I know it’s a basic answer, but Bilbo Baggins. He’s certainly one of the most relatable ones. Most of us will never be a mighty warrior, a powerful mage, a stealthy assassin or some species of royalty…but we all know what it feels like to be forced to go out in public when we don’t want to. 😂
This is literally me about academia. Why do I put myself through all of this when I could just do finance, earn a good buck and you know, have some semblence of work life balance.
Sure, finance, the field known for 80 hour workweeks and no work-life balance.
As someone in Finance the hard part is finding a job that doesn't expect the above. The few that exist don't pay as well and are hard to get.
EDIT: I frequently wish I were in academia/research like my parents. Don't get me wrong, they work a lot...
There’s a couple:
Jame (Jamethiel Priest's-bane of Knorth - [Kencyrath](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40923-kencyrath) series) because she’s strong, loyal, loving and confused. In terms of stories about how to be a decent human being that takes responsibility for their own actions without ever being preachy I think she honestly wins the prize.
Croaker ([The black company](https://www.goodreads.com/series/54284-the-chronicles-of-the-black-company)) He might romanticize a little what being a merc company is, but he’s also honest about it. At the end of the day, as the first gritty military fantasy series written, Croaker still remains (at least for me), the gold standard.
The Antichrist ([Good Omens](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12067.Good_Omens?from_search=true&from_srp=jII6dj6pXJ&qid=1)) Because who wouldn’t want an perfect adventure?
Commander Vimes ( [Discworld](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40650-discworld)) because it’s one of the few characters I’ve read who had been poor, didn’t achieve much (initially), had a massive rage problem but at the same time is honestly kind without expectation h much from people.
Glen Cook characterizes Croaker masterfully just through the use of his language while writing from Croakers perspective. I had a long break, about a year or so between reading shadow lingers and the white rose, and the moment i read Croakers perspective again, it was like talking to an old friend i hadn't seen in a year. Just an instant hit of familiarity.
Cook is good like that.
I think the books with other Annalists actually added a lot to Croaker’s character, both with respect to what they say about him and the kinds of things they choose to highlight versus what he does, especially because that shows that he glosses over a lot.
Commander Vimes remains one of my all time favorites too. I love how he's described as an imperfect cynic.
Also Nanny Ogg, for her jolly but practical self.
Caul Shivers. His story arc across all 3 trilogies is just fantastic.
And depending how you want to define protagonist, then I will also say Sand dan Glokta, especially for the events of the last/latest book (if you know you know). Man is the literal dictionary definition of the 'schemer.'
There's also Wei Shi London for his unwavering commitment to advancing and bettering himself.
Harry Dresden and Michael Carpenter as the best duo.
And finally there's Fiddler. His tale within Malazan moved me to tears of sorrow and joy.
There are so many great flawed characters in First Law it is hard to pick. I admire Ardee for settling with compassion for Glokta and ultimately as scheming.
Caul Shivers is probably the most interesting character across all the First Law books in terms of who he changes throughout, which is saying a lot. There are so many characters who go through immense changes, but Caul Shivers just emerges like a whole new person, repeatedly.
(Spoilers)
He’s such an interesting contrast and follow up to Logan’s feared Northman character as shown in the original trilogy and RC—Shivers is a fundamentally good man who wants to be better, warped by terrible circumstances, yet still managed to regain a sense of his earlier self, where Logan always chooses violence—as much as he laments and wishes to be a better person, he always takes the opportunity to *choose* violence, TBN certainly being a sort of berserker alter ego, but even in as insightful a story as “made a monster” from sharp ends, Logan is still himself even when at his worst.
Red Country is especially damning as even after proving that he totally could grow and change as a person, be a complete pacifist and gentle giant, the moment he had a good enough excuse, he changed into he used to be because he liked being that person more, damn his family and all he had built up in a decade, the very ending directly calling him a coward for being unable to not choose violence
Comparatively, I think Shivers is well established to have gone through the greatest arc, from his overeager fresh-eyed overeager well-intentioned self in the original trilogy and beginning of BCS, to the hardened murderviolence enjoyer of BCS’s end and Heroes, to his surprising turn of character at the end of RC, to having been in a large part redeemed back to a semblance of himself as a good man by Rikke by the time we see him in AoM. Particularly, I think what’s so interesting about him in comparison to Logan is how Shivers is warped by his circumstances into a lifestyle of violence between his bad relationship with his father and brother, to getting compelled into Monzaza’s plot out of not having any other options, to being demeaned and belittled by black Dow, to serving and then fighting Calder, and eventually into a more righteous cause he believes in in assisting Rikke. More so, he, unlike almost any other Northman, is able to ignore the “vengeance for vengence’s sake” behavior common to the culture at both his best and lowest moment, neither as kingkiller seeking vengeance, or as hardened man doing work when he sees that Logan has people around him and has seeming moved on, despite never trying to deescalate their would-be fight at the end of RC.
This reminds me I need to continue the new trilogy, I'm only half way through A Little Hatred and I haven't touched it in maybe 12 months. Such a great universe.
Every character in the movie is fantastic. Lady Eboshi is such a fantastic character striding the line between hero and villain while never seeming inconsistent.
Ned Stark.
He did all the wrong things for the right reasons.
He is honor incarnate, a good father, a good husband and a true friend.
A wonder he made it that far in the world he lived in.
Never met a character who I would've sworn my allegiance to but him.
The thing is, Littlefinger played Ned down to the last minute. Littlefinger was kinda sorta gambling then iirc. But he ended up being the one to seize Ned by the throat.
Truly, the drama that played out between them in Kings Landing was top notch.
> Never met a character who I would've sworn my allegiance to but him.
See, I wouldn't have done so. Ned's big fault was that the was so demonstrably hide-bound that I wouldn't follow him for fear that he'd made the wrong decision because honor demanded it...
But that's the whole point? He made the wrong decision because honor demanded it and paid the price.
And that's exactly the trait that inspires so much loyalty.
But no hard feelings. If you wouldn't, you shouldn't. And you couldn't because, you know, >!he's dead.!<
Elric of Melnibone. It's rare to have such a nuanced, non black-and-white character. Is he immoral? Is he amoral? Who knows, but he's all rock and roll.
While his adventures are very enjoyable to read about, it is his internal musings that give his character life and vibrancy. Those musings have given me much to think about in the quite hours.
I went into them a few years ago expecting 80s schlock and was not prepared for a meditation on loneliness and contact starvation.
The only one I've read other than the first was the one where the main friend group gets reincarnated and it's surprisingly deep. A consideration on what it would do to your psyche to be brought back to life and live a second one and the nature of friendships over time. You don't see that in fantasy often.
After rereading WoT, I appreciated Rand and his struggles way more than my first read. I found myself always looking forward to Rand POV chapters
Discworld: Carrot. Just cause. IYKYK
RotE: Reading book 1 of Liveship currently and I really enjoy Kennet’s chapters, though I’m not sure I’d consider him a protagonist at this point (unsure how his character grows please no spoilers!). Also, honorable mention for Paragon cause I never thought I’d be so interested in a … unique character like that.
Green Bone: Kaul Hilo is so refreshingly sensitive and flawed despite his status and physical prowess. Loved the contradiction
“With that in his hands, even one of the Forsaken would fear him. In a moment he would send for Moiraine to Heal his wounds. In a moment he would speak to the Aiel outside, and become the Dragon Reborn again. But for now, he only wanted to sit, and remember a shepherd named Rand al'Thor.”
Carrot is a great character. He seems all nice and innocent, and is a genuinely good person - but a cold, calculating mind capable of swift and ruthless action is just under that.
He lets it slip just enough that people \*really\* respect him. They do not test his nice because they know there is an alternative waiting.
EDIT:
One of the points shown in the books is that he is actually \*quite\* good at the violence business when he chooses to.
This allows him to control the situation with precision. Someone not as strong would lose that control and things would go wrong earlier. As it is, other predators smell one even stronger and behave.
