And who is your Swords+Sorcery or Fantasy character?

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SUMMARY

This forum discussion centers on participants sharing their favorite characters from Swords+Sorcery and Fantasy mythos. Notable mentions include The Grey Mouser, Faith, Boromir, and characters from various series such as the Malazan series, Dragonlance, and the Stormlight Archive. The conversation highlights the emotional depth and character development in adaptations, particularly in film versus literature, with specific references to Joss Whedon's works and the portrayal of Galadriel by Cate Blanchett. Participants express nostalgia for characters from their childhood, emphasizing the lasting impact of these mythos on their lives.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with Swords+Sorcery and Fantasy genres
  • Knowledge of key characters from series like The Lord of the Rings and Dragonlance
  • Understanding of character development in literature versus film adaptations
  • Awareness of influential authors such as J.R.R. Tolkien and Michael Moorcock
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the character arcs of Boromir in both the book and movie adaptations of The Lord of the Rings
  • Research the influence of Joss Whedon's storytelling techniques in character development
  • Investigate the themes of heroism and sacrifice in the Malazan series
  • Read Michael Moorcock's Elric of Melniboné to understand the origins of modern fantasy anti-heroes
USEFUL FOR

Fantasy enthusiasts, writers, and gamers interested in character development and the evolution of mythos in literature and film.

  • #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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