Good…bad…they’re the guys with the legislative power. Mira Grant November 6, 2012

cre: Good…bad…they’re the guys with the legislative power.

Mira Grant

November 6, 2012

I like me some fictional politicians. Right, left, right, wrong, whatever, as long as they’re interesting and willing to give me a fresh look at the law. Here are my top ten, at least for now.

10. Katherine Vaughn Powers, President of the United States of America, The President’s DaughterEllen Emerson White.

The President’s Daughter series of young adult novels – starting with The President’s Daughter and concluding with May she reign long, which is arguably an adult novel – focuses primarily on the trials of being the eldest daughter of the first female President of the United States, but we see President Powers’ tenure through his daughter’s eyes. President Powers is firm in her beliefs, dedicated to her family and her country, and does not negotiate with terrorists. President Powers is really damn badass, when it comes down to it. The entire series was re-released in 2008 with new covers and updated pop culture and tech references for the time. I think it’s kind of sad that when the first book came out, in 1984, everyone kind of assumed that we would have a woman in the White House by now. Maybe soon.

9. Greg Stillson, Congressman from New Hampshire, The dead zoneStephen King.

Oh, Congressman Stillson, what can I say about you except “stay away from me”? Congressman Stillson was perhaps the first fictional politician I ever encountered, during my marathon reading of the works of Stephen King. I was too young to appreciate its vile qualities as a “viper* in human form”, and was surprised once again when I finally picked up the book as an adult. (*Actually, I like Vipers, way more than I like Greg Stillson. That’s just good shorthand for his wicked horror.) He’s the kind of man who makes our real-world politicians look good . Stillson’s version featured by the TV version of The dead zone is a different kind of monster, but it’s no less interesting and no less terrible for being somewhat humanized by the constant demands of the drama series format. Both will give you nightmares, and rightly so.

8. The Doctor, Lord President of Gallifrey, Doctor Who.

What the people who started watching Doctor Who with the recent revival may not realize is that the Doctor was Lord President of Gallifrey. Twice. Both times he ran away from his job as soon as possible, literally leaving his office holding his robes. When presented with political power, he turns and pushes it the other way. He is the male.

7. Havelock Vetinari, Patrician of Ahnk-Morpork, Discworld, Terry Pratchett.

It might be a little weird that one of my favorite fictional politicians came from a series of light comedy fantasy novels originally. But the Discworld has grown and deepened since its slightly fluffy inception, and the Patrician of Ahnk-Morpork* has been there, deepening and growing with the rest. Go deeper and become a tyrant that no one wants to oppose because he makes the city work, which shouldn’t work, but hey. Vetinari has a sharp political mind *** and was trained by the best the record had to offer. He’s ruthless, ruthless, and all too aware of the kind of man you need to be if you want his town to keep running, let alone running. Good. As a patrician, he kicked and screamed Anhk-Morpork into the present…and as a patrician, he’s more than capable of kicking out anyone who wants to live in the past. (*The biggest city on record. Somehow London, New York, and Disney World are all put together and hit with a soldering iron.) (**The fact that Anhk-Morpork starts each day not entirely on fire is a true testament to Vetinari’s skill. And his relationship with the Assassin’s Guild.) (***Several, in fact, if the Igors have been in office lately.)

6. Klaus Wulfenbach, Baron Wulfenbach, Genie GirlPhil and Kaja Foglio.

Speaking of the past… take your mind back to the damp land of Europe, when Sparks and Madboys were constantly battling for dominance. From this war-ravaged landscape emerged heroes, villains, and ultimately the iron fist of Baron Klaus Wulfenbach, who recognized that control was the only thing that would keep Europe from tearing itself apart and likely dragging the rest of the world. For the journey. What control? Why his, of course. After all, he was the one with the army, the floating castle, and the sheer bad-tempered determination to make all the pieces work together. Baron Wulfenbach is the kind of man who took charge because someone had to, and kept it because the alternatives were even worse. Even when it falls from the sky, he plans to put the next step of his plan into action. Plus, he looks damn good in his underwear, fictional character from a comic book universe or not.

5. Harriet Jones, Prime Minister of England, Doctor Who.

She did a very good job. I don’t think she looks tired at all.

4. Arcadia Alvarado, Governor of New Mexico, saucer countryPaul Cornell.

Governor Alvarado is a Hispanic-American woman with dreams of the presidency. She’s tough, she’s smart, she’s ready to take it all, and there’s just one small problem: she believes she’s been abducted by aliens. And maybe she’s right. How could a British author create such an iconic American story, I don’t know, and I don’t care, because saucer country is brilliant, in all its scrambled political/UFO drama glory. Governor Alvarado would also make a great president, especially since I suspect she’s right about all things aliens. Maybe it’s time we believed in the fictional White House.

3. The Beast, President of…well, something, maybe it’s the United States, TransmetropolitanWarren Ellis.

A man like Spider Jerusalem is only as good as his nemesis. Enter the best, the politician Spider tried and failed to destroy the first time he descended the mountain and into the city. The Beast is a beautiful contradiction, both an insufferable monster and a man who has been given an irreparable situation with instructions to keep it intact as much as possible. He’s not a nice man. He’s not a character you’re supposed to like. But it is necessary, and I respect that.

2. Thomas J. Whitmore, President of the United States, independence day.

…yeah, he’s on this list only for his big “Today is not that day” speech before they fight the alien armada. I’m allowed to be an easy target once in a while.

1. Josiah “Jed” Bartlett, President of the United States, The west wing.

Need I say more?

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Although the election is coming to an end in the United States today, you can still rewatch the campaign trail with Sean and Georgia by picking up THE NEWSFLESH TRILOGY from Mira Grant.

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