Six Great Non-Human Heroes of SFF: Part Two
On Wednesday, I posted the first instalment of “Six Great Non-Human Heroes of SFF”, namely Creideiki from David Brin’s Startide Rising, The House from Scott Westerfeld’s The Risen Empire, and Iorek Byrnison from Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights/The Golden Compass.
So without further ado, here’s the second three of my six.
I is also for Imraith-Nimphais from Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Trilogy (The Summer Tree; The Wandering Future; The Longest Road)
I don’t think any consideration of non-human heroes of SFF would be complete without inclusion of a mythological creature, such as dragons (and how many of them there are—Kalessin (Earthsea), Morkeleb the Black (Dragonsbane), Ramoth (Pern), MacAvoy’s Black Dragon (Tea with …), and may I say it, Balisan, in my own Thornspell); fauns (Mr Tumnus, Narnia); and unicorns, such as Jewel (again, Narnia)—and Imraith-Nimphais.
Although in fact, Imraith-Nimphais is a unicorn who can fly, so there’s a nod there to the mythic pegasus as well. The totem animal of Tabor dan Ivor, one of the Dalrei of the Plains, Imraith-Nimphais is also of divine birth—a gift from the goddess Dana to answer the rise of evil in the world. Imraith-Nimphais is a creature of wild magic and in many ways a ‘shining weapon’, her primary purpose being to combat the creatures of evil—something she excels at doing. But she is more than that—a vivid personality in her own right and a ‘weapon’ who also knows how to love. At the last, Imraith-Nimphais honours that love by saving Tabor and sacrificing herself. Knowing they are vastly overmatched by an opponent (a dragon) she throws Tabor clear and flies against the dragon alone. She takes her enemy down with her though—and that, too, is in keeping with the personality of Imraith-Nimphais. In my book, her place as one of my final six is well deserved.
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L is for The Luggage, from Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic (among other Discworld novels.)
A large wooden chest (of sapient pearwood) that has little wooden legs and follows its owner around? And that can, when required, both defend itself and act as bodyguard—a very fearsome bodyguard—to its owner? No question, we have to be talking about Terry Pratchett’s Luggage. Is it anthropomorphic? I would argue that it is intrinsically luggage—after all, it frequently becomes lost and must then track its owner down. Only in this case, it’s also luggage combined with monster—homicidal monster, as established in Sourcery (1988)—since its response to threats is to either devour or knock a hole through them. (In the latter respect, I’ve always thought The Luggage was not unlike a Culture knife missile, only a lot less subtle …) Also, The Luggage can follow its master literally, well, anywhere … So, um, useful!
So when it comes to non-human heroes—using the term so loosely that perhaps I should simply stick with “protagonist” instead—there has to be a place for The Luggage.
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P is for Pyanfur Chanur, from CJ Cherryh’s The Pride of Chanur and subsequent Chanur trilogy: Chanur’s Venture, The Kif Strike Back, and Chanur’s Homecoming
Pyanfur Chanur is a Hani, a lion-like species from the world Anuurn, where the female of the species—much like lions—take care of all the day-to day-business, including venturing into space. In many ways, the space captain Pyanfur Chanur is a renaissance figure: part merchant, part privateer, bold, swashbuckling, and tenacious. As such, she could be one of many similar Hani captains in ports throughout Compact space and along the merchanter routes—except that Pyanfur Chanur sees the big picture and knows how to play the long game. Product of a rigidly sex-role stereotyped and also xenophobic species, Pyanfur has learned to look past difference in order to survive in space; without necessarily intending to, she has become broad minded.
In many ways, Pyanfur is the classic hero figure who is forced into prominence by necessity—circumstances drive her, but in the end she turns the tables and drives them. She is also humorous, stubborn, devious, and flamboyant—but at rock bottom, honourable, and true to her allies and those she loves. In a universe of non-human heroes, you just can’t go past Pyanfur Chanur.
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So there it is, six great non-human heroes of SFF: Creideikei (Startide Rising); The House (The Risen Empire); Iorek Byrnison (Northern Lights/The Golden Compass); Imraith-Nimphais (The Fionavar Trilogy); The Luggage (The Discworld novels); and Pyanfur Chanur (The Chanur novels.)
Just a very few of a great diversity that exist in both fantasy and science fiction—so what non-human have I missed out that would be top of your list?
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This month’s “…on Anything, Really” feature is “Fun With Thornspell”, running every Thursday—check out yesterday’s feature here. 🙂
Good choices. I’ve read Startide Rising and really liked it. Also read Discworld, so am familiar with The Luggage.
Saw the movie adaptation of “The Golden Compass”
I am now almost tempted to read The Chanur novels.
June, the book version of The Golden Compass (Northern Lights in the UK) is far superior to the film, imho. I liked the second-in-series, The Subtle Knife, as well, but was terribly disappointed with the third, The Amber Spyglass—but I still think the first two well repay a read.
And I think you would enjoy the Chanur books: start with The Pride of Chanur, which is a standalone.