SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Who is your favorite character from sci-fi and fantasy?
I really like Christopher Eccleston's Doctor.
Well... let's try:Bert, Tom, & William, the trolls from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Morgaine from C.J. Cherryh's Morgaine Saga novels
Colonel Alois Hammer from David Drake's Hammer's Slammers novels
Messrs. Croup & Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere
William Mandella & Marygay Potter from Joe Haldeman's The Forever War
Kane from several novels by Karl Edward Wagner
and, once you've "met" him, who could ever forget James Bolivar "Slippery Jim" diGriz from Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series?
@Terri:Me too! I think Ten is waaaaaay over rated :P
Takeshi Kovacs is my recent favorite from Altered Carbon: A Takeshi Kovacs NovelOthers that have not yet been mentioned:
John Uskglass of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell
Uther Doul, The Brucolac, and Silas Fennec of The Scar
The Weaver of Perdido Street Station
Pham Nuwen of A Deepness in the Sky
Felix of Armor
Bora Horza Gobuchul of Consider Phlebas
Manfred Macx of Accelerando
Duncan Idaho of many Dune novels.
I have to say there are probably many but Vlad from Brust's novels is pretty far up there. Lilith from Butler's Xenogenesis series
Senneth from Shinn's Mystic series
Raistlin for bad guys (I know the writing isn't great but the character...)
Ooh! Yay lists! I love lists! :)-Morgaine from The Mists of Avalon
-Robinton, Lessa, F'lar, F'nor and F'lon from The Dragonriders of Pern series by Anne McCaffrey. But especially Robinton.
-Isabeau from the Witches of Eileanan series by Kate Forsyth
-Aragorn, Eowyn, LOTR
-Faolan from the Bridei Chronicles by Juliet Marillier
-Sorcha and Finbar from the Sevenwaters series by Juliet Marillier
There are many, many others but I'm a) hesitant to post a huge list and b) am completely spacing on them right now anyway. :)
Miles Vorkosigan (as many have said) from the Lois McMaster Bujold books on Barrayar, my #1Spock from Star Trek, Jean-Luc from Next Gen
Robinette Broadhead from Pohl's "Gateway"
Ender and Bean from Card's "Ender" books
Nirgal in the "Mars" trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson
Frank, Anna, and Charlie in "Forty Signs of Rain" and rest of the trilogy by K.S. Robinson
Pierre Tardivel in "Frameshift" and Thomas Jericho in "Calculating God" by Robert J. Sawyer
Jilly and Geordie in Charles de Lint's Newford books
The "crow girls", several Charles de Lint books
Gaby Plauget in the Gaea trilogy by John Varley
Jake Stonebender in Spider Robinson's "Callahan" series
Father Emilio Sandoz in "The Sparrow" by Mary Doria Russell
From Bujold, I like Cazaril in The Curse of Chalion almost better than Miles. If she does more work in the Vorkosigan universe I hope she uses Ivan instead of Miles. I always thought, after Ivan's triumph in A Civil Campaign that he would take up where Miles left off. I'd rather she left everyone else to their HEA.Other favorites of mine are Tanya Huff's Torin Kerr, Nina Kiriki Hoffman's Tom Bolte and especially Uncle Carrol from The Thread That Binds the Bones, Wallie Smith from Dave Duncan's Seventh Sword trilogy. Tarkas and Janosec from The Flame in the Bowl: Unbinding the Stone and A Warrior Made also work for me, somehow.
Kickaha from Philip Jose Farmer's World of Tiers series & Conrad from Roger Zelazny's This Immortal & Sam from Lord of Light are a lot of fun. Completely irreverent on the surface, but they have a deep caring for their people & aren't afraid to tilt at windmills.
Wow - so hard to choose - but I think I'll have to go with Frodo - because it is LOTR that introduced me to fantasy. I really liked "hobbits" in general - mild mannered folks that did not care about the trobules of the outside world - and though they don't general travel or adventure he went on the biggest adventure of all time to do something that should never had been his burden to bear.-- Wife of GR author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy (10/08) | Avempartha (04/09)
Ah... That's funny. I seem to have read many SF stories, but there are not that many characters that stick to my mind. Well, let's see:1. Miles Vorkosigan from Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga. I pretty much love everyone on Vorkosigan saga, at least those on Miles' side of the line--but, yes, Miles leads the parade.
2. Gregory Powell and Mike Donovan from Asimov's Robot series.
3. Messrs. Croup and Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (I didn't particularly enjoy the book, but I love these two).
