Best anti-hero novels/series?

Memnoch · 09-24-2006, 11:45 AM

Let's define anti-hero the way Wikipedia defines it:

In literature and film, an anti-hero has widely come to mean a fictional character who has some characteristics that are antithetical to those of the traditional hero. An anti-hero in today's books and films will perform acts generally deemed "heroic," but will do so with methods, manners, or intentions that may not be heroic.

I've read a few novels with anti-heroes - Martin's ASOIAF series has a number of anti-heroes, such as Jaime Lannister, as does Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, with Anomander Rake. Michael Moorcock probably came up with one of the earlier ones in Elric. Lestat from Anne Rice is another.

But I think I've found the ultimate - Anasurimbor Kellhus from the Prince of Nothing series by Scott Bakker. The ultimate "end justifies the means" type of character.

Heatmiser · 09-26-2006, 03:48 PM

I can recommend the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series (2 trilogies) by Stephen R. Donaldson. He is an excellent writer, and the Thomas Covenant character is a good, but maddening anti-hero.

Another of Donaldson's series is called the Gap Cycle (5 books) and are sci-fi. They are also excellent and don't necessarily have a single anti-hero, but 2 characters especially go from hero to villian in opposite directions during the course of the books. It is complex and very well done.

shadowhound · 09-26-2006, 08:28 PM

David Gemmel's Morningstar, now thats an anti-hero.

Amphetamine Machine · 09-26-2006, 08:53 PM

Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince

EDIT: While not a novel, it is the thesis of antithesis.

[ 09-26-2006, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: Amphetamine Machine ]

Olorin · 09-26-2006, 11:24 PM

For a light-hearted version of an anti-hero, try Villains by Necessity by Eve Forward.

The main character is the last remaining assasin in the world who teams up with a druid, a thief, an evil sorceress and a dark knight to save the world.

It's kind of a spoof of the dragonlance type novels where good heroes have to restore the balance of good and evil, but this time, it's good that has gotten too powerful.

Djinn Raffo · 09-27-2006, 12:22 AM

Flashman, a character written by George MacDonald Fraser.

Illumina Drathiran'ar · 09-27-2006, 08:22 PM

Oh man, I can't not mention Greg House from House. If he isn't an anti-hero, I don't know who is. Also, Batman was cited as a good example of an anti-hero in a cinema class I had a ways back.

Klorox · 09-27-2006, 09:11 PM

Stormbringer.

Memnoch · 10-03-2006, 01:50 PM

Stormbringer's a sword though, not a character. The character, Elric, is as anti-heroish as they come.

pritchke · 10-04-2006, 11:22 AM

<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#009999">Uther by Jack Whyte was anti/hero come to think of it. There were times in the book were you just loved this king and at points slightly towards the end you felt the hatred that Merlin had for him. At the very end after his death you just felt sorry for the guy as just a victim of circumstance and could actually forgive the guy.</font>

[ 10-04-2006, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

09-24-2006, 11:45 AM	#1
Memnoch Ironworks Moderator Join Date: February 28, 2001 Location: Boston/Sydney Posts: 11,771	Let's define anti-hero the way Wikipedia defines it: In literature and film, an anti-hero has widely come to mean a fictional character who has some characteristics that are antithetical to those of the traditional hero. An anti-hero in today's books and films will perform acts generally deemed "heroic," but will do so with methods, manners, or intentions that may not be heroic. I've read a few novels with anti-heroes - Martin's ASOIAF series has a number of anti-heroes, such as Jaime Lannister, as does Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series, with Anomander Rake. Michael Moorcock probably came up with one of the earlier ones in Elric. Lestat from Anne Rice is another. But I think I've found the ultimate - Anasurimbor Kellhus from the Prince of Nothing series by Scott Bakker. The ultimate "end justifies the means" type of character. __________________

09-26-2006, 03:48 PM	#2
Heatmiser Dungeon Master Join Date: June 19, 2002 Location: USA Age: 55 Posts: 52	I can recommend the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant series (2 trilogies) by Stephen R. Donaldson. He is an excellent writer, and the Thomas Covenant character is a good, but maddening anti-hero. Another of Donaldson's series is called the Gap Cycle (5 books) and are sci-fi. They are also excellent and don't necessarily have a single anti-hero, but 2 characters especially go from hero to villian in opposite directions during the course of the books. It is complex and very well done. __________________ Heatmiser<br /><br />The Truth is a river where the strong can swim in deep,<br />and the weak and the broken can walk across so easily. - Caedmon\'s Call

09-26-2006, 08:28 PM	#3
shadowhound Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: November 24, 2001 Location: Australia Age: 39 Posts: 3,281	David Gemmel's Morningstar, now thats an anti-hero. __________________ Carpe Noctem: Ph’nglui mglw’nafh cthulhu r’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn.

09-26-2006, 08:53 PM	#4
Amphetamine Machine Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: June 12, 2006 Location: District of Columbia Age: 34 Posts: 47	Niccolo Machiavelli - The Prince EDIT: While not a novel, it is the thesis of antithesis. [ 09-26-2006, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: Amphetamine Machine ] __________________ [img]\"http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/8295/untitledsig2uf2.jpg\" alt=\" - \" />

09-26-2006, 11:24 PM	#5
Olorin Avatar Join Date: May 27, 2002 Location: Boulder, CO Age: 48 Posts: 544	For a light-hearted version of an anti-hero, try Villains by Necessity by Eve Forward. The main character is the last remaining assasin in the world who teams up with a druid, a thief, an evil sorceress and a dark knight to save the world. It's kind of a spoof of the dragonlance type novels where good heroes have to restore the balance of good and evil, but this time, it's good that has gotten too powerful. __________________ "Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkun to the Dwarves; Olorin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incanus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not" --The Two Towers

09-27-2006, 12:22 AM	#6
Djinn Raffo Ra Join Date: March 11, 2001 Location: Ant Hill Age: 50 Posts: 2,397	Flashman, a character written by George MacDonald Fraser.

09-27-2006, 08:22 PM	#7
Illumina Drathiran'ar Apophis Join Date: July 10, 2002 Location: I can see the Manhattan skyline from my window. Age: 39 Posts: 4,673	Oh man, I can't not mention Greg House from House. If he isn't an anti-hero, I don't know who is. Also, Batman was cited as a good example of an anti-hero in a cinema class I had a ways back. __________________ http://cavestory.org PLAY THIS GAME. Seriously. http://xkcd.com/386/ http://www.xkcd.com/406/ My heart is like my coffee. Black, bitter, icy, and with a straw.

09-27-2006, 09:11 PM	#8
Klorox Symbol of Cyric Join Date: August 21, 2004 Location: USA Age: 49 Posts: 1,168	Stormbringer. __________________ Baruk Khazad! Khazad ai-mênu! "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."-- Edmund Burke

10-03-2006, 01:50 PM	#9
Memnoch Ironworks Moderator Join Date: February 28, 2001 Location: Boston/Sydney Posts: 11,771	Stormbringer's a sword though, not a character. The character, Elric, is as anti-heroish as they come. __________________

10-04-2006, 11:22 AM	#10
pritchke Bastet - Egyptian Cat Goddess Join Date: September 5, 2001 Location: Calgary, AB Age: 50 Posts: 3,491	<font face="Verdana" size="3" color="#009999">Uther by Jack Whyte was anti/hero come to think of it. There were times in the book were you just loved this king and at points slightly towards the end you felt the hatred that Merlin had for him. At the very end after his death you just felt sorry for the guy as just a victim of circumstance and could actually forgive the guy.</font> [ 10-04-2006, 11:24 AM: Message edited by: pritchke ]

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