And who is your Swords+Sorcery or Fantasy character?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around participants sharing their favorite characters from Swords+Sorcery or Fantasy mythos, encompassing a wide range of sources including ancient myths, modern adaptations, and various literary works. The scope includes personal preferences, character traits, and the impact of different portrayals in media.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Greg mentions The Grey Mouser and Faith as his favorite characters from ancient and modern mythos, respectively.
  • One participant expresses a preference for Boromir, highlighting the depth added by the movie portrayal compared to the book.
  • Another participant lists numerous characters from various mythologies and series, including Strider, Tom Bombadil, and figures from Greek and Norse myths.
  • Participants mention characters from the Malazan series, Stormlight Archive, Wheel of Time, and Farseer Trilogy, indicating a diverse range of interests.
  • Several participants express admiration for Galadriel, noting her portrayal in both books and films, and discussing her character's complexities.
  • One participant shares nostalgia for Drizzt Do'Urden and reflects on the cultural impact of Drow characters in modern fantasy.
  • Discussions also touch on characters from the Harry Potter series, with varying opinions on Severus Snape and other figures.
  • Some participants express a fondness for characters like Daenerys Targaryen and Arya Stark from the Song of Ice and Fire series, emphasizing their development and strength.
  • There are mentions of various weapons associated with mythic characters, such as Excalibur and Gungnir, with some participants clarifying their origins and significance.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a variety of preferences and opinions, with no clear consensus on a single favorite character or interpretation. Disagreements arise regarding the portrayal of certain characters and the merits of different adaptations.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions reference specific portrayals in films versus books, indicating differing interpretations and personal biases. The conversation also reflects a mix of nostalgia and contemporary views on fantasy characters.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in fantasy literature, character analysis, and discussions on adaptations in media may find this thread engaging.

  • #31
Rubidium_71 said:
Galadriel. She's great in the books, but she rocks in the movies. It was a role Cate Blanchett was born to play.
Have you read the extended story of Galadriel? It's in "Unfinished Tales", iirc. It gives more insights into her flaws as well as her strengths. E.g., the reason she came to Middle Earth was because she yeared to order a realm of her own, without "tutelage" from the superior beings in Valinor. Her journey of several thousand years in Middle Earth are basically a story of how she gradually came to relinquish that hubris and eventually re-embraced humility in rejecting the One Ring.

Although Cate Blanchett was quite good, I always felt it was a shame that she hadn't read LoTR before starting the role. She never quite nailed the subtle contradiction between strength and vulnerability/sadness that was in the original Tolkien character.
 
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  • #32
Quite right, Noisy Rhysling, that's one of her best quotes -

"In place of a Dark Lord, you would have a queen! Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love me, and despair!"

I can see a bit of the character's conflict in her behavior and what she says here. Also her statement afterwards about "passing the test" so she can diminish and go into the West instead of being tempted into taking the Ring of Power.

I have not read the Unfinished Tales. I guess I'll wait for the movie to come out. ;)
 
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  • #33
Gungnir, Zweihaender, and Excalibur may be. Know them mostly from video games.
 
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  • #34
blue_leaf77 said:
Gungnir, Zweihaender, and Excalibur may be. Know them mostly from video games.
Excalibur was a sword. it was the one in the stone that king Arthur pulled out.
 
  • #35
James Holland said:
Excalibur was a sword. it was the one in the stone that king Arthur pulled out.

So is a Zweihander: its the modern name given to the heavy, two-handed swords used by the Landsknechte to break up enemy pike formations. Gungnir is Norse, it is also probably a mythic sword, I just don't know which myth.
 
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  • #36
James Holland said:
Excalibur was a sword.
Yes, that's right. The other two are also weapons, not the knights.
Khatti said:
Gungnir is Norse, it is also probably a mythic sword
Gungnir is Odin's spear.
 
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  • #37
blue_leaf77 said:
Gungnir is Odin's spear

Sigh. My ancestors, all of whom are either Scandinavian or German, are rolling in their graves.
 
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  • #38
Kane, the sword-wielding sorcerer anti-hero from the books written by Karl Edward Wagner.

After hacking Wolverine to pieces (because his Carsultyal-forged sword was that good), he would have had the last laugh in any Chuck Norris joke!
 
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  • #39
Karl Kolchak

Those of you, of 'a certain age' certainly remember the character played brilliantly by Darren McGavin for less than a full season, but rerun for many years subsequently in late night reruns. :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolchak:_The_Night_Stalker

diogenesNY
 
  • #40
My all time sci fi character is Corum from the Chronicles of Corum by Michael Moorcock
strangerep said:
Greg started 2 threads about which sci-fi and fantasy universe you'd like to live in. Yet (curiously) I only see one thread about favorite sci-fi characters. So...

Who is your favorite character from a Swords+Sorcery or Fantasy mythos?

My "ancient mythos" choice is: The Grey Mouser. (Can you guess why? :biggrin:)

My "modern mythos" choice is: Faith.

Curiously, one of Joss Whedon's favorite scenes in Angel is also mine. Guess which one?
(Although Spike wasn't my favorite character, James Marsters is far and away my favorite actor. His ability to portray totally different character types is brilliant -- he's like a modern Alec Guiness.)
 
  • #41
byteme90k said:
My all time sci fi character is Corum from the Chronicles of Corum by Michael Moorcock
Hmm, that name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then I realized it was because I've only read a little of Moorcock's other work involving Elric+Stormbringer. :nb)

Geez, that's a loooong time ago. :rolleyes:
 
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  • #42
strangerep said:
Geez, that's a loooong time ago. :rolleyes:

Time flies when you're having fun!:wink:
 
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  • #43
strangerep said:
Hmm, that name sounded familiar, but I couldn't place it. Then I realized it was because I've only read a little of Moorcock's other work involving Elric+Stormbringer. :nb)

Geez, that's a loooong time ago. :rolleyes:
well...I am old, relatively speaking! nudge, nudge, wink, wink
 
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  • #44
byteme90k said:
well...I am old, relatively speaking! nudge, nudge, wink, wink

If it weren't for the cane you carry you wouldn't be able to catch girls at all anymore! ?:)
 
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  • #45
Khatti said:
If it weren't for the cane you carry you wouldn't be able to catch girls at all anymore! ?:)
oldmancane.gif
 
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  • #46
I like the three musketeers by Dumas. Great characters. No sorcery, but at least it has swords.
 
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  • #47
Evo said:
Pug in Magician Apprentice/Riftwar series

Caramon and Raistlin Majere in Dragonlance series
Lol this is almost EXACTLY mine! Although I like Thomas/Ashen-Shugar and Jimmy the Hand as well.

But Pug and Raistlin are my two main favorites by far.
 
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  • #48
For me it'd be...
Elric - Elric Of Melniboné - Michael Moorcock
Space Marines (prefer Salamanders Chapter) - Warhammer 40k
Harry Keogh - Necroscope - Brian Lumley
Druss - Legend - David Gemmel

Just a few off top of ma head, lol.
 
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  • #49
Corwin of Amber.
 

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