Fictional Favourites: The Pressure Of Choosing Only One Hero or Heroine
I talk a lot about books and stories here on da blog and I do lists as well, but I don’t focus so often on a single favourite character or book.
But a question on t’interwebs prompted thought as to whether I could narrow those lists down, for example to the one book I’d snatch up if fleeing the house in a fire (the closest to hand, I suspect!), or whether I had one favourite fictional hero or heroine.
The pressure of “only one” when here are so many great fictional heroes and heroines out there is really tough, but in the end I reflected that I have always really liked Faramir in The Lord of the Rings novel (I didn’t really care for the film portrayal of his character.) In the novel Faramir is actually a really strong character, but in a quiet way through “knowing himself”, rather than flamboyant show—although in fact, when the chips are down he does everything he needs to do, and more. And although he is just a “normal man”, as opposed to a more remote, almost superhuman hero like Aragorn, Faramir nonetheless refuses the temptation of the ring. So for all these reasons he has always been one of my favorite fictional heroes.
With respect to heroines, I am a great admirer of the mage Tattersail in Steven Erikson’s first Malazan novel, Gardens of the Moon. One thing I really like about her is that she is literally a big woman, but she is seen as desirable by men and has lovers who are desirable men. And although Tattersail is a powerful mage in a cadre of fighting mages, she always travels with her “wardrobe chest” (the soldiers make jokes about it)—and is proven to be both brave and smart. I would have liked to see a lot more of her, but the series didn’t progress that way, alas.
What about you? Who would you put forward as your favourite fictional hero and/or heroine, and why?
Ah yes, Tattersail is a great character, for what we see of her.
She was reasonably major in Book 1, but that series has a Very big cast!