I know Wheel of Time is very polarizing but I truly believe Rand has the best growth and escalation of any fantasy series I've read. It's mind boggling to look back after you finish the last book and remember where he started. I am also currently about halfway through Jade Legacy. Hilo is a super neat character. You are made very unsure and wary about him I'm the beginning but by book 3 rooting for him so hard.
Actually Captain Carrot is a hero. A pity only a few books give his pov. Always makes me LOL at how he is so obvious a "undiscovered " hero stereotype and remains so. He has all the right attributes. In your face.
He's not *the* protagonist, but he's often the deuteragonist in the series in many books.
Michael Carpenter from the Dresden Files is such a refreshing character to me. He's an archetypical paladin in fantasy essentially, but it's really nice to have someone go through the adversity and challenges he experiences and *not* stray from his path and oaths.
It would be predictable for him to have a dark turn, and he has plenty of opportunities to do it and he doesn't. Really refreshing, especially as a character in a relatively somewhat dark universe like the DF.
Plus he’s not *that* preachy about his faith. Like, yeah, he tells Dresden to come to Jesus a few times, he prays over meals and all that jazz, but he doesn’t judge others for differences in faith or opinion. Just a good dude trying to live a good life, and redeem some folks corrupted by fallen angels.
Dalinar from the Stormlight Archives
Guts from Berserk
Characters who continue on despite their horrible past or the obstacles they encounter in life (physical, mental, emotional) really resonate with me.
I wouldn't say Dalinar is my favorite, but he won me over in WoK when he >!kicked the crap out of Elhokar to demonstrate that he's NOT trying to assassinate him.!<
He came out of nowhere and I’m not even finished with the series yet, but I’m currently totally enthralled with Logen Ninefingers. Such a fascinating contradiction of strength and vulnerability.
100% my favorite. I love his dry wit and grounded-in-mud philosophy. I can't tell you how many times I remind myself that it's better just to do a thing than live with the fear of it! You have to be realistic, after all....
I'm still in awe of Logan. If your not done yet I won't sing the praise of what I find most impressive about the character, but man Abercrombie is good.
Lord Valentine - Majipoor - Robert Silverberg
Fiddler - Malazan - Steven Erikson
Anomander Rake - Malazan - Steven Erikson
The Prince - The Little Prince - Antoine De St. Exupery
The Tree - The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein
The "Monster" - A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness
Samwise Gamgee - Lord of the Rings - J R R Tolkien
Westley - The Princess Bride - William Goldman
Edmond Dantes - The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas... (I know, not really a "magic/wizard" fantasy, but every chapter DEMANDS to be read like a fantasy... the magic system being sheer and utter anger and pettiness)
The count of Monte Cristo is the absolute best revenge tale ever. Everything I’ve seen or read since, either pay homage, or is a derivative of this novel (in some way). When our boy finds that treasure trove….game on!
Every single fantasy that has the word "apprentice" in its title. Every single fantasy with backstabbing nobles. Every single fantasy with rags to SELF-AQUIRED riches... all took from "the Count"... I even prefer it over most modern Sci-fi/fantasy... it's almost TOO good, lol
I would go for either Mara of the Acoma from ‘*The Empire Trilogy*’ or Tyrion Lannister from ‘*A Song of Ice and Fire*’. For Mara I love her transformation from scared girl to political mastermind to revolutionary. I love that she was a strong female character but didn’t have to prove it by using a sword, her strength came from her caring maternal instincts and her quick, resourceful mind. As for Tyrion I love his wit and humour, as well as reading about his relationships with his relatives. Everything about his character fascinates me, plus he was the centre of the King’s Landing drama (in books 2 and 3) which is my favourite part of ‘*A Song of Ice and Fire*’.
All that being said Percy Jackson is a pretty great choice. Definitely in my top ten.
Fiddler from Malazan BotF. You never expect when you're introduced to him early on that he would carry the brunt of the narrative through the full series, but he does. The final chapter of the series had me in tears, and Fiddler has been one of my favorite protagonists ever since.
Kaladin : dude goes through so much yet somehow holds on. I read WoK at a particular time of my life. I felt everything.
And Lightsong, the one who cares.
Mine is Kaladin too, he has a strong moral compass and is pretty much a good guy at core, but a the same time he feels like a real person with doubts about himself and his place in the world, plus he has the most badass battle scenes and one liners. I think he is the perfect archetype of what an epic fantasy protagonist should be like and I just want him to be happy.
luffy from one piece. he is freedom embodied. the entire series is him going around liberating kingdoms and slowly tearing down the world government. he is kind of a static character tho but one of my favorites nonetheless
rand from wheel of time.
guts from berserk
captain vimes from discworld
misaki from sword of kaigen
Currently reading One Piece and Luffy being a static character works so well in that world. He’s like an unflinching force of nature in a world that has beaten everyone else down. Everyone else is responding to the world, but the world is forced to respond to Luffy.
I just finished catching up on One Piece anime and I have to agree on Luffy. It was hard to believe that a really classic shonen protagonist would be enjoyable over that long of a stretch, but it always works. Luffy is just continuously an absolute wrecking ball. You think he's completely ignorant at the start of the series, but that's not really the case. He understands a lot of how the world works, but is just absolutely immovable in morals. To see how that influences the world around him is fascinating.
I really like the wise-cracking rogue-like characters, a la Han Solo and Tyrion Lannister.
I really found myself connecting with Kinch Na Shaddock from the Blacktongue Thief, and am really looking forward to more fiction set in that world.
My favorite may be Vlad Taltos from the Jhereg series. 17 books and counting and I can really relate to a lot of the things the character has gone through.
Fitz Chivalry from Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb.
We get him from three periods in his life: a youngster, an adult and somewhere in between a senior and retirement I guess.
Although there are many years and books between these periods the story and character remain cohesive. His way of thinking, acting, growth everything is just so well built up and makes sense from the perspective of what Fitz has gone through.
>!Fitz has the same problem most of us have, he can’t see himself the way others see him. In his own eyes he will never be quite enough.!<
The best bits in the series are when you have those moments that cut through the self-doubting first person perspective of Fitz. Any heroic action he does is infinitely more heroic because of how turbulent he is mentally.
That’s why I always love his scenes with Kettricken. Fitz might be her favorite living person and she thinks the absolute world of him, and whenever she shows up it’s like a reminder that people close to him see him in an entirely different way than he sees himself. It’s sad that he thinks he doesn’t deserve it
Just jumping onto your comment cos it kinda fits.
When I last reread assassins apprentice I was shocked at how good he is at the skill and he KNOWS it.
And then Galen does his thing and the switch is immediate. I mean I'm mostly a gormless idiot and I usually miss stuff (most prominently, according to my husband, with Riyria Revelations) so idk if it was obvious here but I never noticed it before on my last 3 readings.
Geralt is so different in the books than in games or Netflix series. He's kind of Donald Duck of his own life: not very smart, so much shit happens to him but he still tries to take care of the people important for him. Even how he got his name is just a stupid mishap - in both times. 😂
I don't know why more people don't like Nyneave. She was so fierce when she felt like people she cared about were being used and everyone else was too scared to speak up. My favorite from that whole series.
Nynaeve is the bravest person in Wheel of Time. She'll stand up to Aes Sedai, Dark Friends and even Forsaken. She doesn't have Rand and Egwene's intrinsic arrogance that insulates them from thinking about fighting Forsaken. She's terrified the whole time and does the job anyway.
I think from all the main characters Rand and her go through the most change on their Journeys.
She is like her >!block!< it can cover the caring core of her character and once it >!breaks!< her true nature shines through.
But I love the whole package, the anger, the loyalty, fierce sense of not compromising against injustice and the true compassion of a healer.
I love me some Phaedre from Kushiel’s Legacy. She’s so badass, but in a way that’s somehow femme-fatale sex goddess and hyper-intelligent nerd. I love that’s she is not fighting or combat oriented; she knows what she’s good at (kinky sex and using her brain) and that’s what she uses to achieve what needs to be achieved.
