Fannish 5... Minor characters.

[fajrdrako]

From fannish5: Name five minor characters whose lives and histories you'd like to see explored more (in canon or fanfic).

1. Fandom: Torchwood. Character: Ianto Jones. Really. He's a fan favourite. He's Captain Jack's lover. He's there in every episode, looking attractive, well-groomed, usually enigmatic, sometimes passionate, sometimes frightened, depending on circumstances. He likes word-games and he has a wry sense of humour. He was at Torchwood One and was at the Battle of Canary Wharf: we know about the tragic story of Lisa. But what else? What makes him tick - besides a penchant for the buttons on the tops of stopwatches? Torchwood writers, tell us more. Show us more.



2. Fandom: Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan novels. Character: Ivan Vorpatril. He's around from almost the beginning - we see his birth in Barrayar, and he's right there up and until and during Miles' wedding. He's Miles' hapless partner-in-crime and sometimes his scapegoat - I find myself fascinated by Miles' attitude to Ivan. Miles takes him for granted. Miles thinks of him as an idiot. But time and again, Ivan has proved himself more than an idiot and more than a promiscuous pretty face. One of the few times in the whole series where I have been annoyed with Aral and Cordelia, was in their careless lack of appreciation of Ivan - I can only imagine that, while Miles is subconsciously jealous of Ivan's healthy body and good looks, his parents are likewise mildly resentful of Ivan for being big what their son is not - a resentment possibly born of their sense of guilt.
   
   Anyway, I love Ivan: his sense of humour, his fascination with Miles' adventures even when they are making him panic, his sort of absent-minded reliability.
   
   So I think Ivan deserves more. I'd like to hear his side of the story - his admiration for his cousin, his comfort with Aral and Cordelia, his desire for independence from his mother. His ambitions or lack thereof, his attitude to Barrayar and to history, and his role in it. He may be apolitical, but he must have opinions.
   
   Most of all, I'd like to see a romance for Ivan.



3. Fandom: Doctor Who episode "Blink". Character: Sally Sparrow. Well, why not? She was terrific. (But preferably minus Larry Nightingale. His sister Cathy could be around; I liked her.)



4. Fandom: The Donald Strachey novels, specifically Tongue Tied by Richard Stevenson. Character: Thad Diefendofer, the gay Amish lock-picker. I really enjoyed Thad. I'd love to see more of him, learn more about him. Such quiet intelligence and quick thinking; such a cute sense of humour. Such a great combination of gentle farmboy charm and wily street-smarts.



5. Fandom: The Julian Kestrel novels by Kate Ross. The character: Digger, Kestrel's valet with a criminal past and a prostitute sister. I loved Digger with a minor passion, and would have loved to have seen more of him - even to see him as a protagonist in his own stories.

Comments

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

Word to what you said about Ivan. Totally. Exactly. He and Bel are the two characters I'd write if I wrote Bujold fic. I'm kind of getting tempted to try ...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of getting tempted to try ...

So? Why not? I think that would be wonderful!

[omnivorously.livejournal.com]

It would be, if I had the time. *sigh*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Right. Me too.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

The Julian Kestrel novels by Kate Ross.

They were recommended ages ago on one of the Dunnett lists. I tried to find them but didn't have any luck. Are they out of print?

Oh help! I really shouldn't be thinking of buying more books until (a) I've caught up with the backlog) and (b) acquired more shelf space. Gah.

Kate Ross novels

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Are they out of print?

I don't think so. I see them occasionally in stores here. If you really can't find them I'll have a look for you. Try looking here (http://www.amazon.com/Quick-Crime-Penguin-Kate-Ross/dp/0140233946/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/103-5276648-1558215?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194140182&sr=8-2) or here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ross-Katherine-J-Cut-Quick/dp/0670848476/ref=sr_1_1/026-3525806-1703663?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194140308&sr=8-1).

I really shouldn't be thinking of buying more books until (a) I've caught up with the backlog) and (b) acquired more shelf space. Gah.

Heh. Right. Me too. It doesn't stop me, though.

[filkferengi]

You have good taste in secondary characters!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, thank you - I generally think so!