Whom Do You Think are Fantasy's Greatest Heroes and Heroines?

In LOTR and the Hobbit , there are more are few .:)
Gandalf
Bilbo
Frodo
Samwise
Merry
Pipin
Aragorn
Theoden
 
Like Cicero's list. However there are lots of classic fantasies that preceded Tolkien.
A standout would be Conan, at least as imagined by Howard.
There are lots of one shot heroes. I would mention the hero in deCamps Lest Darkness Fall. How can you not appreciate the savior of civilisation? And the book is funny.
I will probably add on to this thread as my memory kicks in.
For right now I would include the Doctor, (Cicero didn't say it had to be written, even though that is my preference). Lots of ethical vampires, vampire slayers etc. But getting back to written.
Superman (written & illustrated)
Death(Discworld) he solves everything)
And speaking of Discworld, Sam Vimes. He protects the normal from the impossible.
 
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I'm going to have to give this more thought, but . . .

The one character that comes immediately to mind is Paks from Elizabeth Moon's The Deed of Paksenarrion series. A classic heroin if there ever was one. From the very beginning, she has hero-to-be stamped large on her forehead. Humble, always striving for "goodness" despite the odds, willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of others. Between Deed and the follow-up series, Paladin's Legacy, other heroes are found. But Paks, for me, wins top honors.
 
I read that trilogy and it scared me a bit. But I was only 12 at the time and I was probably too young for that book.

As for Cicero's question, I think the greatest fantasy hero is Merlin from Mary Stewart's trilogy, and here's why.
In the second book, Merlin finds a sword that belonged to the Emperor Maximus. He knows that this sword must belong to a descendant of Emperor Maximus, and he himself is such a descendant. But Merlin has the coolness and common sense to abandon his intention to take the sword for himself, preferring to keep it (and possible power over all of Britain) for his cousin Arthur. He does this because he realises that he is not fit to be a general and leader, preferring to remain an aide and advisor to his cousin.
There are very few people in our world who are able to assess their abilities and give up the struggle for power. Many politicians behave like pigs and tear their countries apart just to be in the history books in the future. If real men and women behaved as decently and reasonably as Merlin, our world would be a much better place.
 
Mogaine the heroic C J Cherryh's Morgane series and companion Vayne are on quest to close down the network of magic gates that link thousands of worlds because they are thereat to the worlds contested existence. Mogaine wields a sword that destroys has a gate to nowhere on its tip and has the capacity to destroy the gateways between world . Morgain is humanoid female of the Qualr race got control of the gates ancient times to enslave billion. These gate networks enable travelers to travel into the past and future, The problem was that they were miss-used . Too many traveler fearful of changing the past opted to travel toad live in the future. The cause a continuum wide disaster wrecked many worlds and it could happen again and that is what she want to prevent this by closing off the gates.

The Four books in the series are .

1. The Gates of Ivrel
2. The Well of Shiun
3. The Fires of Azeroth
4. Exiles Gate
 
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I've read those books, and I remember vividly the description of a world with several moons, where the sea was gradually swallowing up the land.
They are very well written and Morgaine is a really great heroine. But I missed some things in those books.
For example, there is almost nothing about Morgaine's past. As far as I can remember, none of the books talk about the life she left behind before she took over the gate. Who were her parents? Did she have any siblings? Or perhaps a husband and child? What had she sacrificed when she began to wander these strange and dark worlds?
If I could imagine, she might have shared first place with Merlin.
I also didn't understand much about the Khal and their relationship with humans. It would have been nice to read a prequel to the Morgaine stories that explained all this.
 
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Raya said:
I've read those books, and I remember vividly the description of a world with several moons, where the sea was gradually swallowing up the land.
They are very well written and Morgaine is a really great heroine. But I missed some things in those books.
For example, there is almost nothing about Morgaine's past. As far as I can remember, none of the books talk about the life she left behind before she took over the gate. Who were her parents? Did she have any siblings? Or perhaps a husband and child? What had she sacrificed when she began to wander these strange and dark worlds?
If I could imagine, she might have shared first place with Merlin.
I also didn't understand much about the Khal and their relationship with humans. It would have been nice to read a prequel to the Morgaine stories that explained all this.
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An amazing series ! Only 4 book , I wish she's written more. Id love more advnter with Morgaine and Vanye .
 
At least she's still alive. Of course, C.J. Cherryh is no longer young. But Aristophanes wrote wonderful comedies even when he was ninety. So we can hope for a prequel as well as a sequel.;)
 
Raya said:
At least she's still alive. Of course, C.J. Cherryh is no longer young. But Aristophanes wrote wonderful comedies even when he was ninety. So we can hope for a prequel as well as a sequel.;)
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There are so many more stories to tell in that universe, :)
 
This one's so obvious it needs no elaboration: Samwise Gamee. Tolkien himself considered Sam the book's primary hero. I wholeheartedly concur.
 
Kane, Conan & Elric of Melnibone. They are heroic when they need to be. But only if it suits their purposes. Not necessarily good, but not exactly evil either. All of them tread a grey area in deeds and accomplishments. I prefer their stories (and stories like them) over the more common trope.
 
Raf said:
Kane, Conan & Elric of Melnibone. They are heroic when they need to be. But only if it suits their purposes. Not necessarily good, but not exactly evil either. All of them tread a grey area in deeds and accomplishments. I prefer their stories (and stories like them) over the more common trope.
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It makes credible and interesting characters . :)
 
My vote is for Pug of Crydee. He is undeservedly unpopular.
 
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