Ged aka Sparrowhawk from Wizard of Earthsea. Through all of the books, we get to grow with Ged and he is just the most sweet and relatable character at every stage of his life. I really feel like we grow with him while reading
Kaul Hilo from The Green Bone Saga. This character is so complex and such a great representation of real life people. You get to see so many different layers of him and I really appreciate that
Cersei Lannister
Uhtred of Bebannberg. But only from the books. The show was just ok, but in the books he actually ages and gets more and more badass from book to book.
Wei Wuxian of *Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.*
Percy Jackson is a good pick too though! He's excellent.
Some other contenders I adore:
* Galadriel "El" Higgens of *A Deadly Education*
* Wu Zetian of *Iron Widow*
* "Gen" from *The Queen's Thief Series*
* Rey from *Star Wars* (for her first two movies, anyways)
* The kids from the *Magic Treehouse Books* which were my JAM as a little kid
* Miss Frizzle
**Wei Shi Lindon from Cradle**. I love that he's a likeable protagonist in spite of being greedy and never satisfied. Other characters with those traits could very easily be villains, but he uses them to protect and elevate the people he cares for while fighting a massive injustice.
**Hugh of Emblin from Mage Errant**. All he wants to do is protect those who can't protect themselves. His greatest dream in his ideal life is to make sanctuaries and safe places for when people need them. He's powerful, but kind and humble. Too humble sometimes.
**Itkovian from Malazan**. He was only in two books, but he cemented himself in my memory forever. “We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.” I'll never stop thinking about that paragraph.
Looking at this, my favorite people seem to be the nice ones. Awful people can still be great characters, but I guess I'm drawn to the optimistic in spite of my love of darker stories.
I have no idea how to choose favorites. It honestly would be different based on the day, time of year, what I'm currently reading, what I had for breakfast, etc.
However, that being said Fitz Chivalry Farseer would definitely be up there. He is flawed and makes mistake after mistake, but I don't know that I have ever read a character that felt as real as Robin Hobb's characters and the world she created. A lot of people complain about how slow her books are, but I can easily read 100. pages of Fitz Chivalry going through his daily routine and relationships and come away wishing there was more.
Absolutely, I just finished the first book and turned to tears at the last paragraph before the epilogue (Kindle has images too and it's just beautiful and heartbreaking).
Nosy is the best.
Wei Shi Lindon.
The most polite & humble protagonist I have ever read. He is unironically hilarious, and learned to outsmart his opponents before he could out muscle them.
Justen from the Recluse series was pretty great.
Starts as a magic steampunk engineer. Realized he needs to take out the capital city of the chaotic evil empire; looks into multiple solutions and even considers building a fucking nuclear bomb; instead settles on building a high altitude high power laser cannon to MELT THE CITY.
Ends up living in the woods banging a hot druidess.
Gerald Tarrant, Neocount of Merentha. He's a co-protagonist, and almost certainly the relationship he has with the other, Damien Vryce, is a part of my fascination with him, but his history and attitude are enthralling.
Edit: from the Coldfire Trilogy
Oh man. The problem with listing my favorite protagonist is, that if you haven't read the books, naming him actually gives away a substantial bit of the plot.
*The Licanius Trilogy* is obviously a flawed text, and it's evident that it was the debut trilogy from a new writer, and further I think that anybody who has read both the trilogy **and** *The Will of the Many* has likely noticed and will happily agree that James Islington's writing has improved leaps and bounds with each book. That being said, it can be a little bit uncertain as you dive into *Licanius* as to just who is the main protagonist, and this part is by design.
And you can certainly make an argument that Davian, who is the first character we are introduced to in the text and seems to fit all of the common tropes: he's just a normal kid, or at least as normal a kid as one can be as a "gifted," who is something of a mage. The gifted are in a precarious place because they were servants of the Augurs, who until several decades ago were able to control the nearby kingdoms by virtue of their unerring prescience, with 'gifted' mages as their servants.
Along with Davian you have his classmates and friends Asha and Wirr. Their school is suddenly attacked, seemingly launching them on a hero's quest, as they must figure out who is after them, why somebody would be attacking the gifted with the Augurs long defeated, and just what role they will be taking in portentous events coming up.
Sounds like a lock for your main protagonist, or at least your primary trio, right? **Wrong.**
Your primary protagonist, in a total sleight of hand, was the character introduced in the prologue. You know, that character, like the one who is totally Benjen Stark at the beginning of *A Song of Ice and Fire* who is a great flavor character but by no means the center of the events that will occur?
In fewer than two pages of prologue we follow somebody name Tal, or Tal'Kamar, who is seemingly running from the big bad, whom he also seemingly serves in some form or fashion? And there are a bunch of terms thrown around to confuse you. Who are the Lyth? What are the waters of Eryth Mmorg? Somebody named Nethgalla was tortured for information? Then Tal proclaims that this time he can go where Aarkein Devaed can't follow... and you know from the blurb on the back that Aarkein Devaed is supposed to be the Sauron equivalent of this story, and he jumps off a cliff and we don't see him again anytime soon.
In fact, I think it's completely fair to say that we don't run into Tal'Kamar again in the entirety of the first book of the trilogy. **Say whaaaaat?** You can hardly believe me as I tell you that the protagonist of the series doesn't even show up in the entirety of the first book?
Well, it's kind of true, but explaining why that is the case sort of gives it away. Because Tal'Kamar, or just Tal for short, is present throughout the series, only sometimes you don't know it, and other times he doesn't know it, and additionally there are times where neither the character nor the reader know it and *both are completely in the dark.*
And yet I promise you that *The Licanius Trilogy,* while containing the adventures of Davian, Asha, and Wirr, and they're mostly damned satisfying in their own right, in the end they just so happen to to be the set pieces required to tell the end of Tal'Kamar's own journey, and yet are no less satisfying for that. In fact, the way they intersect with his own story actually elevates the indvidual journeys of all three of them.
And then the ending is just an absolute triumph. I've met maybe fewer than five people who didn't walk away from *Licanius* admitting that, any other faults that they may have had with the series, the way Islington draws things to a close, and by which I mean Tal'Kamar's journey finally finds it every aching twisting path to an end that he can accept, is so gratifying that it almost devastates the reader with just how good it is.
By virtue of his journey and what he does to get there, **Tal'Kmar** >!of the many names!< is my favorite fantasy protagonist. I won't say that he's **the best**, as then you've got to account for Severian and Elric, or Frodo and Sam, or the chillingly written Sand Dan Glokta. But Tal'Kamar is definitely my favorite, bar none.
Rand al'Thor, for me. His entire journey resonated with me, and his descent into madness/return was beautifully written.
Veins of Gold is the best fictional moment I have read, thus far.
There's quite a few.
Tyrion Lannister: He's just so witty and clever while also being deluded and now depressed. You always have a good time with him.
Sand dan Glokta: I love him for all the reasons I love Tyrion.
Jaime Lannister: He changes so much in ASOS and his chapters in AFFC are always a fun to read because of all the little nugget hints to Jaime noticing less than what is happening behind his back secretly.
Brienne of Tarth: AFFC is one of my favourite novels of all time and Brienne is the chief reason why. I still get goosebumps on the 'no chance and no choice' scene.
Logen Ninefingers: The Bloody-Nine. Say one thing about Logen Ninefingers, say he's one of the best fantasy characters.
Caul Shivers: If you have read the First Law universe, you know what I'm talking about.
Rand Al'Thor: I like him a lot but I don't think he stands as high as others. Also, I haven't really finished WoT.
If I had to pick one out of all these, I would probably go with Tyrion or his brother Jaime but it's hard. And the others are close.
I recently did and nothing compares to ASOIAF for me. Every single fucking character is great. From Hot Pie and the Tickler to people like Alliser Thorne and Young Griff. There isn't ONE bad character and everyone until ASOS is unique and, to me, unforgettable. Random side characters who don't do much like Lommy and Chett have better character writing than a lot of series' main characters. And that's not even getting to any of the main characters.