4. Frodo, from JRR Tolkien's LOTR.
5. Elijah Bailey from Asimov's Caves of Steel, The Naked Sun, and The Robot of Dawn.
6. Lupe dy Cazaril, from Lois Bujold's first two books in the Chalion series.
7. Ferda and Foix dy Gura, from the same books as favorite character #6.
Oh, I have a feeling I will be back here a few times. :)Right now, the ones I can think of would be (in no particular order):
- Ron Weasley from the Harry Potter series
- Aragorn, Faramir and Sam from LOTR
- Roran from Paolini's Inheritance Cycle
- Crowley from Good Omens
- Roland, Eddie and Jake from King's Dark Tower Series
- Butler from the Artemis Fowl series
- Jack & Wolf from The Talisman
Indeed, this is a tough question, and an immensely personal one, since different characters can appeal very differently depending on what's going on in your life at the time.For instance, one of my favorites comes from a series of books I now like much less than I did as a teen R. A. Salvatore's Dark Elf books).
Anyway, that being said, mine are a four way tie between:
R. A. Salvatore's Drizzt Duo'orden from the Dark Elf books
Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman's Crawley from Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Dream and Death from Neil Gaiman's Sandman
Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden
I'm going to have to second (or whatever number we're up to--I can't count that high) everyone who said Crawley from Good Omens. :D
My favorites are:1)Raistlin
2)Paul Mu'adib Atreides
3)Drizzt
4)Ender
5)Croaker, from Glen Cook
6)Captain John "Black Jack" Geary.
There are so many, hard to choose just a few.Paul Maud'dib, Duncan Idaho, Gurney Hallect and Duke Leto from the Dune series.
Morgaine and Accolon from The Mists of Avalon.
Cassandra of Firebrand.
Breaca/Boudica, Caradoc and Ban/Julius from Manda Scott's Boudica series.
Aragorn, Faramir and Elrond of LOTR.
Abernathy of Magic Kingdom For Sale.
Merlin from Mary Stewart's Arthurian novels.
Odd Thomas and Stormy from Dean Koontz.
Lestat and Louis from the Vampire Chronicles.
Count Magpyr of Carpe Jugulum.
Hal the computer from 2001: A Space Oddyssey
Cian from Nora Roberts Circle trilogy.
Wolverine, Ironman, Silver Surfer from Marvel.
Jean Luc Picard is the ONLY Star Trek Captain for me.
David Tennant as the 10th Doctor Who. Rose from same.
Starbuck, Bill Adama, Caprica Six from BSG.
Jack O'Neill from SG1. And Ronan from SG Atlantis is hot so I have to add him.
New.I used to love old BSG...until the new one came along.
I like them both. The old one is like abright orange polyester leisure suit from the 70's. You'd never wear it, but it has kitsch value :)
LOL, That's so true.And how do you like old Apollo turned terrorist turned politician in the new series? I frakkin' love it!
While the story is excellent in both, it's the advances in graphics and technology that make the new a better series to watch. It's more grown up, more real. I feel more with the new characters than with the old, a connection I never felt with Old BSG.
I never really got into the old BSG, although I can appreciate it. I like the new one because it's so gritty. Nothing's black and white. And Richard Hatch is awesome as Zarek, IMO. :)
Oh, and I forgot to add:Sam Vimes, from Terry Pratchett Discworld series. And the Patrician, Havelock Vetinari, too.
Death, from the same series.
Iorek and Lee Scoresby, and the daemons, especially Pantalaimon and Stelmaria, from Phillip Pullman's His Dark Material trilogy.
Frannie McCabe from the Wooden Sea loose trilogy by Jonathan CarrollAlso, the main character from Time and Again by Jack Finney
My favourite characters would have to be Faramir from LOTR and DEATH from the discworld, not forgetting the Death of Rats EEEKK!!
My favorite character is Mendoza from the Company series by Kage Baker. She is brave, smart, and immortal. Who can beat that?
I don't read much fantasy books, but my vote will definitely go to Bartimaeus from the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Unique is an understatement for him.
Takeshi Kovacs, from Robert K Morgan's Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. Envoys rule =)
One of my favorite characters is hani captain Pyanfar Chanur from C.J. Cherryh's The Pride of Chanur and it's sequels. I also love Sam from LOTR because, in the end, he proved himself to be as much of a hero as Frodo and I don't think he gets nearly enough credit.And, of course, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the three main characters from my own first novel,
Griffin's Daughter, Jelena, Ashinji, and Magnes.
Steerpike and Fuschia from Mervyn Peake's GormeghastEngelbrecht from Exploits of Engelbrecht
Behemoth from Master and the Margarita
Lee Scoresby and Iorek from Pullman's His Dark Materials
Fevvers from Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus
Jherek Carnelian from Moorcock's Dancers at the End of Time
all the characters form Tove Jansson's Moomin books
Father of Cats from Robert Irwin's Arabian Nightmare
the title character from Calvino's Baron in the Trees
every character from Flann o'brien's Third Policeman
Olympia from E.T.A Hoffman's The Sandman
the narrator of Melville's Bartelby
Severian from Wolfe's Book of the New Sun
the entire cast of Vance's Dying Earth
ditto for Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass
Silvana wrote: "I don't read much fantasy books, but my vote will definitely go to Bartimaeus from the Bartimaeus Trilogy. Unique is an understatement for him."I concur - Bartimaeus is a fun character no doubt.
