What kind of hero do you prefer in fantasy/sci-fi? [edited thread]

[Ranger REG]

EDIT: Lets refocus the thread with a simple question:

For a sci-fi / fantasy novel, what do you think is more interesting to read: about a powerful hero all the way, or about an unfortunate whimp who, after much efforts and intelligence, eventually becomes the powerful guy?

A horny womanizer, one who not only save the damsels in distress but have his way with them, whether they're willing or reluctant. One who makes 007 (if 007 is actually Colin Farrell) looks like a pious Reverend.

 

[Umbran]

I don't worry so much about the particular characteristics of the hero - I worry about whether the story is well-written and the characters (whatever their traits) are interesting.

 

[MonsterMash]

This probably explains why I love the character of Samwise above all others in The Lord of the Rings -- he's just a simple gardener thrust into an epic quest, but his qualities, fine and human, show through.

Shouldn't that be fine and hobbit?

Nitpicks aside I prefer a hero who develops from their experiences, but they don't have to be a total wimp, but an ordinary person is fine and probably preferable to some flawless ubermensch.

 

[freebfrost]

EDIT: Lets refocus the thread with a simple question:

For a sci-fi / fantasy novel, what do you think is more interesting to read: about a powerful hero all the way, or about an unfortunate whimp who, after much efforts and intelligence, eventually becomes the powerful guy?

I find the "Conan" novels just as compelling as reading "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant".

 

[Pants]

I like all manner of 'heroes,' provided they are well-written, have some manner of depth, and have a compelling story. Although, Conan-type heroes seem to get boring really quickly for me.

 

[Thornir Alekeg]

I, like many others so far, like both kinds as long as long as the hero has some measure of humanity. Uber-heroes who can do no wrong get old quicker. Superman has his Clark Kent side. Basically as long as I can relate somehow to the hero and feel some empathy for the hero's difficulties/challenges then odds are decent I will be good with him or her (I don't mind female heroes as long as her "femaleness" does not become the emphasis of the story).

 

[ragboy]

My favorite kind of stories have different character types, as far as powerful/normal/wimp, but have similar themes: Kick the hero in the head until that point where he says, "I'm not gonna take it anymore!"

One of my favorite implementations of this story was Shardik by Richard Adams. The main character started out as a normal Joe, rose to power within his own society and then lost it all...and the story wasn't over. Not to spoil the story, but he went through various trials and tribulations before, through his own skills, overcame adversity.

Characters that waltz through whatever story is hung onto them without any problems are not interesting to me.

 

[Abisashi]

I find the "Conan" novels just as compelling as reading "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant".

Thomas Covenant annoyed me - it's been a while, but as I recall, he was a wimp, thought it was a dream but wasn't smart enough to realize what that would entail (he can't die!), etc. I don't mind characters starting out/being weak, but I think that sometimes (this is really true in movies) weakness is equated with character depth (in movies, plots about pathetic people who never improve are often called "deep" and are critically acclaimed).

Of course, on the other side, a poorly-written story about a super-human character will be a power-trip about the character's cool powers, and not about the character or the plot. I'm curious (sp?), though, what characters in modern fantasy literature people would put in this category.

Thinking about the fantasy literature I've read in the past several years (excepting Steven Erikson, whom I highly recommend), most stories seem to be about characters starting out weak. I would like to read a story about someone who is not an idiot and is willing to take responsibility, powerful or not. A farm boy who, when informed of his destiny and super-powers, immediately sets to work developing his powers and working to rid the world of evil.

 

[Abisashi]

To summarize:

If the story is about a "wimp", don't substitute weakness for character depth.

If the story is about a superman, don't substitute cool powers for character depth.

So, I really agree with the people who said the writing is what matters, but if I have to choose I want a story about a super-man because these seem less common to me.

 

[vulcan_idic]

EDIT: Lets refocus the thread with a simple question:

For a sci-fi / fantasy novel, what do you think is more interesting to read: about a powerful hero all the way, or about an unfortunate whimp who, after much efforts and intelligence, eventually becomes the powerful guy?

Either, both, and neither - it depends on how they are written. It's not the powers that make the hero. Whether powerful or not, I want to read about a character I can relate to, someone who has hopes and dreams of things he'd like to do - some possible, some impossible, fears - of failure, of competence (whether realistic or the nagging doubts that all harbor more or less openly in our subconscious). A really compelling character that I can identify with makes a story good for me, whether he has awesome godlike powers or is as weak as a child.