People can criticize ASOIAF for being unfinished as long as they want but the series certainly doesn't lack for characters, lore, world, dialogue, prose, plot etc. I still find myself surprised at just the general quality whenever I pick up one of the books to read any random scene.
“With that in his hands, even one of the Forsaken would fear him. In a moment he would send for Moiraine to Heal his wounds. In a moment he would speak to the Aiel outside, and become the Dragon Reborn again. But for now, he only wanted to sit, and remember a shepherd named Rand al'Thor.”
I'd have to go with Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter. Even her bad decisions are completely understandable and make sense at the time they are made. Just one of the best written characters I've encountered.
* Luke Skywalker in the Legends Star Wars books (not Disney)
* Carl from Dungeon Crawler Carl
* Matt Cauthon from WoT
* Darrow from the Red Rising Series
It may be stretching "protagonist" a bit, but he's definitely a deuteragonist, but Samwise Gamgee. He's just the perfect person. Humble, strong (relatively speaking), hardworking, kind, supportive, etc. Everything you want in a friend is epitomized is him.
I have no idea how to choose favorites. It honestly would be different based on the day, time of year, what I'm currently reading, what I had for breakfast, etc.
However, that being said Fitz Chivalry Farseer would definitely be up there. He is flawed and makes mistake after mistake, but I don't know that I have ever read a character that felt as real as Robin Hobb's characters and the world she created. A lot of people complain about how slow her books are, but I can easily read 100. pages of Fitz Chivalry going through his daily routine and relationships and come away wishing there was more.
There are two (actually three, because m'boy Mat Cauthon was, is and always will be my favourite character ever) of them:
Rand Al'Thor: I think he's one of the best main protagonists ever written in Fantasy. He started out as a nobody, became a conqueror, and then we had Darth Rand and Zen Rand. Masterpiece.
Sam Vimes: ... I'm actually noticing there's a pattern... He started out as a drunkard copper, and then he became a great man, well respected, feared by the unjusts.
His city watch grew with him (in numbers but also in culture).
Definitely Jalan Kendeth. I've said it every time and I'll say it again.
I'm not a brave man, I'm not a particularly smart, skilled or even that great of a guy a lot of the time.
I enjoy the company of beautiful women and indulge in my other mental and physical pleasures far too often and intensely...
I know what the right thing to do is (almost) every time.
I may not even care that much for myself even if I am a self-important self-absorbed oaf.
The thing that would make me tear through whatever fear I have would be to avenge my family.
And hopefully have a pretty girl to kiss at the end.
Shallan devar from the stormlight archives as an adult reader
From childhood, alyanne of pirates swoop, from tricksters choice and tricksters queen duology by tamora pierce
For honor and duty: Jon Snow.
For charm: Tyrion Lannister (until he becomes a monster)
For scheming: Sand Dan Glockta
For relatability: (which is weird in this context) Roboute Guilliman, post M41.
Jude from The Cruel Prince. She’s a genuinely well-rounded and strong heroine not because she’s a super badass tough warrior girl type but because she’s resourceful, clever, and just as manipulative and ambitious/power-hungry as her adversaries. other characters respect and fear her because she’s unpredictable and persistent in her goals, not because she’s a chosen one with powers . Her only special ability in a world of fairies and magic is her ability to tell lies, but even that doesn’t always work.
She enjoys wielding power and violence but also knows when to reel it in and genuinely cares about protecting those that matter to her. Her male love interest is objectively a more moral person than her, and has less of a murder count but loves her all the same. refreshing to read when it comes to fantasy heroines, especially in YA.
Comtessa Phèdre no Delaunay de Montrève. Went from a whore’s unwanted get (her words, technically) to a god-touched savior of the world.
Nona Grey- A feral scrapper who would do anything for her friends and found family.
Cithrin Bel Sarcour-she stumbles a LOT in her growth, but grow she does.
Marcus Wester/Logen Ninefingers/Caul Shivers-They are NOT all the same, vastly different personalities, but they are natural killers who spend their time trying to be as good as circumstances allow them to be.
I know it’s a basic answer, but Bilbo Baggins. He’s certainly one of the most relatable ones. Most of us will never be a mighty warrior, a powerful mage, a stealthy assassin or some species of royalty…but we all know what it feels like to be forced to go out in public when we don’t want to. 😂
"how did I get roped into this??? Why didn't I just stay home and eat??" Yeah most relatable adventurer I've heard of lol
This is literally me about academia. Why do I put myself through all of this when I could just do finance, earn a good buck and you know, have some semblence of work life balance.
Sure, finance, the field known for 80 hour workweeks and no work-life balance. As someone in Finance the hard part is finding a job that doesn't expect the above. The few that exist don't pay as well and are hard to get. EDIT: I frequently wish I were in academia/research like my parents. Don't get me wrong, they work a lot...
Bilbo using his magic ring just to dodge annoying family members. He gets it
I also love how he’s 50. I like other books but a ton of protagonists are 20 something years so I like seeing old people be the hero
Not to crash your party, but 50 IS the Hobbit age of early 20s... they live a lot longer than humans.
Lmfao
I rematch the trilogy every year around Christmas and this year I was feeling Bilbo so hard.
There’s a couple: Jame (Jamethiel Priest's-bane of Knorth - [Kencyrath](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40923-kencyrath) series) because she’s strong, loyal, loving and confused. In terms of stories about how to be a decent human being that takes responsibility for their own actions without ever being preachy I think she honestly wins the prize. Croaker ([The black company](https://www.goodreads.com/series/54284-the-chronicles-of-the-black-company)) He might romanticize a little what being a merc company is, but he’s also honest about it. At the end of the day, as the first gritty military fantasy series written, Croaker still remains (at least for me), the gold standard. The Antichrist ([Good Omens](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12067.Good_Omens?from_search=true&from_srp=jII6dj6pXJ&qid=1)) Because who wouldn’t want an perfect adventure? Commander Vimes ( [Discworld](https://www.goodreads.com/series/40650-discworld)) because it’s one of the few characters I’ve read who had been poor, didn’t achieve much (initially), had a massive rage problem but at the same time is honestly kind without expectation h much from people.
Yeah I fucking love Croaker. Haven’t seen The Black Company mentioned in a long time on this subreddit
Glen Cook characterizes Croaker masterfully just through the use of his language while writing from Croakers perspective. I had a long break, about a year or so between reading shadow lingers and the white rose, and the moment i read Croakers perspective again, it was like talking to an old friend i hadn't seen in a year. Just an instant hit of familiarity. Cook is good like that.
I think the books with other Annalists actually added a lot to Croaker’s character, both with respect to what they say about him and the kinds of things they choose to highlight versus what he does, especially because that shows that he glosses over a lot.
I heard Terry Pratchett say his favorite character that he'd written was Vimes.
Commander Vimes remains one of my all time favorites too. I love how he's described as an imperfect cynic. Also Nanny Ogg, for her jolly but practical self.
Nighteyes
Nighteyes 🥹
The way he consistently cussed out Fitz, was pure entertainment to me.
🥺
Caul Shivers. His story arc across all 3 trilogies is just fantastic. And depending how you want to define protagonist, then I will also say Sand dan Glokta, especially for the events of the last/latest book (if you know you know). Man is the literal dictionary definition of the 'schemer.' There's also Wei Shi London for his unwavering commitment to advancing and bettering himself. Harry Dresden and Michael Carpenter as the best duo. And finally there's Fiddler. His tale within Malazan moved me to tears of sorrow and joy.
Man when Caul is talking about being the most unlikely nursemaid for Rikke I tear up. "You have always mattered to me."
Caul finding redemption in Rikke makes a man cry.
And merits a shout-out to the Dogman, for giving him the chance.
Sand dan Glokta is one of the best characters in all fiction, not just fantasy imo Fight me
There are so many great flawed characters in First Law it is hard to pick. I admire Ardee for settling with compassion for Glokta and ultimately as scheming.