-- Wife of fantasy author Michael J. Sullivan: The Crown Conspiracy | Avempartha (04/09)
My favorite character is:Raistlin Majere (of Dragonlance fame)
He wins, hands down. No competition. Dragons of Autumn Twilight was the first fantasy book I read (not counting the ones my mother read to me), and I was completely in love with him from the first time he appeared.
Other favorites:
Lestat (Vampire Chronicles)
Morpheus (The Sandman)
The entire cast of Jonathan Strange & Mister Norrell (yes, really - well, I'm not counting all the Yorkshire magicians from the beginning)
Remus Lupin (Harry Potter)
And since some of you mentioned the Moomin books, I agree, Nuuskamuikkunen (Snuffkin) rules!
Jackie wrote: "There are so many, hard to choose just a few.Paul Maud'dib, Duncan Idaho, Gurney Hallect and Duke Leto from the Dune series.
Morgaine and Accolon from The Mists of Avalon.
Cassandra of Firebr..."
How the heck did Nora Roberts get into a fantasy/science fiction discussion. AARRRGGHHHHH!!!
I really can't tell between Tasselhoff Burrfoot and Raistlin in Dragonlance. I like Taz because he is so much fun. I like Raistlin because he is evil and trying to get stronger in his craft. Maybe it's the good/evil thing, but I like them both.I also like Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit.
Aravan the elf, all of the warrows, and just about any character from Mckiernan's Mithgar series, Murtagh and Roran from Paolini's Inheritance, and Bilbo and Gandalf. Is there anyone who is as big a Dennis Mckiernan fan as I am?
From Terry Pratchett's Discworld series:His Grace, the Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel Vimes
Death
Susan Sto Helit
Granny Weatherwax
Nanny Ogg
Lord Vetinari
Otto Chriek
Dorfl
Detritus
Cheery Littlebottom
All of the Wizards
All of the Nac Mac Feegle
The Librarian (don't call him a monkey)
Everything else:
Ford Prefect from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series
Dobby from the Harry Potter series
Jessica from Dune
Obi-Wan Kenobi from Star Wars
Yoda from Star Wars
Sam Gamgee from Lord of the Rings
Dream from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman
Death from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman
Delirium from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman
The Corinthian from Neil Gaiman's The Sandman
Crowley from Good Omens
Agnes Nutter from Good Omens
The Satanic nuns from Good Omens
I keep seeing Raistlin from the Dragonlance series popping up. I might just have to put that on my to-read list...You all are so much more well-read than I. Maybe I have just been so absorbed in particular series as of late. Anyway, my faves:
Sam, Legolas, and Gimli from LotR
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna Lovegood, and Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter fame (I'm glad there's another Luna lover out there--she doesn't get enough credit after Order of the Phoenix)
Cattie Brie, Drizzt, and Artemis Entreri from the Salvatore Dark Elf books
Kahlan Amnell from the Sword of Truth series by Goodkind
Claire and Brianna from the Outlander series (kind of fantasy--historical time travel type)
Egwene al'Vere, Perrin Aybara, and Moiraine from Wheel of Time (I'm surprised that I have not seen more Wheel of Time references here!!!!)
I know I will have more later, but there are so many!!!! The above are my most recent.
Lisa wrote: "Aravan the elf, all of the warrows, and just about any character from Mckiernan's Mithgar series, Murtagh and Roran from Paolini's Inheritance, and Bilbo and Gandalf. Is there anyone who is as big a Dennis Mckiernan fan as I am?"My daughter keeps passing books from his faery tale series to me. I wouldn't say I'm a huge fan, but they are good, romantic escapism.
Ender and Bean from Ender's GameFriday from Friday (I can't believe I didn't notice her mentioned)
Phedre and Joscelin from Kushiel's Dart
Aragorn, Faramir and Eowyn from LOTR
Moiraine Sedia, Perrin Aybara and Mat Cauthon from WoT
And last but very certainly not least, we have to give some love to the women of Dune since the men keep being mentioned. I agree Duncan, Gurney, Paul are all amazing but where would the story be with Chani (and later Alia). Those two kick ass as well (though obviously I would say that).
