Books with characters Like Conan or Vlad Taltos?

[Mykander]

I've been reading through some backlog (and new) books lately and I've had a long run of books with some ridiculous characters. Mostly they're either ridiculously naive/righteous or have become completely disconnected from any rational justification for what they do. It is driving me up the wall because it isn't just one or two books, it's at least six out of the past nine I can think of off-hand.

I really need a basic sci-fi or fantasy action style book with a badass style protagonist in a book that doesn't try to be more than just good ol fashioned entertainment. Can anyone recommend some like that before I lose all will to keep reading Sci-Fi/Fantasy for the next several months?

[James]

Try Joe Abercrombies- The First Law series. It has your badass characters a pleasently dark story line. You don't know who's good or who's bad but you have plenty of badasses to chear on.

[Kamil]

you should try David Gemmell's Drenai Tales if you want badass characters whith some depth behind their actions, that's the saga you should read

[Kris]

Karl Edward Wagner books about Kane would fit the bill if you can find them...

[Kamil]

Kris wrote: "Karl Edward Wagner books about Kane would fit the bill if you can find them..."

love the books you mentioned...

[Igor]

You might wanna check The Way of Kings by Sanderson, there are some great battles and one particular assassin you might like. Also, "Kings" deliver great characters, fantastic magic system (it IS Sanderson after all) and overall truly epic fantasy story.
Give it a try and then, like rest of us, wait for a 2nd book :)

[Michal]

The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson would be a good fit.

[Ctgt]

Robert wrote: " I really need a basic sci-fi or fantasy action style book with a badass style protagonist in a book that doesn't try to be more than just good ol fashioned entertainment."

Try something from the Warhammer 40k universe. I never played the games so I avoided the books thinking I would be lost in the world. But I came across a 40k book written by Dan Abnett called Ravenor and really enjoyed it and never really felt like I was missing something because I didn't play the games. It reminded me of those big budget summer action films. It was also a quick read so you shouldn't have to invest a lot of time.

[Jake]

I recommend Michael Moorcock's Elric novels.

[Jake]

Also try the Drizzt books. :) He's a badass.

[kvon]

What would be the female equivalent? October Daye, from Seanan Maguire?

[Joe Informatico]

Some of Robert E. Howard's other characters are very Conan-esque, although most of them are closer to historical fiction than fantasy. Solomon Kane, Steve Costigan and Cormac Mac Art are among them. Kull, Conan's predecessor, comes closest to the Conan stories in flavour, though Kull isn't as smart as Conan, and often needs the aid of his two more intelligent friends. Still entertaining though.

Second Elric and Fafhrd & Grey Mouser. Also, the first book of Weis & Hickman's Death Gate Cycle, Dragon Wing. Hugh the Hand and Haplo are pretty badass. If you like the book, the latter continues into all 7 books (but the series doesn't

[Charles]

You probably need some good old Sword & Sorcery like Howard's Solomon Kane or Kull the Conqueror. There's also Fritz Leiber's Fahfrd and the Gray Mouser series.

For something new, can I recommend Paizo Publishing's Pathfinder series line? Very Sword & Sorcery (especially since that's where D&D drew a lot of its source material).

[Kris]

Also dont forget about Glen Cook stuff. He writes some great bad ass characters...

[Random]

You might try the Stainless Steel Rat Series. The Stainless Steel Rat Gets Drafted is one of my all time fun books. Though I do remember some of the later published books are rather awful.

I'll also second Elric.