he does quickly take charge of the situation, solving the current disaster.

In books two and three, the stories take place in other worlds where the Chrestomanci is often called upon to help with a crisis. But then in the fourth book, The Lives of Christopher Chant, we finally get to know the Christomanci as a child , eager for attention from his family and oblivious of his own magical abilities. Then in Conrad's Fate we re-encounter the Chrestomanci as a teenager, who is now looking more like the adult Chrestomanci that we have gotten to know, though young and cocky but with an endearing streak of mischief and unlimited loyalty towards his friends.

Even though the Chrestomanci as a characters is offered to readers in bits and pieces in the course of several different books, he still just really comes alive for me, making him one of my favorite and most memorable of fantasy book characters.

Favorite Fictional Character: Alanna

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I've been thinking quite a lot lately about some of my favorite fantasy books from when I was younger, and there is one series of books that stands out in my mind in particular, because of how much I loved its main character, Alanna.

I used to read a lot of fantasies in which young boys went out into the world to fight evil and discover their magical capabilities, and sometimes a noble heritage as well. But Alanna, from Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness series, was one of the first female characters that I came across who had the temerity to cross the boundaries set for her by society and leave home in search of adventure, though she did have to pretend to be a boy in order to do so.

Although in Alanna's homeland women were forbidden to become warriors, that was the only thing she wanted for herself, unlike her brother who hated fighting and wanted to learn magic. So the two siblings, who were practicably identical, traded places. Alanna went off to the castle to train as a warrior and her brother went to the monastery to study magic.

Living at the castle, Alanna had to remain on guard at all times keeping the truth of her identity hidden. At the same time she had to frequently defend herself against the larger and stronger boys who saw her small stature as a sign of weakness, and by never backing down from the bullies she eventually did manage to prove herself, gaining the friendship of the prince along the way.

I think I must have been about twelve when I first read these books and I just felt such a strong connection to Alanna that I would read these books over and over again. I loved her strength and bravery as well as her determination to achieve her dreams, despite all the sacrifices it required of her. Especially considering she was only ten when she left home. And even despite her deceptions Alanna managed to find love and become the knight that she set out to be.

Such strong female characters in fantasy were not as common when I was younger as they are now and my discovery of Alanna delighted me. It was a nice change of pace from all the young male heroes gallivanting about and is one of the reasons she has stayed with me after all these years.

Favorite Fictional Character: Colonel John Casey

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I don't watch that much TV, and in fact, I don't even own one, but occasionally I'll get wind of a show that sounds interesting and out of curiosity I'll check it out. Sometimes this will leads to a new addiction that will have me glued to my computer screen for a half an hour each week. Such is the case with one of my current favorite shows, Chuck.

Chuck has a number of great characters, from Chuck himself to his practically-perfect brother-in-law (aka Awesome) to his strange but genius father, but my favorite of them all is John Casey, the cold, trigger-happy NSA agent who is sent to hunt Chuck down.


If you aren't familiar with Chuck, here is a brief synopsis from IMDB:

When a twenty-something computer geek, Chuck, inadvertently downloads critical government secrets into his brain, CIA and NSA assign two agents to protect him and exploit such knowledge, turning his life upside down.

Casey is the NSA agent who is put on Chuck's tail in order to retrieve the stolen date. When it becomes clear that the data has been downloaded into Chuck's brain his job then becomes to protect Chuck until he is no longer needed, at which point he is to be eliminated.

Casey is a hardened military man who is fiercely loyal to his employers and puts his job above all else. Even once he is set up as an undercover bodyguard for Chuck, he is still fully prepared to kill Chuck at any moment if ordered to. But as the show progress we watch as Casey reluctantly comes to care for Chuck as a friend (although he would never admit it) which occasionally conflicts with his own unquestioning loyalty to his employers and his duty to the government. Watching Casey's character develop from a dispassionate, cold killer to a man with hidden depth and emotion is one of my favorite parts of this show and makes Casey one of my favorite TV characters.

Favorite Fictional Character: Anita from West Side Story

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Last week’s FFC post about Mary Poppins got me reminiscing about some of my other favorite musicals, and so I decided this week to choose a character from one of the musicals I enjoy the most, West Side Story.

I’ve actually only seen West Side Story on film, not live, but each time I watch it I’m equally impressed by the character of Anita, played by Rita Moreno.

West Side Story is a modern version of Romeo and Juliet in which two teenagers from rival New York City gangs fall in love in the 1960’s. Anita is the girlfriend of Bernardo, the leader of the Puerto Rican gang, and a big sister figure to Maria, the girl in love. Anita and her friends had left everything behind in Puerto Rico for dreams of success in America, only to be faced with constant racial discrimination that keeps pushing them down. But Anita remains strong and hopeful in the face of all the obstacles; a steadying influence on her hot-head boyfriend and a guiding presence to the innocent Maria. But even the down-to earth Anita is moved by Maria’s love for Tony and so she agrees to do what she can to help the two. Though it’s the result of these actions the lead to the tragic ending of this moving story.