Cazaril from The Curse of Chalion (I have such a crush on him!)Sam Vimes from Discworld
DEATH from Discworld
Razor Eddie and Suzie Shooter from Simon R. Green's The Nightside series
The Marquis de Carabas from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere
Joseph from Kage Baker's The Company books
Jean-Luc Picard from STNG
Joe Pitt from Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt Casebooks series
PC Ashley (real name 10111001000100111-11) from the Nursery Crime series by Jasper Fforde
Q from also from STNG (I love his line about it being "hard to work in groups when you're omnipotent")
Early Anita Blake from Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series
There are lots and lots to choose from....i may be back with additions, but for now:Croup and Vandemar from Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere (I agree with that. They're insanely awesome)
Death and Merv Pumpkinhead from Gaiman's Sandman
Mat, Aviendha, and Tuon from Wheel of Time, along with all of the Asha'man.
Trashcan Man from The Stand
Severus Snape from Harry Potter
Racetrack from BSG
Jadzia Dax from Trek
Zedd from Sword of Truth
Rue Merridian from Terry Brooks' Shannara
Quick Ben, Sorry (Apsalar), Kalam, Whiskeyjack - Bridgeburners, baby. From Steven Erikson's Malazan series.
Roland, the Gunslinger
We can't forget:
Randall Flagg, the Walkin' Dude! from The Stand.
And probably my all time favorite anti-hero, a Son and Knight of Darkness who carries a soul stealing sword and rules over a cruel race of magic using Tiste Andii, but is one hell of a nice guy if you get to know him,
Anomander Rake, the Lord of Moon's Spawn. He is also from Erikson's Malazan series.
It's far too difficult to pick just one, but here are a few that stand out:Mr. Croup and Mr. Vandemar from "Neverwhere"
Aziraphale and Crowley from "Good Omens"
Minerva McGonagall from the Harry Potter series
Sandor Clegane and Tyrion Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire
Glorfindel from The Lord of the Rings
There are a lot more, but those are the ones that immediately spring to mind.
Oh, hell yeah. How did I forget Sandor Clegane? The Hound rocks. Gotta love Tyrion too. They're two of my favorites in what has to be my favorite series.And since I'm on here again, I need to add Kvothe from Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind as well.
Tyrion Lanister. Very unpredictable! i like Ender Wiggin too. And Kvothe from The Name of The Wind
SAM from LOTR, now that's what you call a true friend.I'm still looking for my own sam.
There are so many characters that are so great, its really hard to choose any one. I'd have to go back to the first fantasy I ever read and say that my favorite characters are those in "The Wind in the Willows:" Ratty, Mole, Badger, Otter and Mr. Toad. They are the reason I read this book at least once a year.
Oh, hell yeah. How did I forget Sandor Clegane? The Hound rocks. Gotta love Tyrion too. They're two of my favorites in what has to be my favorite series.Huzzah! A fellow Sandor fan! I've been taunted and ridiculed on some boards for daring to say he's one of my favorite characters. Sounds like you're as big a fan of Martin's outstanding series as I am, Chris. Now if only he'd get book five finished and out to us...
John wrote: "Oh, hell yeah. How did I forget Sandor Clegane? The Hound rocks. Gotta love Tyrion too. They're two of my favorites in what has to be my favorite series.Huzzah! A fellow Sandor fan! I've been t..."
I'm afraid to like any more of the characters created by Martin..... every single one that I've liked thus far has been killed off. I'm starting to feel like a jinx.
I do love the series, however, and like so many others, I'm impatiently awaiting the next installment.
Harpoon wrote: "SAM from LOTR, now that's what you call a true friend.I'm still looking for my own sam."
Another option is to be a Sam for someone else.
Personally I love Gandalf. Such a strong, fierce, but loving character.I also enjoy the calm, intelligent, deliberate characters in Gene Wolfe's work - especially Silk from the Long Sun books. Adding a twist of childish bravado and straightforwardness to this mix is Able from Wolfe's Wizard Knight books.
For all that the series has turned into a deep disappointment, there are many great characters in "A Game of Thrones". I particularly like Jaime Lannister - he's a nice little study of ego, self-realization, and redemption. In terms of characters you love to hate, Sansa Stark is the most despicable character ever in any genre, ever.
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Methuselah's Children (other topics)The Fighter Queen (other topics)
King's Dragon (other topics)
Winter of Fire (other topics)
Kushiel's Dart (other topics)
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Lois McMaster Bujold (other topics)David Brin (other topics)
Phyllis Gotlieb (other topics)
Connie Willis (other topics)
Charles de Lint (other topics)
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My big-time favorites right now are from the Black Company books. Both Croaker and Lady impressed me a lot. They were very well and honestly developed characters, though I'd probably feel a lot safer in Croaker's presence. Darling and Raven got pretty interesting in The Silver Spike, and Bomanz' opinion of everyone (especially the Tree God) was hilarious.