Antiheroes as Main Characters in Fantasy

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I admit, my favorite heroes are antiheroes. If you like them, who are your favorites, and why?

I'm reading and the hero has been in prison and he's a thief and can easily be a thug, although he has his own ethics. I like that about him.

I think antiheroes are more realistic, because no human is perfect and always does the right thing. Plus, I like to see a character who cares for nothing evolve to have a sense of purpose. Also, I like to see shades of gray and honor. Oftentimes, the right choice depends on the situation. That is not to say that I think morality is always flexible. It is not. But it is up to each person to decide what the right thing to do is based on the situation they face.

Sorry for the long post.

[Maggie]

I dont know if she counts...but maybe Best Served Cold
She is so bent on revenge, and puts everything into it, and keeps getting nothing out of it....

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I can post the article from Wikipedia as a reference, although I don't love their examples:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antihero

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I will post my list when I gather my thoughts.

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*, *good karma*]

I've not read tons of anti heros, but I really like Carlos from the Vampire Huntress Series...

My favorite anti-hero is Waylander (Drenai Tales, #3). Waylander is a great character, he doesn't pretend to always do the right thing but you can tell he has a conscience.

[Traci]

I like my anti-heros to have honor even if it's not the same as ours would be. I like them to know they're not the good guys. They can believe their way is the right way but they don't see themselves as heros. I think it's easier to relate to them when they have a flaw. Something that the reader can sympathize with. If they have feelings the reader has felt. Even if we would never act on it. I have recently read Joe Abercrombie & I think he does a great job of writing for characters who shouldn't be likable but are. Michael Moorcock's Elric is a good anti hero too.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I totally agree with you, Traci. I haven't read Abercrombie yet, but I am excited to read him. I did read Elric, and I thought he was a great anti-hero.

[Rachel]

I like moral ambiguity - imperfect characters seem much more realistic to me, and I like to have believable characters inhabiting my unbelievable worlds :)

[Stuart]

Rachel wrote: "I like moral ambiguity - imperfect characters seem much more realistic to me, and I like to have believable characters inhabiting my unbelievable worlds :)"

Would Brent Weeks Night Angel series fit the bill?

[Traci]

I think Kylar from the Night Angels books is mostly a good guy hero with some imperfections. As I think on it there's actually two types of anti heroes. The ones who are mostly good with a bit of darkness and the others are mostly dark with some goodness.

[Rachel]

Yeah, I loved the Night Angel books, absolutely raced through them. Lots of instances of good people being put into situations where they have to do less-good things to survive.

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I think there is a spectrum of antiheroism, just as there is a spectrum of heroism. They probably run into each other at some point.

[mark]

Tyrion from SOIF, of course.

Liane the Wayfarer, Cugel the Clever, Rhialto the Marvellous from The Dying Earth series.

Mr. Norrell from Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Steerpike from Gormenghast

Azhrarn and Uhlume from Tales from the Flat Earth

Elric of Melnibone

[Lina]

Is Jaime Lannister considered an antihero? If so, then he's the one for me.
I really like how he grew up during the series for me, how his character evolves from an evil kingslayer to a kinda sensitive man later...

[Mark]

If he fits the bill then I'd definitely go for Kylar Stern too.

[Jason]

I love both Jaime and Tyrion. In fact, I love how at first you hate Jaime, then, throughout the series, begin to like him.

[Bets]

Yeah, i don't like heros. Actually, I'm not sure I like anti-heros. I just like people muddling through. But I really don't like honor. Or chivalry. Or fate.

[[deleted user]]

Heh...remind me not to have you in the foxhole with me, Cicada ;)

[Danielle The Book Huntress]

I need to have characters to root for in a book. I don't care if they are dark and flawed. I just need to feel that they want to do the right thing, even if they fail. Reading a book with no heroes of any kind (even if they are antiheroes) is not for me.

[Tracey]

Grant wrote: "Heh...remind me not to have you in the foxhole with me, Cicada ;)"

Seconded.

[Bets]

I don't like honor or chiv, stuff like that. But I am extremely loyal. I will give you my last drop of water, and probably slit of vein so you can drink my blood when we run out of water. Concepts, I'm iffy on. People, including all their flaws and fuck ups, I love.

[[deleted user]]

Lol...I'll split water with you but I'm gonna pass on the blood thing ;) I get where you're coming from though