Interestingly heavy in roles played by Harrison Ford: Indiana Jones, Hans Solo, Jack Ryan.

I don't know what Jack Ryan is doing on anyone's favorite-character list.

Even if I grant that Clancy's books are serviceable entertainments, Jack Ryan isn't a particularly compelling character.

Even as the "average guy with an extraodinary job" sort of character, he's not a standout.

Ignatius is my idol man! I loved loved loved that book. So nice to see a referance to it from time to time. Being from New Orleans, I have always felt a cetain kinship with Ignatius.

Yeah, he's a keeper.

By the way, I'm not saying Jack Ryan is an awful character, as far as spy thrillers go.

But with great fictional characters, one has a sense of what they would do or say in a particular situation. You sort of know them.

I don't know what Jack Ryan would do in most situations. All I know about him is that he's smart, he loves to read, and he loves his wife and kid.

I must be reading the wrong stuff. Don Quixote and Pancho Sanza are no-shows? Blasphemy! :)

hey Ace,

Ignatius J Reilly

I'm stunned to see that Zaphod Beeblebrox isn't on the list. He's one of my favorites, and it seems like he'd be popular with bloggers, from what little I know about blogging.

Quint from Jaws.

"Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women."

Forgot all about Ignatius. Went with Harry Angstrom, instead.

Only two of my 25 made the list - Yossarian from Catch 22 and Sherlock Holmes. Holden Caufield made honorable mention.

Not a single member of the North Valley League Bears made the final cut, even though I personally nominated three: Tanner Boyle, Kelly Leak, and Amanda Whurlitzer. Bloggers are such assholes.

I'm stunned to see that Zaphod Beeblebrox isn't on the list.

Ever notice that Richard Branson seems an awful lot like Zaphod Beeblebrox?

I agree with Ace on Jack Ryan. Ryan is a character created for SJ temprements (MBTI theory), they're good boys, do their duty, obey all laws to the letter, respect all symbols of authority, get their homework done; they're organized, logistics oriented, and anal-retentive. They have worthless strategical and tactical skill and horrible intuition.

But Jack Ryan is an SJ writ large. He embodies standard SJ characteristics along with SJ wet dream characteristics. That's the part of the fantasy that sells the books. When the occasion calls for it and logistics break down, his intuitive judgments are perfect and his tactical judgments are even better. Sometimes he has to go on op missions with, oh. my. god., NO PLAN! He has to fly by the seat of his pants. He goes into that territory feared by SJ's and performs his duty perfectly every time.

Then he comes home to his mother, er, wife, who showers little Jack with motherly love, admiration, and appreciation for a job well done. "You're chucha good boey, Jack." Then the President and other people of high authority shower him with attaboys for a job well done, and they reward him with power and position. Because, for an SJ, doing your duty and being recognized by others for doing a good job are the ultimate narcissistic desires.

I like Clancy, but an SJ's narcissistic wet dream is not my idea of one of the greatest fictional characters.

Indiana Jones is similar, but the SJ side is only a construct, almost a throw away plot device. Clark Kent the librarian, er, newsman is the same. With both of these guys, the action is the real action. With Jack Ryan, fulfilling duties prescribed by others and being a good boy is the real action.

Ok, I'll bite.

What the hell is "SJ"?

Anyone?

Kelly,

"SJ" is some sort of shorthand in a personality-classification system. Based on context, I think it means rules-following superego-dominant types.

Not good-looking rebels who play by their own rules like, for example, me.

What about "Gene" from B.O.C?

SJ = Society of Jesus.

I don't happen to agree with the view of the Jesuits presented, but I don't care enough to argue about it. Mostly, RD, because I'm not Jesuitical.

SJ's are described in the lower left quadrant of this diagram: http://www.typelogic.com/

Actually, this would be better, since the previous site doesn't comment upon SJs as a group.

Ace,

A while back, at "It Comes in Pints", Emily posted regarding great books, etc.

I too, argued that "Confederacy of Dunces" and Ignatius O'Reilly were the downright funniest.

There are two types of people in the world, those that think Ignatius is hilarious, and those who don't matter all that much.

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Ignatius J. Reilly is the most immaculately hilarious character I have ever had put to view in my mind from any book. "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole is without a doubt sheer genious and definitely one of the best comedy novels ever to be written!