Competition No 3744
Set by Adrian Fry on 12 August
We asked for accounts by famous figures of how fictional characters inspired them.
Report by Theophilus Goat
Hon menshes to Anne du Croz (IDS on Mr Micawber) and Michael Cregan (Tony Blair and the Invisible Man); £20 to the winners; and the vouchers to Basil Ransome-Davies.
George W Bush on Wile E Coyote
There was one classic character in fictionality that always had a lesson for me. Gee, I would be spellbound by his antics. Perseverance-wise, he was never to be discouraged. Wile E Coyote: that was like an animal thing, kind of a four-legged wild dog-type being, but you could tell there was a real message there. Terrorist regimes must be confronted! No two ways. He's harassed by the roadrunner, that's like evil on legs, but he keeps on going. So that's what I'm saying. Because when it comes to the punch, you always never have to turn tail.
Basil Ransome-Davies
Jeffrey Archer on Pinocchio
Leaving aside the obvious fact that both of us have been scurrilously accused of lying, there are many other comparisons. For example, as my looks suggest, I too am Italian in origin - my real name is Gianfranco Sagittario. Just as Pinocchio was carved from wood by the toymaker Geppetto, I, incredible as it may seem, was carved from marble by the early Renaissance Florentine sculptor Donatello. I remained in the Uffizi until, like Pinocchio, I too came to life. This was a mere 30 years ago. I made my way to Oxford, where I gained my double First, and the rest is history.
David Silverman
Robin Cook on Casanova and James Bond
Great lovers have huge success in all departments. I have been a minister now in three different government departments, which is more than Casanova could say. Being universally envied by all men is a burden I have to live with. They hate me for my charm, my James Bond-like good looks and, of course, my conquests. Bond is another person I often model myself on - especially during my Foreign Office period, although I found that Fleming somewhat exaggerated the willingness of female agents to go to bed with rugged heroes such as myself. I also found there are a lot more lesbians in the FCO than there were in his day.
Alex Folkes
John Prescott on the Famous Five's George
All my life, years including, I have been influential by George, the unswervingly loyal let's face it member of the Famous Five, as the firm and hard one which was sincerely unafraid. Notwithstanding the cream buns in the tea-shop, which was in constant supply, George is the fearless one who standing up to Uncle Quentin, took supplies to the smuggling coves when there was a holidays nowadays which is a recess, and loaded boats and came into the rescue mission when as is requisite, and took on the pirates singlehandedly let's not forget it as a comrade, when Julian and Dick and Anne and Timmy might have been, I say they were, stranding in deep trouble, which is where George came in on the outboard to Kirrin Island, with the pirates skulking, and stood up and was accountable for actions unmentionable by the others.
Will Bellenger
No 3747 Set by John Crick
In the NS of 29 July, Philip Kerr wrote: "Here in England, there is no poetry to be found in our metric coinage." We want you to prove him wrong. Entries can be in any form or style (pastorals to the penny, perhaps, or tankas on the 20p piece). Max 10 lines by 13 September
(to appear in issue dated 23 September) E-mail: comp@newstatesman.co.uk