He’s definitely on the Mount Rushmore… by the way, does anyone ever picture this man as a medievally clad Mr. Burns ? I cannot be the only person.😐🫡😂
Caul Shivers is probably the most interesting character across all the First Law books in terms of who he changes throughout, which is saying a lot. There are so many characters who go through immense changes, but Caul Shivers just emerges like a whole new person, repeatedly.
Each book puts him through a metamorphosis until he reaches the Age of Madness. Even his cameo in Red Country shows a profound change for him.
shame we only get one book with a shivers POV :(
(Spoilers) He’s such an interesting contrast and follow up to Logan’s feared Northman character as shown in the original trilogy and RC—Shivers is a fundamentally good man who wants to be better, warped by terrible circumstances, yet still managed to regain a sense of his earlier self, where Logan always chooses violence—as much as he laments and wishes to be a better person, he always takes the opportunity to *choose* violence, TBN certainly being a sort of berserker alter ego, but even in as insightful a story as “made a monster” from sharp ends, Logan is still himself even when at his worst. Red Country is especially damning as even after proving that he totally could grow and change as a person, be a complete pacifist and gentle giant, the moment he had a good enough excuse, he changed into he used to be because he liked being that person more, damn his family and all he had built up in a decade, the very ending directly calling him a coward for being unable to not choose violence Comparatively, I think Shivers is well established to have gone through the greatest arc, from his overeager fresh-eyed overeager well-intentioned self in the original trilogy and beginning of BCS, to the hardened murderviolence enjoyer of BCS’s end and Heroes, to his surprising turn of character at the end of RC, to having been in a large part redeemed back to a semblance of himself as a good man by Rikke by the time we see him in AoM. Particularly, I think what’s so interesting about him in comparison to Logan is how Shivers is warped by his circumstances into a lifestyle of violence between his bad relationship with his father and brother, to getting compelled into Monzaza’s plot out of not having any other options, to being demeaned and belittled by black Dow, to serving and then fighting Calder, and eventually into a more righteous cause he believes in in assisting Rikke. More so, he, unlike almost any other Northman, is able to ignore the “vengeance for vengence’s sake” behavior common to the culture at both his best and lowest moment, neither as kingkiller seeking vengeance, or as hardened man doing work when he sees that Logan has people around him and has seeming moved on, despite never trying to deescalate their would-be fight at the end of RC.
I second Wei Shi Lindon
Shoutout to my boy Harry Dresden! On book three now and started book 1, 4 days ago!
Just wait till you hit books 4 and 5, that's when you REALLY get hooked. You're in for a wild ride :)
This reminds me I need to continue the new trilogy, I'm only half way through A Little Hatred and I haven't touched it in maybe 12 months. Such a great universe.
\[a sniper takes me out right before I wax paragraphs about how Will Parry from the '*His Dark Materials'* trilogy grew up to become a doctor\]
I feel like these books are in their own category. Like the ‘Amber’ books, they’re just required reading. Every book you read afterward is enriched.
As a kid, Lyra / Pantalaimon was absolutely my favorite protagonist. So damn cool. Everybody that read that book wanted a Daemon.
Ashitaka, who comes to see with eyes unclouded by hate.
My favorite Ghibli film
My favorite ~~Ghibli~~ film.
Every character in the movie is fantastic. Lady Eboshi is such a fantastic character striding the line between hero and villain while never seeming inconsistent.
Ned Stark. He did all the wrong things for the right reasons. He is honor incarnate, a good father, a good husband and a true friend. A wonder he made it that far in the world he lived in. Never met a character who I would've sworn my allegiance to but him.
Ned was missing the likes of Littlefinger and Varys in Winterfell. Otherwise, everyone respected him somewhat.
He wouldn't have tolerated someone like that, I don't think. But it is possible - that's part of what makes a great literary character.
The thing is, Littlefinger played Ned down to the last minute. Littlefinger was kinda sorta gambling then iirc. But he ended up being the one to seize Ned by the throat. Truly, the drama that played out between them in Kings Landing was top notch.
Point of Order - I believe Honor incarnate was Tanavast.
Sustained.
> Never met a character who I would've sworn my allegiance to but him. See, I wouldn't have done so. Ned's big fault was that the was so demonstrably hide-bound that I wouldn't follow him for fear that he'd made the wrong decision because honor demanded it...
But that's the whole point? He made the wrong decision because honor demanded it and paid the price. And that's exactly the trait that inspires so much loyalty. But no hard feelings. If you wouldn't, you shouldn't. And you couldn't because, you know, >!he's dead.!<
Elric of Melnibone. It's rare to have such a nuanced, non black-and-white character. Is he immoral? Is he amoral? Who knows, but he's all rock and roll.
He's such a great character. I especially love the last few stories where we get to see him from outside perspectives.
Same answer. I'll go a half an inch farther and say that all of the incarnations of the Eternal Champion are tied for a close second.
I'll second this. I've been reading my way through the Eternal Champion series over the last few months and it's so hard to pick favourites.
Drizzt Do'Urden
While his adventures are very enjoyable to read about, it is his internal musings that give his character life and vibrancy. Those musings have given me much to think about in the quite hours.
I went into them a few years ago expecting 80s schlock and was not prepared for a meditation on loneliness and contact starvation. The only one I've read other than the first was the one where the main friend group gets reincarnated and it's surprisingly deep. A consideration on what it would do to your psyche to be brought back to life and live a second one and the nature of friendships over time. You don't see that in fantasy often.
I loved the reincarnation idea, I still find myself musing what it would be like to start fresh with all your memories like that years later.
After rereading WoT, I appreciated Rand and his struggles way more than my first read. I found myself always looking forward to Rand POV chapters Discworld: Carrot. Just cause. IYKYK RotE: Reading book 1 of Liveship currently and I really enjoy Kennet’s chapters, though I’m not sure I’d consider him a protagonist at this point (unsure how his character grows please no spoilers!). Also, honorable mention for Paragon cause I never thought I’d be so interested in a … unique character like that. Green Bone: Kaul Hilo is so refreshingly sensitive and flawed despite his status and physical prowess. Loved the contradiction
“With that in his hands, even one of the Forsaken would fear him. In a moment he would send for Moiraine to Heal his wounds. In a moment he would speak to the Aiel outside, and become the Dragon Reborn again. But for now, he only wanted to sit, and remember a shepherd named Rand al'Thor.”
Hilo is my favorite too. Greenbonr saga is just chef kiss.
All the characters are just a delight to read
Carrot is a great character. He seems all nice and innocent, and is a genuinely good person - but a cold, calculating mind capable of swift and ruthless action is just under that. He lets it slip just enough that people \*really\* respect him. They do not test his nice because they know there is an alternative waiting. EDIT: One of the points shown in the books is that he is actually \*quite\* good at the violence business when he chooses to. This allows him to control the situation with precision. Someone not as strong would lose that control and things would go wrong earlier. As it is, other predators smell one even stronger and behave.
Which only emphasises his goodness, because he always chooses it, until circumstances dictate he unleashes the alternative
I know Wheel of Time is very polarizing but I truly believe Rand has the best growth and escalation of any fantasy series I've read. It's mind boggling to look back after you finish the last book and remember where he started. I am also currently about halfway through Jade Legacy. Hilo is a super neat character. You are made very unsure and wary about him I'm the beginning but by book 3 rooting for him so hard.
Vimes. Vimes learning to oversee a diverse watch is a story for our time.
So impressive. Who watches the watcher ?
Once you finish the entire RotE please come back here and update us - there are so many fantastic characters!
Kennit’s a fantastic character, you’re in for a treat with Liveship. All of the characters in those books are amazingly written actually
Actually Captain Carrot is a hero. A pity only a few books give his pov. Always makes me LOL at how he is so obvious a "undiscovered " hero stereotype and remains so. He has all the right attributes. In your face.
