As a reader, I tend to look for ways that the characters I’m reading about are like me, or are like I was as a kid. I think it’s something that most imaginative people do, if they’re readers. We enjoy relating to these fictional characters, maybe because it makes it easier for us to imagine ourselves going on these amazing escapades.
Over the years, there have been a million characters that resonated with me because of similarities to myself. There were just none that I related to as much as I did Victor Bayne from Jordan Castillo Price’s PsyCop series.
Let me get a few things out of the way. I am not a 40 year old man. I am straight. I am not a cop, nor can I see and speak with ghosts. I do not need to pop pills in order to keep said ghosts away. I have not, nor ever been, held against my will and become someone’s lab rat. I don’t have to worry about being bugged, or assassinated. Clearly, in all of those obvious ways, Vic and I are absolutely nothing alike.
However, when you peel back his layers to everything happening inside his head, we are so much alike. Both of us feel like we’re awkward people. Neither of us does well in crowds, or is very good at expressing ourselves verbally. Too much attention makes us uncomfortable, and we’re harder on ourselves than we probably should be. What it comes down to, is that in every scene that should be intimate or familiar Victor’s reactions remind me of how I’ve felt in the past. His thoughts mirror my thoughts, his internal dialogue is a version of mine. Our brains seem to be wired the same.
I felt this camaraderie immediately, right from my first reading of Among the Living. It’s one of the biggest reasons that PsyCop has always been one of my favorite series, and why Vic is one of my all time favorite characters.
So, the point of this post is that, this morning as I was listening to GhosTV on audio, Victors birthday was casually mentioned. I’m not sure how I missed this the first time, because my mind was totally blown. It was MY birthday! 2/23! Victor Bayne and I are birthday twins! I was delighted. I consider this proof. No matter what anyone else says, Vic is my fictional personality doppelganger. We are the same, he and I…
Who is your fictional personality doppelganger?
Birdie Bookworm 
BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL post! Seriously, mate, I love your writing style. And more than that, I loved the idea of the post.I’ve related to so many fictional characters as I read, but I don’t think I could relate to someone as much as you do to Victor. At least, no character comes to mind at the moment.. but I’ll definitely write about it when the revelation hits and will thank you for that 🙂 (That is.. if you don’t mind me writing about something like yours– will give the idea credits, of course).
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Absolutely! I’d love to hear about it when you find your fictional personality twin. It’s the craziest feeling, reading about someone who reminds you so much of yourself! And then to realize we also share a birthday, it was crazy! (And thank you for your kind words about this post!)
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This is a fun idea for a post. Me – I’ve never felt like I had a personality doppelganger. I’m convinced I’m one of a kind. But now you’ll have me looking for one!
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There’s definitely something to be said about being one of a kind! 🙂
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I do the same thing! The closest that comes to mind for me right now (I haven’t had a whole cup of coffee yet, so bear with me!) is Sherlock Holmes. I always loved the character as a kid. I read all the books multiple times. But I never really appreciated ‘why’ until the ‘new’ Sherlock Holmes movies came out in the 2000’s with Robert Downey Jr. as Holmes. I was flabbergasted. Appalled. How in the world could average height, dark haired, brooding, Robert Downey Jr play the suave, sophisticated, tall, lanky, Holmes?
Because he GOT him. He got the psychology of Holmes that never was really touched upon in the glossed over B&W films, 70’s and 80’s TV shows, and even in the plays. He made me go back and reread all the books again (and listen to them on audiobooks on especially long days).
Holmes was a loner. Like me. He struggled with socializing. Like me. But he was a good actor. (Okay, not me, but I can blend in when necessary). He could ‘play’ any role, except boredom. Hence the ‘illusion’ of sophistication and normalcy. Let list goes on… when I reread it now, it’s easy to see those undercurrents of his character.
There are other characters that I have identified with throughout the years, but I have to say, that was the one that most surprised me. (i.e. not male, not tall, not lanky, not upper class…)
Thanks for the reminder. 🙂
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First and foremost, let’s coo over how great that movie was. Robert Downey Jr is a damn good actor!
Now, it sounds just like me with Vic! In all the superficial ways you’re not alike, but in all the internal ways you recognize yourself in the character? I really think that is one of the best feelings, as a reader!
I’ve never actually read Sherlock Holmes, but you really made me want to. He sounds like a character I’d like to get to know.
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Yes. Highly recommend it. Hard to believe that the stories were never really ‘books’. (Short Stories in The Strand, if memory serves) I get completely lost in them, every time I read (or listen to) them.
Have you seen the newest BBC version? Stephen Moffat (sp) wrote a version with Benedict Cumberbatch playing Holmes. Hilarious! Love his ‘petulant teenager’ take on the Holmes character. And the autistic traits that he imbeds in the character (yes, it is possible Holmes was a bit on the spectrum) fits well. However, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle must be rolling over in his grave over what they did to “The Woman” (i.e. Miss Irene Adler)! Oh the scandal of it all! lol.
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I absolutely watch the BBC version. I also watch Elementary, haha. I actually love watching anything Sherlock related. I’m just not sure why I’ve never read the original work.
Now, I’ve seen every episode of BBC’s Sherlock, and for the life of me I can’t remember Irene Adler in it at all! I just looked her up, and I’m shocked! (Though I sure did love those episodes!)
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This is such a cool and unique post. I can’t really say that I consider any character to be my personality doppelganger, although there have been a few that I have identified with and related to more than others. Lizzie Bennett in Pride and Prejudice comes to mind because her stubbornness parallels my own pretty well.
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Thanks! That’s another one that I haven’t read. I’m ashamed to admit that, actually. For as much as I’ve read, I’ve not read a lot of the classics. It’s on my list. That loooong list. 🙂
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I’ll have to think about this tomorrow and get back to you. I’m always looking for myself in fictional characters. 😊 Great post!
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Thank you!
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[…] Victor Bayne. In fact, I wrote an entire post about how he’s my fictional twin. You can read that here. […]
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