tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post6601782000756812913..comments2024-03-28T08:02:30.057-04:00Comments on Word-Whores: The Art of the SidekickK.A. Krantzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-32383273025755453582011-10-11T10:20:49.106-04:002011-10-11T10:20:49.106-04:00Hmmm. I had thought of Sparky and the cats in Jeff...Hmmm. I had thought of Sparky and the cats in Jeffe's novels as more 'familiars' than sidekicks. Phineas is a thing all unto himself, lol.Kerry Schaferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03821175497518362926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-54145280889334318772011-10-10T19:48:08.211-04:002011-10-10T19:48:08.211-04:00I totally followed you. And I agree - it's the...I totally followed you. And I agree - it's the hero or heroine's level of sexual interest that defines the sidekick. Phineas is a good example - he's up for anything, but ... eyew.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-45829667868254084372011-10-10T15:19:42.884-04:002011-10-10T15:19:42.884-04:00D'oh. I meant Pretty in Pink. Not Sixteen Cand...D'oh. I meant Pretty in Pink. Not Sixteen Candles. Jeez. My eighties movies are all running together in my head, LOL.Laura Bicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498043274943334697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-48938682360051862732011-10-10T15:18:21.379-04:002011-10-10T15:18:21.379-04:00Hrrrrmmm. That could be, Jeffe. I never intended o...Hrrrrmmm. That could be, Jeffe. I never intended on Sparky ever having much sexual attraction. I believe that he's told Phin on Twitter that: "Feh. Sex is for *mammals.*" Sparky likes the ladies, but he only wants to cuddle and hog the bed.<br /><br />Phin, you might be the exception to *all* rules! LMAO. :-)<br /><br />However, the availability thing is an interesting plot point. In Sixteen Candles, Duckie is certainly available to Andie...but Andie doesn't reciprocate. So, Duckie...the would-be-romantic-lead...is relegated to sidekick status.<br /><br />I suspect that the key thing in determining whether a character is a sidekick or a romantic lead is the heroine's level of interest.Laura Bicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498043274943334697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-45314357993878187752011-10-10T14:55:46.483-04:002011-10-10T14:55:46.483-04:00Speak for yourself, my dears. I am *always* sexual...Speak for yourself, my dears. I am *always* sexually available. *brow waggle*phineashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00899701854926360856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-44236869138996867172011-10-10T14:52:06.763-04:002011-10-10T14:52:06.763-04:00So, I think you simply confirmed the thesis, Laura...So, I think you simply confirmed the thesis, Laura, that physical attraction/intimacy rules out sidekick. Doesn't it seem the sidekick is always kind of a neuter or not sexually available for some reason?Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-35264502737179420312011-10-10T14:21:54.723-04:002011-10-10T14:21:54.723-04:00Hrm. I don't know that I've ever considere...Hrm. I don't know that I've ever considered that question, KAK. I suspect then that the sidekick moves into the role of "romantic lead"?<br /><br />I'm thinking of Jennifer Roberson's Tiger and Del. Tiger was pretty much the main character, and Del was the surly sidekick. But there was an inkling at the beginning that Tiger found Del to be irresistibly attractive, so I don't think that Del got "promoted" to romantic lead after they got together. But, then again, I'm not sure that she was ever a sidekick to begin with.<br /><br />Interesting question. I've argued myself out of my starting position, LOL.Laura Bicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498043274943334697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-42228212096246713482011-10-10T12:58:58.303-04:002011-10-10T12:58:58.303-04:00I won't deconstruct Kushiel here for fear of r...I won't deconstruct Kushiel here for fear of ruining the fun for those who haven't read the series (Jeffe and I can debate this for hours in IM), but our different opinions raise an interesting question -- once a sidekick becomes physically intimate with the protag, are they no longer the sidekick?K.A. Krantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-78401547038002283612011-10-10T12:39:13.876-04:002011-10-10T12:39:13.876-04:00You know, KAK, I haven't read those. I'm g...You know, KAK, I haven't read those. I'm going to have to add those to my TBR list. <br /><br />And Sparky is wagging his tail to say "thank you." ;-)Laura Bicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498043274943334697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-66254649284519181192011-10-10T12:08:59.043-04:002011-10-10T12:08:59.043-04:00Interesting that you peg Joscelin as a sidekick, K...Interesting that you peg Joscelin as a sidekick, KAK, and not a hero. Really he's her partner and lover, not a BFF. Regardless of where she goes to satisfy her sexual nature.Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-39274999354217261452011-10-10T11:47:15.142-04:002011-10-10T11:47:15.142-04:00The grumpy unicorn in Lackey/Mallory's Obsidia...The grumpy unicorn in Lackey/Mallory's Obsidian Trilogy for being the curmudgeon to the TDTL protag. Joscelin, Phedre's BFF in Carey's Kushiel's series -- for exactly the reason you name: to humanize the protag. <br /><br />Though, most unique and entertaining sidekick definitely goes to Sparky.K.A. Krantzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06674754426001151828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-33229277163364768082011-10-10T11:28:25.978-04:002011-10-10T11:28:25.978-04:00*Hugs* to Sullivan and Jeffe!
Hmmm...a Demon Duck...*Hugs* to Sullivan and Jeffe!<br /><br />Hmmm...a Demon Duck sounds pretty darn cool. I may have to check that out to see how that works...Laura Bicklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02498043274943334697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-9464900360034444372011-10-10T10:56:26.270-04:002011-10-10T10:56:26.270-04:00Sparky!Sparky!Jeffe Kennedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04779020656676094853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7663321286319002443.post-12994842647117137052011-10-10T10:48:54.996-04:002011-10-10T10:48:54.996-04:00Well, there's this one salamander in a certain...Well, there's this one salamander in a certain series..... ;-)<br /><br />The only other that comes to mind at the moment is the Demon duck from A Nameless Witch (about the only cool thing in the book.)Sullivan McPighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15133432350331782496noreply@blogger.com