One of my favorite numbers in West Side Story is America, a song that successfully portrays Anita's feelings and the struggles that her and her friends face in America as immigrants. (OK, and perhaps this post is also an excuse to share this clip, which I love):

Favorite Fictional Character

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia


It's been a while since I last did a FFC post but I really want to get started again since I very much enjoy them. So this week I've chosen a very special fictional character who has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. A character who is practically perfect in every way...

Mary Poppins!!

I don't think I need to explain who Mary Poppins is since I can't imagine there is anyone who is not familiar with her, though I do want to clarify that I'm referring to the Disney version of Mary Poppins (played by the wonderful Julie Andrews). While I've never read the books on which the movie is based, I've heard that the original Mary Poppins is not quite as pleasant as the movie one, so she is the one that I'm going with (which I will openly state, despite being given a hard time when I made a similar comment regarding Peter Pan)

Mary Poppins is amazing for so many different reasons, from her ability to clean a room with the snap of a finger to the way she can fly with only a simple black umbrella. Spending time with Mary Poppins, one can always expect an exciting adventure and I would have loved to have had a babysitter like her (I didn't get a nanny). Plus she always managed to look calm and collected, no matter what disaster was taking place, and you knew Mary Poppins would take care of everything. And boy, could she dance and sing! Despite her great dignity, she is still willing to join in with the chimney sweeps and dancing on roof tops. (Though as a parent, I'm not so sure if this is such great nanny behavior)

My children were actually just watching Mary Poppins for the first time and they were laughing hysterically while watching that scene where the children are trying to clean their room by snapping their fingers and the boy gets stuck in the closet which keeps closing on him. And even though I must have seen this movie hundreds of times, I couldn't help laughing myself.

Favorite Fictional Character: King Trent

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

When I was thirteen years old a friend of mine introduced me to Piers Anthony's Xanth books, and I quickly fell in love with Anthony's wonderful world of magic and puns. I followed the series for many years, until it began to grow a bit stale, but I always think back fondly on these books. Xanth was was the first fantasy series that I religiously followed and it really helped kindle my love for the genre.

Xanth is a world of magic where most items grow on trees (including money) and every person has a unique magical talent. Bordering Xanth is Mundania, where the unfortunate population live magic-free lives, completely unaware of the existence of Xanth, just across the invisible barrier.

There are many fun and interesting characters in Xanth, but my favorite is King Trent, who was my first encounter in fantasy with a likable villain.

Trent is introduced in the first book of the series, A Spell for Chameleon, as The Evil Magician. He had been kicked out of Xanth for trying to usurp the throne, and was deported to Mundania where he spent the last 20 years building an army to invade Xanth. When Bink, the protagonist of A Spell for Chameleon, is forced to leave Xanth due to his lack of magical talent, he gets captured by Trent who tries to force his assistance in breaking through Xanth's magical shield. Trent eventually succeeds at manipulating Bink and breaking into Xanth, though he ends up getting captured by the Council of Elders, and in an interesting twist, is crowned king. Trent then goes on to become a wise, compassionate, and much loved ruler of Xanth who comes to love the woman that he was forced by the council to marry, if he wanted to be crowned king.

While Trent is first introduced as villainous character, you eventually come to like him due to his intelligence and engaging personality. In addition, Trent's mourning for his wife, who died of illness in Mundnia, also helps him gain the reader's sympathy. By the end of the book, readers will be rooting for Trent, eager to forgive his earlier transgressions. And although his character takes a backseat in the following books in the series, his is still present and his character continues to mature and develop. I particularly enjoyed watching him and his wife fall in love, despite their initial animosity for each other.

Even though it's been many years since I last picked up a Xanth book, King Trent still stands out in my mind and remains one of my favorite fantasy characters.

Favorite Fictional Character: Robin Hood

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

A few weeks ago I had mentioned my inexplicable fondness for book characters that are thieves. From Scott Lynch's Locke Lamora to Matthew Dick's Martin, the OCD burgler, thieves are often particularly interesting characters. And when the thieves are also handsome, witty and charming, that makes them even more appealing. And no one is more handsome, charming and witty then the archetype of thieves...Robin Hood

I loved Robin Hood as a humorous singing bandit (Robin Hood: Men in Tights), a brave and handsome fox (Disney), or the humanly imperfect outlaw that couldn't even shoot a bow (Outlaws of Sherwood). Since the legend of Robin Hood dates back to the 14th century, I'm sure there must be some less flattering portrayals of him as well, but I always think of Robin Hood as a romantic figure who bravely and heroically tweaks the noses of the corrupt while pursuing justice for the oppressed.

Favorite Fictional Character: Peter Pan

Favorite Fictional Character
Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I've always been fascinated with Peter Pan (either the Disney version or the Mary Martin one, not the disturbing Barrie version who tries to kill Wendy) and his dedication to staying young forever. I thought it was a great idea and wished I could find Never-Never Land myself; pirates, ticking crocodiles and all. With my 30th birthday looming, in just a couple of days, I was thinking about Peter Pan today and wishing he would come visit so that I could stop time for short while. Though, sadly. I guess I would be too old for Never-Never Land now. Back when I watched Peter Pan singing "I'll never grow up" I couldn't imagine myself as a grown up, and I still sometimes have trouble adjusting to the fact that I am one now. But I guess Chili Davis had the right idea when he said " Growing old is mandatory- Growing up is optional." But still, I wouldn't turn down a trip to Never-Never Land with Peter, even now.