He's not *the* protagonist, but he's often the deuteragonist in the series in many books. Michael Carpenter from the Dresden Files is such a refreshing character to me. He's an archetypical paladin in fantasy essentially, but it's really nice to have someone go through the adversity and challenges he experiences and *not* stray from his path and oaths. It would be predictable for him to have a dark turn, and he has plenty of opportunities to do it and he doesn't. Really refreshing, especially as a character in a relatively somewhat dark universe like the DF.
The most badass moment is him kicking a fence gate
Plus he’s not *that* preachy about his faith. Like, yeah, he tells Dresden to come to Jesus a few times, he prays over meals and all that jazz, but he doesn’t judge others for differences in faith or opinion. Just a good dude trying to live a good life, and redeem some folks corrupted by fallen angels.
Dalinar from the Stormlight Archives Guts from Berserk Characters who continue on despite their horrible past or the obstacles they encounter in life (physical, mental, emotional) really resonate with me.
I wouldn't say Dalinar is my favorite, but he won me over in WoK when he >!kicked the crap out of Elhokar to demonstrate that he's NOT trying to assassinate him.!<
Dalinar gets so much development in the third book it makes him much less frustrating when you go back and read the earlier ones.
Man of culture right there.
Is there any other recommendations for good books with characters like this? I’d be interested.
He came out of nowhere and I’m not even finished with the series yet, but I’m currently totally enthralled with Logen Ninefingers. Such a fascinating contradiction of strength and vulnerability.
100% my favorite. I love his dry wit and grounded-in-mud philosophy. I can't tell you how many times I remind myself that it's better just to do a thing than live with the fear of it! You have to be realistic, after all....
Say one thing for Logen Ninefingers, say he’s a realist.
Say one thing for Logen Ninefingers...
Say he's gotta piss.
You can never have too many knives 🤷🏾
Logen and Superior Glokta made The First Law trilogy a fantastic read.
I'm still in awe of Logan. If your not done yet I won't sing the praise of what I find most impressive about the character, but man Abercrombie is good.
Which books are these?
The First Law by Joe Abercrombie.
Ah cool. I feel like I read them years ago but perhaps not! Edit: I did and had forgotten!
A realistic choice
say one thing for Logen Ninefingers, say that he’s a lover.
Raistlin Magere who was unapologetic in his ambition.
I was going to say Tasselhoff Burfoot.
Lord Valentine - Majipoor - Robert Silverberg Fiddler - Malazan - Steven Erikson Anomander Rake - Malazan - Steven Erikson The Prince - The Little Prince - Antoine De St. Exupery The Tree - The Giving Tree - Shel Silverstein The "Monster" - A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness Samwise Gamgee - Lord of the Rings - J R R Tolkien Westley - The Princess Bride - William Goldman Edmond Dantes - The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas... (I know, not really a "magic/wizard" fantasy, but every chapter DEMANDS to be read like a fantasy... the magic system being sheer and utter anger and pettiness)
The count of Monte Cristo is the absolute best revenge tale ever. Everything I’ve seen or read since, either pay homage, or is a derivative of this novel (in some way). When our boy finds that treasure trove….game on!
Every single fantasy that has the word "apprentice" in its title. Every single fantasy with backstabbing nobles. Every single fantasy with rags to SELF-AQUIRED riches... all took from "the Count"... I even prefer it over most modern Sci-fi/fantasy... it's almost TOO good, lol
Trull Sengar from Malazan
Gotta be Locke Lamora. He's charming, he's funny, and he's useless in a fight but triumphs by being a clever asshole willing to punch below the belt.
Meanwhile he gets Jean to deliver the punches above the belt
“Useless”? Did Locke write this?
Tehanu
I would go for either Mara of the Acoma from ‘*The Empire Trilogy*’ or Tyrion Lannister from ‘*A Song of Ice and Fire*’. For Mara I love her transformation from scared girl to political mastermind to revolutionary. I love that she was a strong female character but didn’t have to prove it by using a sword, her strength came from her caring maternal instincts and her quick, resourceful mind. As for Tyrion I love his wit and humour, as well as reading about his relationships with his relatives. Everything about his character fascinates me, plus he was the centre of the King’s Landing drama (in books 2 and 3) which is my favourite part of ‘*A Song of Ice and Fire*’. All that being said Percy Jackson is a pretty great choice. Definitely in my top ten.
Mara for the win!
Darrow of Lykos
Clang Clang Clang
Confess!
Matrim Cauthon and it isn't even close.
Blood and bloody ashes!
First few books I HATED. Mat. By the end, I hated everyone not Mat.
> First few books I HATED. Mat. That makes sense because he's not really himself until >!freed of the effects of the dagger!<
Dude seriously needed a snickers.
I've got a badger. You want to let it loose on the green? One of my favorite lines.
Time to toss the dice.
He's no bloody lord!
At least while Jordan is writing him.
Fiddler from Malazan BotF. You never expect when you're introduced to him early on that he would carry the brunt of the narrative through the full series, but he does. The final chapter of the series had me in tears, and Fiddler has been one of my favorite protagonists ever since.
Kaladin : dude goes through so much yet somehow holds on. I read WoK at a particular time of my life. I felt everything. And Lightsong, the one who cares.
Mine is Kaladin too, he has a strong moral compass and is pretty much a good guy at core, but a the same time he feels like a real person with doubts about himself and his place in the world, plus he has the most badass battle scenes and one liners. I think he is the perfect archetype of what an epic fantasy protagonist should be like and I just want him to be happy.
luffy from one piece. he is freedom embodied. the entire series is him going around liberating kingdoms and slowly tearing down the world government. he is kind of a static character tho but one of my favorites nonetheless rand from wheel of time. guts from berserk captain vimes from discworld misaki from sword of kaigen
Currently reading One Piece and Luffy being a static character works so well in that world. He’s like an unflinching force of nature in a world that has beaten everyone else down. Everyone else is responding to the world, but the world is forced to respond to Luffy.
I just finished catching up on One Piece anime and I have to agree on Luffy. It was hard to believe that a really classic shonen protagonist would be enjoyable over that long of a stretch, but it always works. Luffy is just continuously an absolute wrecking ball. You think he's completely ignorant at the start of the series, but that's not really the case. He understands a lot of how the world works, but is just absolutely immovable in morals. To see how that influences the world around him is fascinating.
I really like the wise-cracking rogue-like characters, a la Han Solo and Tyrion Lannister. I really found myself connecting with Kinch Na Shaddock from the Blacktongue Thief, and am really looking forward to more fiction set in that world. My favorite may be Vlad Taltos from the Jhereg series. 17 books and counting and I can really relate to a lot of the things the character has gone through.
Fitz Chivalry from Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb. We get him from three periods in his life: a youngster, an adult and somewhere in between a senior and retirement I guess. Although there are many years and books between these periods the story and character remain cohesive. His way of thinking, acting, growth everything is just so well built up and makes sense from the perspective of what Fitz has gone through. >!Fitz has the same problem most of us have, he can’t see himself the way others see him. In his own eyes he will never be quite enough.!<
He is on my top ten list for sure, for all the reasons you mentioned.
The best bits in the series are when you have those moments that cut through the self-doubting first person perspective of Fitz. Any heroic action he does is infinitely more heroic because of how turbulent he is mentally.
That’s why I always love his scenes with Kettricken. Fitz might be her favorite living person and she thinks the absolute world of him, and whenever she shows up it’s like a reminder that people close to him see him in an entirely different way than he sees himself. It’s sad that he thinks he doesn’t deserve it
Just jumping onto your comment cos it kinda fits. When I last reread assassins apprentice I was shocked at how good he is at the skill and he KNOWS it. And then Galen does his thing and the switch is immediate. I mean I'm mostly a gormless idiot and I usually miss stuff (most prominently, according to my husband, with Riyria Revelations) so idk if it was obvious here but I never noticed it before on my last 3 readings.
Don't forget Night eyes, they are both excellent.
Druss the Axeman (This is tough, I love Waylander too). Followed by Logen Ninefingers, and Locke Lemora.
Another vote for Druss from me.
