Morally ambiguous/questionable/dubious protagonist

[Adam]

Anyone know of any good titles matching that description? Preferably high fantasy (magic, mythical creatures, etc.) from the last 15 years or so, but SciFi is welcome.

To be more precise, I'm not looking for characters that "just want to watch the world burn", but something more along the lines of a "grey" protagonist who doesn't have preconceived notions of good/evil nor cares to uphold them, but acts purely out of self interest. By extension, the narration should avoid using moral qualifiers as much possible.

I've looked into the Dark Fantasy and Antihero categories, which I know by some definitions to mean there's a morally ambiguous protagonist, but found some books that I know don't fit the description. For example, having read Sanderson's Mistborn, I don't think anyone would consider the protagonists to be morally ambiguous, yet it's featured there.

Some titles I came across in my searches...

- Joe Abercrombie's The First Law
Read it. Glokta and Ferro match the description well enough, and it's a good read, but not exactly what I was hoping for.

- Mark Lawrence's Prince of Thorns
Started reading but didn't get hooked, so it's on hold.

Any others? Thanks.

[Brenda]

You've read LORD FOUL'S BANE, by Stephen Donaldson.

[Janine]

Perhaps Monette's "Doctrine of Labyrinths" series would qualify? Book One is Melusine.

[G.G.]

Have you tried Dragonlance series by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman? The books are older than 15 years though. I'd say that Raistlin Majere might be that kind of character you seek.

Check wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raistlin...

[Michele]

Maybe Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan if you want to try the SF angle. I believe his fantasy series may fit, but I haven't read it yet.

[Krazykiwi]

The Black Company certainly fits, but Cook's writing is a bit marmite: You'll either love or hate it. On the bright side if you like it (I do!), there's tons of books. The Black Company

And for a series where everyone is flat out "out for themselves", and most of them are ruthless bastards try The Darkness That Comes Before (R. Scott Bakker)

[James]

The series started in the 80s, but new ones are coming out, now.

Thieves' World

The series takes place in a city known for its lack of morals. Shared universe anthologies. Fantasy. Rogues, assassins, wizards, mercenaries, slave traders etc, etc..

Many of the protagonists (probably most) are of the grey morals type.