Self-insertion
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Self-insertion is a literary device in which the real author of a work of fiction appears as a character within that fiction, either overtly or in disguise.
Making a 'self-insert' a major character is generally viewed as vanity on the author's part; most successful self-inserts have been minor characters, often used as a form of self-deprecation.
Some characters have been described as unintentional self-inserts, implying that their author is unconsciously using them as an author surrogate. This is particularly common in Mary Sue fanfiction.
Examples of self-insertion
- Agatha Christie's Ariadne Oliver
- One of two Philip José Farmer characters named Peter Jairus Frigate
- In the anime Excel Saga, Rikudo Koshi and Watanabe Shinichi appear as characters
- In many webcomics (e.g. the sprite comic Bob and George, Irregular Webcomic!, and many others), the author appears as a character.
- Stephen King inserts himself into his Dark Tower series, starting at book five.
- Osamu Tezuka is seen in a few of his mangas as a secondary character.
See also
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