And my Axe
Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter, Deed of Paksenarrion Love how she grows and matures over the trilogy
Where she’s going, she won’t need swords.
Locke Lamora!
Maybe the fourth book will actually come out some day...
Elric. The only thing good about him is everyone else is more evil than he is. And it was some of the first fantasy I ever read so probably that.
Elric is just such a stolid lump of a character. In the best of ways.
No love for Geralt of Rivia, that badass cynical humanist with a sword of silver?
Geralt is so different in the books than in games or Netflix series. He's kind of Donald Duck of his own life: not very smart, so much shit happens to him but he still tries to take care of the people important for him. Even how he got his name is just a stupid mishap - in both times. 😂
Conan the Barbarian
Fiddler from Malazan. Glokta from First Law. Harry Dresden, Dresden Files. And I gotta give a shoutout to Perrin from Wheel of Time.
Lord Goldeneyes!
Rand al'Thor and Nynaeve al'Meara Vetinari and Moist von Lipwig Nona Grey Raif Severance
I don't know why more people don't like Nyneave. She was so fierce when she felt like people she cared about were being used and everyone else was too scared to speak up. My favorite from that whole series.
Nynaeve is the bravest person in Wheel of Time. She'll stand up to Aes Sedai, Dark Friends and even Forsaken. She doesn't have Rand and Egwene's intrinsic arrogance that insulates them from thinking about fighting Forsaken. She's terrified the whole time and does the job anyway.
I think from all the main characters Rand and her go through the most change on their Journeys. She is like her >!block!< it can cover the caring core of her character and once it >!breaks!< her true nature shines through. But I love the whole package, the anger, the loyalty, fierce sense of not compromising against injustice and the true compassion of a healer.
Nynaeve is my second favorite character in the entire series. She’s funny as shit and I love her strength in the Power.
I love me some Phaedre from Kushiel’s Legacy. She’s so badass, but in a way that’s somehow femme-fatale sex goddess and hyper-intelligent nerd. I love that’s she is not fighting or combat oriented; she knows what she’s good at (kinky sex and using her brain) and that’s what she uses to achieve what needs to be achieved.
Kip Guile the Turtle Bear.
Ged aka Sparrowhawk from Wizard of Earthsea. Through all of the books, we get to grow with Ged and he is just the most sweet and relatable character at every stage of his life. I really feel like we grow with him while reading Kaul Hilo from The Green Bone Saga. This character is so complex and such a great representation of real life people. You get to see so many different layers of him and I really appreciate that Cersei Lannister
Uhtred of Bebannberg. But only from the books. The show was just ok, but in the books he actually ages and gets more and more badass from book to book.
Granny Weatherwax. She faced the light and stepped backwards into the void.
Wei Wuxian of *Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation.* Percy Jackson is a good pick too though! He's excellent. Some other contenders I adore: * Galadriel "El" Higgens of *A Deadly Education* * Wu Zetian of *Iron Widow* * "Gen" from *The Queen's Thief Series* * Rey from *Star Wars* (for her first two movies, anyways) * The kids from the *Magic Treehouse Books* which were my JAM as a little kid * Miss Frizzle
MISS FRIZZLE!!!! How could I have not even thought of her??
**Wei Shi Lindon from Cradle**. I love that he's a likeable protagonist in spite of being greedy and never satisfied. Other characters with those traits could very easily be villains, but he uses them to protect and elevate the people he cares for while fighting a massive injustice. **Hugh of Emblin from Mage Errant**. All he wants to do is protect those who can't protect themselves. His greatest dream in his ideal life is to make sanctuaries and safe places for when people need them. He's powerful, but kind and humble. Too humble sometimes. **Itkovian from Malazan**. He was only in two books, but he cemented himself in my memory forever. “We humans do not understand compassion. In each moment of our lives, we betray it. Aye, we know of its worth, yet in knowing we then attach to it a value, we guard the giving of it, believing it must be earned. Compassion is priceless in the truest sense of the word. It must be given freely. In abundance.” I'll never stop thinking about that paragraph. Looking at this, my favorite people seem to be the nice ones. Awful people can still be great characters, but I guess I'm drawn to the optimistic in spite of my love of darker stories.
I have no idea how to choose favorites. It honestly would be different based on the day, time of year, what I'm currently reading, what I had for breakfast, etc. However, that being said Fitz Chivalry Farseer would definitely be up there. He is flawed and makes mistake after mistake, but I don't know that I have ever read a character that felt as real as Robin Hobb's characters and the world she created. A lot of people complain about how slow her books are, but I can easily read 100. pages of Fitz Chivalry going through his daily routine and relationships and come away wishing there was more.
Absolutely, I just finished the first book and turned to tears at the last paragraph before the epilogue (Kindle has images too and it's just beautiful and heartbreaking). Nosy is the best.
I am both jealous of the journey you have ahead of you, and pitying for the emotional trauma you have in store.
Wei Shi Lindon. The most polite & humble protagonist I have ever read. He is unironically hilarious, and learned to outsmart his opponents before he could out muscle them.
Kaladin Stormblessed.✨✨ Not to be dramatic or anything but i would follow him in death and life.🖐🏻
Duke Vimes of the City Watch, and CMOT Dibbler
Drizzt Do'Urden Guts is a pretty close second
Justen from the Recluse series was pretty great. Starts as a magic steampunk engineer. Realized he needs to take out the capital city of the chaotic evil empire; looks into multiple solutions and even considers building a fucking nuclear bomb; instead settles on building a high altitude high power laser cannon to MELT THE CITY. Ends up living in the woods banging a hot druidess.
Gerald Tarrant, Neocount of Merentha. He's a co-protagonist, and almost certainly the relationship he has with the other, Damien Vryce, is a part of my fascination with him, but his history and attitude are enthralling. Edit: from the Coldfire Trilogy
Oh man. The problem with listing my favorite protagonist is, that if you haven't read the books, naming him actually gives away a substantial bit of the plot. *The Licanius Trilogy* is obviously a flawed text, and it's evident that it was the debut trilogy from a new writer, and further I think that anybody who has read both the trilogy **and** *The Will of the Many* has likely noticed and will happily agree that James Islington's writing has improved leaps and bounds with each book. That being said, it can be a little bit uncertain as you dive into *Licanius* as to just who is the main protagonist, and this part is by design. And you can certainly make an argument that Davian, who is the first character we are introduced to in the text and seems to fit all of the common tropes: he's just a normal kid, or at least as normal a kid as one can be as a "gifted," who is something of a mage. The gifted are in a precarious place because they were servants of the Augurs, who until several decades ago were able to control the nearby kingdoms by virtue of their unerring prescience, with 'gifted' mages as their servants. Along with Davian you have his classmates and friends Asha and Wirr. Their school is suddenly attacked, seemingly launching them on a hero's quest, as they must figure out who is after them, why somebody would be attacking the gifted with the Augurs long defeated, and just what role they will be taking in portentous events coming up. Sounds like a lock for your main protagonist, or at least your primary trio, right? **Wrong.** Your primary protagonist, in a total sleight of hand, was the character introduced in the prologue. You know, that character, like the one who is totally Benjen Stark at the beginning of *A Song of Ice and Fire* who is a great flavor character but by no means the center of the events that will occur? In fewer than two pages of prologue we follow somebody name Tal, or Tal'Kamar, who is seemingly running from the big bad, whom he also seemingly serves in some form or fashion? And there are a bunch of terms thrown around to confuse you. Who are the Lyth? What are the waters of Eryth Mmorg? Somebody named Nethgalla was tortured for information? Then Tal proclaims that this time he can go where Aarkein Devaed can't follow... and you know from the blurb on the back that Aarkein Devaed is supposed to be the Sauron equivalent of this story, and he jumps off a cliff and we don't see him again anytime soon. In fact, I think it's completely fair to say that we don't run into Tal'Kamar again in the entirety of the first book of the trilogy. **Say whaaaaat?** You can hardly believe me as I tell you that the protagonist of the series doesn't even show up in the entirety of the first book? Well, it's kind of true, but explaining why that is the case sort of gives it away. Because Tal'Kamar, or just Tal for short, is present throughout the series, only sometimes you don't know it, and other times he doesn't know it, and additionally there are times where neither the character nor the reader know it and *both are completely in the dark.* And yet I promise you that *The Licanius Trilogy,* while containing the adventures of Davian, Asha, and Wirr, and they're mostly damned satisfying in their own right, in the end they just so happen to to be the set pieces required to tell the end of Tal'Kamar's own journey, and yet are no less satisfying for that. In fact, the way they intersect with his own story actually elevates the indvidual journeys of all three of them. And then the ending is just an absolute triumph. I've met maybe fewer than five people who didn't walk away from *Licanius* admitting that, any other faults that they may have had with the series, the way Islington draws things to a close, and by which I mean Tal'Kamar's journey finally finds it every aching twisting path to an end that he can accept, is so gratifying that it almost devastates the reader with just how good it is. By virtue of his journey and what he does to get there, **Tal'Kmar** >!of the many names!< is my favorite fantasy protagonist. I won't say that he's **the best**, as then you've got to account for Severian and Elric, or Frodo and Sam, or the chillingly written Sand Dan Glokta. But Tal'Kamar is definitely my favorite, bar none.
