[Alchemist]

The funny, awkward, but in actuality wise and not-so-secretly powerful sage--where did this archetype originate? Merlin in John Boorman's Excalibur is a screen example, but everyone knew and respected him as Merlin, whereas it took awhile for Fizban to be realized as who he actually was, and for Kruppe's true colors to start emerging (I'm a third of the way through Memories of Ice, so no spoilers!).

Any other Fizbans and Kruppes out there?

[Rohan]

Perhaps Nakor in the Midkemia Novels?

PS: Kruppe is fantastic. Of course, I'm not quite finished Dead House Gates, so I know even less than you about the chap.

~Rohan.

[thrinidir]

kruppe gets laid!!!

big spoiler here :P

ontopic: iskaral pust from malazan is a similar character to kruppe; also the wizard from j.abercrombie's the first law trilogy fits the description...kind of...as well as belgariad (eddings). the fool from first farseer trilogy maybe?

[Scott]

I believe that there was a similar character in Glen Cook's Dread Empire series. I can't remember his name, but it was similar to Kruppe.

[Rob B]

I believe that there was a similar character in Glen Cook's Dread Empire series. I can't remember his name, but it was similar to Kruppe.His name was Mocker and I wouldn't be surprised if Mocker served as an inspiration for Kruppe (one of my favorite Malazan characters, btw.)

Joe Abercrombie's Bayaz sort of fits this role, sort of.

[Michigan]

I think Erickson likes that type of character, you can probably add Bugg from Midnight Tides, although he isn't foppish like Kruppe, just humble.

[Scott]

His name was Mocker and I wouldn't be surprised if Mocker served as an inspiration for Kruppe (one of my favorite Malazan characters, btw.)


Mocker, that's it, thanks Rob. I believe I read somewhere that Erikson was a fan of Cook's.

[GreyMantle]

Maybe Merlin from The Once and Future King?

[Ouroboros]

The funny, awkward, but in actuality wise and not-so-secretly powerful sage--where did this archetype originate?

In the fantasy genre, I think you could run this right back to Tom Bombadil.

In more general terms, I think many cultures have this trickster / wizard archetype- Coyote in Native American legend, Loki in Scandinavia?

[JamesL]

I would say Nakor from the Midkemia universe is a very similar sort of character to Kruppe, in the sense that he knows a lot more than he lets on and wields far more power than other characters suspect.