"And if it means I must prepare to shoulder burdens with a weary air, I'll never grown up, never grow up, never grow up- not me!

Favorite Fictional Character: Henry Fitzroy

Favorite Fictional Character

Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

I never had any interest in vampires, or any of the various vampire related books, shows or movies, until I came across Blood Ties, a couple of years ago, which features vampire Henry Fitzroy- and I was hooked.

Henry, played by Kyle Schmidt, is the bastard son of Henry VIII, and in the present day works as a graphic novel artist in Toronto. He teams up with Private Eye, Vicki Nelson in chasing down practitioners of the dark arts and other evil creatures of the night.And, of course, some romance does develop between them (lucky Vicki) though it didn't come to refutation before the show got canceled (which I was devastated about[both the cancellation and the unfulfilled romance]).

Henry is intelligent and funny, dangerous but sensitive...and really hot. He is my favorite of any of the vampires that I have encountered since. In Tanya Huff's Blood series, which Blood Ties is based on, Henry is actually an author of romance novels, though I prefer the TV version of him. Since Blood Ties, I have watched some other vampire shows, such as True Blood and Being human, and read some books with vampires, but none of them has a character that I liked quite as much as Henry Fitzroy.

Favorite Fictional Character: Locke Lamora

Favorite Fictional Character
Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

For some reason I often find myself attracted to fantasy books that feature a thief as the central character. And one of my favorite thief characters is Locke Lamora from Scott Lynch's The Lies of Locke Lamora.

After being orphaned as a child, Lock Lamora joins the Thiefmaker's gang where he is trained as a pickpocket and thief. But while skilled at his new vocation, Lamora is too much of a showman and ends up bringing unwanted attention to the Thiefmaker's gang, so he gets sold to Chains, the leader of the Gentleman Bastards.

As a Gentleman Bastard, Lamora learns all manner of skills, from cooking gourmet meals to farming to fighting; knowledge that allows him to slip into any identity that he chooses. And once Lamora becomes the gang's leader, he focuses on conning the city's nobility out of their money through one audacious scheme after another.

Locke Lamora is a thief with no altruistic intentions. While he enjoying conning the rich, he is no Robin Hood, as all the money goes into his own pockets. And he and his gang steal for no other reason then that they enjoy the thrill. Yet Lamora is such a fun character to follow- witty, charming and intelligent- that you can't help falling under his spell. And I love the brilliant schemes he comes up with, each of which requires him to don a different costume and personality. Lamora is definitely one of the most interesting and fun book characters that I have encountered.

Favorite Fictional Character: Artie

Favorite Fictional Character
Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

When I was younger, one of my favorite authors was Gordon Korman, with his funny and creative books populated by memorable characters. His books were the only ones that really made me laugh out loud while reading them, and sometimes just thinking about them would make me crack up (and got me strange looks from my friends). Occasionally I still get out his books and read them because they are just so much fun.

One of my favorite of Korman's characters is Artie, from No Coins Please. Artie is an intrepid eleven year old boy whose favorite hobby is making money. Concenened about her unconventional son, Artie's mother signs him up for a tour group for kids. But Artie just sees the road trip as another opportunity to make money, and along the way he manages to rope in the rest of the kids in his group in his money making schemes.

In New York Artie makes a killing selling "attack jelly," and in Colorado he makes a fortune by turning an abandoned pretzel factory into a disco. In Washington he sets up a gambling ring using a toy racetrack and while on a stopover in the country, Artie rents cows from the local farmer and then charges tourists to milk them. Meanwhile, the counselors are baffled as to how Artie keeps managing to escape their watch, though when the FBI goes after Artie they know they are in real trouble.


When reading this book, I had always wished I had a friend as interesting as Artie, though now I'm also thinking that I feel bad for his poor mother and that I'm glad he's not my kid.

Favorite Fictional Character: The Fonz

Favorite Fictional Character
Hosted by Ryan at Wordsmithonia

Inspired by Ryan's nostalgic memories of his favorite childhood cartoons, I decided to focus on another one of my favorite TV characters, Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, or "The Fonz."

I don't remember when I first discovered Happy Days, but once I did it became one of my favorite TV shows, which is largely due to the star of the show Fonzie, a high school drop-out and former gang member, who eventually mends his ways, after befriending Richie Cunningham and his family.

The Fonze was the ultimate in cool; commanding the bathroom of the local hangout as his office and getting any song on the jukebox playing, just by hitting it with his fist. Interestingly enough, Fonzie was only supposed to appear in a few episodes of Happy Days, but his character was so popular that he was made a regular on the show and eventually received top billing.

I actually almost got to meet Henry Winkler once, when I was a teenager, and he was speaking at a Jewish fund raising event that my mother was attending. But I got sick the night before, and my sister went instead. She even got a kiss from Winkler, and all I got was an autographed napkin ( with my name misspelled). Sigh. Sometimes life just isn't fair.