Who do you consider an Anti-Hero in fiction?

[Piratecat]

Ha, ha! As I was reading the history of the definition, I kept thinking, "Yep, that's good ole' Flashy" with each new version of the word. And I think the poltroon would agree with every word, rest his soul!

Fraser is in his mid-80s. If he doesn't finish the book about Flashy and the Civil War, I'm going to be crying.

 

[Michael Dean]

Fraser is in his mid-80s. If he doesn't finish the book about Flashy and the Civil War, I'm going to be crying.

You know, I was really excited a few years ago when Flashman and the Tiger came out, because it had been so long since he had written one. And then I was giddy when Flashman at the Charge came out last year. But I'm getting a little nervous about ever seeing his Civil War adventures. I'm beginning to wonder if Fraser ever intended to actually write the book about them. Didn't Flash also state in one of the books that he was at Ford Theatre when Lincoln was assassinated?

If I have to go to the hospital and personally keep the ventilator pumping while I tape record George's final outline and notes for this book, so help me God that is what's gonna happen.

 

[Umbran]

QFT. Another English word mutilated by pop culture.

Sorry, but I have to go with Wizbang on this one - in my college literature classes in the early 1990s, I was taught the new definition, not the old. And given that this is before the popularity of the internet, pop culture seems like a poor suspect.

I'd argue that most of the main characters on Firefly are heroes who like to pretend to be otherwise. Jayne beig the notable exception, of course

 

[Cor Azer]

I'd also submit Tyrion Lannister from George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" books.

I'd likely nominate a good number of the characters from "A Song of Ice and Fire", although Tyrion less so. Littlefinger and Bronn most of all (depending on your definition of anti-hero), Ser Jorah Mormont even. Tyrion had frequent bouts of chivalry, but couldn't keep his sarcastic comments to himself. I wouldn't call that anti-heroic.

 

[IamTheTest]

Ill vote for the crew of Serenity. Maybe not Wash so much, but the rest seem pretty shady at times.

 

[Dioltach]

And then I was giddy when Flashman at the Charge came out last year. But I'm getting a little nervous about ever seeing his Civil War adventures. I'm beginning to wonder if Fraser ever intended to actually write the book about them.

I just want to set you straight here, because of the remote possibility that I might actually be doing you a great favour: Flashman at the Charge is quite old, the fourth in the series to be written, if I'm not mistaken. The latest instalment was Flashman on the March.

My theory -- my hope, actually -- is that GMF has been writing the Civil War papers for some time now, but wrote March in between as a spontaneous response to and criticism of certain real-world developments which I won't discuss here.

 

[sckeener]

Elric is by far the most interesting fantasy anti-hero I've encountered. However, I'm not sure about the other aspects of the eternal champion as anti-heroes. Corum and Hawkmoon were quite traditional do-gooders IIRC. Erekose did some horrible stuff in a rage towards the beginning of his tales but then spent himself atoning.

Hawkmoon, I'll give. He was a decent do-gooder.

Corum had some rough edges though.

And has anyone mentioned Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser? Gotta have them!

Agreed!

Bialar Crais from Farscape would qualify, but I don't think Scorpius ever quite makes it past "villain with some complexities". Though admittedly, that's close to the definition of "anti-hero".

I think you said it....he was a villain with some complexities that helpped several times...I think that makes him an anti-hero.

Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean

argh...how could I forget Captain Jack Sparrow on talk like a pirate day! Definitely a must

 

[Michael Dean]

I just want to set you straight here, because of the remote possibility that I might actually be doing you a great favour: Flashman at the Charge is quite old, the fourth in the series to be written, if I'm not mistaken. The latest instalment was Flashman on the March.

My theory -- my hope, actually -- is that GMF has been writing the Civil War papers for some time now, but wrote March in between as a spontaneous response to and criticism of certain real-world developments which I won't discuss here.

Wow! The alzheimer's must be really kicking in today. The funny thing is, I was mentally thinking of "On the March" but typed in "at the Charge". Must be that I was subliminally voicing my opinion of my favorite Flashman book.

I've always thought that GMF must have at least some pretty extensive notes on what he wanted for a Civil War edition, because he's made quite a few references to events in other books. I don't know if you ever read the Travis McGee books by John D. McDonald, but all of his titles (there were about 20) have a color in the title (e.g. "the Long Blue Goodbye," or "The Girl in the Plain Brown Wrapper"). Glen Cook later paid homage to Travis McGee with his Garret, P.I. books, btw. But there was always a rumour that McDonald had written the "Black" book for Travis McGee, in which he is killed off. It never materialized after McDonald died. Hopefully, the Civil War papers is not Fraser's "Black" book, and merely a rumour.

And speaking of that, I wonder if Fraser ever thought about a short story about Flashy's end; I know he lived to be in his 90's, and I think it would be a great story.

 

[Dioltach]

And speaking of that, I wonder if Fraser ever thought about a short story about Flashy's end; I know he lived to be in his 90's, and I think it would be a great story.

You've read Mr American, I take it?

 

[Aaron L]

Some may disagree, but I think Batman is an antihero.
Mickey Rourke from Sin City.

Why do you think that? He doesnt have any qualities that arent heroic. He devotes himself to protecting the weak. He refuses to kill. He catches criminals.

Perhaps the vengeance obsessed version that certain movies have portrayed him as could be considered an anti-hero, but the actual comic book character is purely heroic man who has carefully crafted a fearsome identity to use to his advantage, and not a crazed lunatic out for revenge.


Now the Punisher, thats an anti-hero. If that, even.

And John Constantine.