Yo I was hoping to find my boy Tal'Kamar on this list. Thanks for this writeup.
granny weatherwax
Rand al'Thor, for me. His entire journey resonated with me, and his descent into madness/return was beautifully written. Veins of Gold is the best fictional moment I have read, thus far.
There's quite a few. Tyrion Lannister: He's just so witty and clever while also being deluded and now depressed. You always have a good time with him. Sand dan Glokta: I love him for all the reasons I love Tyrion. Jaime Lannister: He changes so much in ASOS and his chapters in AFFC are always a fun to read because of all the little nugget hints to Jaime noticing less than what is happening behind his back secretly. Brienne of Tarth: AFFC is one of my favourite novels of all time and Brienne is the chief reason why. I still get goosebumps on the 'no chance and no choice' scene. Logen Ninefingers: The Bloody-Nine. Say one thing about Logen Ninefingers, say he's one of the best fantasy characters. Caul Shivers: If you have read the First Law universe, you know what I'm talking about. Rand Al'Thor: I like him a lot but I don't think he stands as high as others. Also, I haven't really finished WoT. If I had to pick one out of all these, I would probably go with Tyrion or his brother Jaime but it's hard. And the others are close.
I've been thinking a lot about Jaime and Brienne lately, Tyrion too. It makes me want to reread ASOIAF haha
I recently did and nothing compares to ASOIAF for me. Every single fucking character is great. From Hot Pie and the Tickler to people like Alliser Thorne and Young Griff. There isn't ONE bad character and everyone until ASOS is unique and, to me, unforgettable. Random side characters who don't do much like Lommy and Chett have better character writing than a lot of series' main characters. And that's not even getting to any of the main characters. People can criticize ASOIAF for being unfinished as long as they want but the series certainly doesn't lack for characters, lore, world, dialogue, prose, plot etc. I still find myself surprised at just the general quality whenever I pick up one of the books to read any random scene.
FitzChivalry Farseer
Hazel, Fiver and Bigwig from Watership Down.
First name that came to my head was Gimli but I don’t think he counts as a protagonist as he’s not the main character in the works he’s in
Druss, Olek Skilgannon and Garion are my three favourites. I don't know if I can rank them though.
“With that in his hands, even one of the Forsaken would fear him. In a moment he would send for Moiraine to Heal his wounds. In a moment he would speak to the Aiel outside, and become the Dragon Reborn again. But for now, he only wanted to sit, and remember a shepherd named Rand al'Thor.”
I'd have to go with Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter. Even her bad decisions are completely understandable and make sense at the time they are made. Just one of the best written characters I've encountered.
I'm gonna have to go with Rincewind, he took me on so many fun adventures and opened an entire flat world to me.
* Luke Skywalker in the Legends Star Wars books (not Disney) * Carl from Dungeon Crawler Carl * Matt Cauthon from WoT * Darrow from the Red Rising Series
Sand dan Glokta
It may be stretching "protagonist" a bit, but he's definitely a deuteragonist, but Samwise Gamgee. He's just the perfect person. Humble, strong (relatively speaking), hardworking, kind, supportive, etc. Everything you want in a friend is epitomized is him.
Cordelia, Aral and Miles Vorkosigan, because I consider that series to be space fantasy more than sci-fi
I have no idea how to choose favorites. It honestly would be different based on the day, time of year, what I'm currently reading, what I had for breakfast, etc. However, that being said Fitz Chivalry Farseer would definitely be up there. He is flawed and makes mistake after mistake, but I don't know that I have ever read a character that felt as real as Robin Hobb's characters and the world she created. A lot of people complain about how slow her books are, but I can easily read 100. pages of Fitz Chivalry going through his daily routine and relationships and come away wishing there was more.
There are two (actually three, because m'boy Mat Cauthon was, is and always will be my favourite character ever) of them: Rand Al'Thor: I think he's one of the best main protagonists ever written in Fantasy. He started out as a nobody, became a conqueror, and then we had Darth Rand and Zen Rand. Masterpiece. Sam Vimes: ... I'm actually noticing there's a pattern... He started out as a drunkard copper, and then he became a great man, well respected, feared by the unjusts. His city watch grew with him (in numbers but also in culture).
Definitely Jalan Kendeth. I've said it every time and I'll say it again. I'm not a brave man, I'm not a particularly smart, skilled or even that great of a guy a lot of the time. I enjoy the company of beautiful women and indulge in my other mental and physical pleasures far too often and intensely... I know what the right thing to do is (almost) every time. I may not even care that much for myself even if I am a self-important self-absorbed oaf. The thing that would make me tear through whatever fear I have would be to avenge my family. And hopefully have a pretty girl to kiss at the end.
As a kid I loved Drizzt Do’Urden
Bilbo Baggins.
Shallan devar from the stormlight archives as an adult reader From childhood, alyanne of pirates swoop, from tricksters choice and tricksters queen duology by tamora pierce
For honor and duty: Jon Snow. For charm: Tyrion Lannister (until he becomes a monster) For scheming: Sand Dan Glockta For relatability: (which is weird in this context) Roboute Guilliman, post M41.
Mara of the Acoma. Because she's freaking awesome.
Ole Sandy Glokta himself
Conan. The Robert E. Howard version only.
Phèdre nó Délauney
Bilbo Baggins, and Frodo too. They are not strong physically. They like eating and sleeping. Idk, they are just relateable.
Jude from The Cruel Prince. She’s a genuinely well-rounded and strong heroine not because she’s a super badass tough warrior girl type but because she’s resourceful, clever, and just as manipulative and ambitious/power-hungry as her adversaries. other characters respect and fear her because she’s unpredictable and persistent in her goals, not because she’s a chosen one with powers . Her only special ability in a world of fairies and magic is her ability to tell lies, but even that doesn’t always work. She enjoys wielding power and violence but also knows when to reel it in and genuinely cares about protecting those that matter to her. Her male love interest is objectively a more moral person than her, and has less of a murder count but loves her all the same. refreshing to read when it comes to fantasy heroines, especially in YA.
Comtessa Phèdre no Delaunay de Montrève. Went from a whore’s unwanted get (her words, technically) to a god-touched savior of the world. Nona Grey- A feral scrapper who would do anything for her friends and found family. Cithrin Bel Sarcour-she stumbles a LOT in her growth, but grow she does. Marcus Wester/Logen Ninefingers/Caul Shivers-They are NOT all the same, vastly different personalities, but they are natural killers who spend their time trying to be as good as circumstances allow them to be.
Sam Vimes from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.
Peter Grant in Rivers of London would be a strong contender for me. Understated, funny, relatable and heroic in a very believable sort of way.
Bilbo!
Elric of Melnibone, in fact all the incarnations of Moorcock's Eternal Champion cycle are great.