Who do you consider an Anti-Hero in fiction?

[Piratecat]

No, but based on the fact that you like John D. McDonald and the fact that Westlake wrote the book for "Payback", one of my favorite Mel Gibson movies, I am going to check it out.

Get "The Hot Rock" or "What's the Worst that Can Happen" (AVOID the movie!). Both books are hilarious, and some of the best examples of capers out there.

 

[Valesin]

First I want to add my votes for:
Vic Makey (The Shield)
Angus Thermopyle (Gap into Ruin)
Thomas Covenent (Chronicles of same)

And add one I haven't seen yet:
Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

 

[BadMojo]

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.

I don't know...I'd consider fratricide to be the stuff of anti-heroism. I'd also say that Littlefinger and Bronn have virtually no redeeming qualities; Bronn is a killer for hire and, as I recall, never demonstrated any heroic tendencies, and certainly nothing resembling honor or loyalty.

I think Tyrion fits both definitions of anti-hero...he certainly isn't on the fast track to success in his family.

 

[mhensley]

I think Tyrion fits both definitions of anti-hero...he certainly isn't on the fast track to success in his family.

Plus Tyrion is an ugly, scarred, deformed midget who finds pleasure with prositutes and revenge. A Lannister always pays his depts.

Not exactly what you look for in a hero. But that's what makes him such a great character.

 

[Plane Sailing]

Charlie Brown

 

[tadk]

my fave anti-hero in the dark sense is Kane fm Karl Edward Wagner's novels.
BEfore I found him it was Elric
You could also add in Tempus fm the Thieves World Novels
Stephen Erikson has several in the dark powerful definition in his Malazan novels

 

[Moon-Lancer]

I am going to second batman. The comic book batman. Thier are many diffrent versions of him and some are just as crazy and jacked up as the joker. I alwayse felt batman was a cunundrum.

He breaks the law to enforce it. This puts him in a polar netural of somesort.

 

[Thurbane]

How about Judge Dredd (the comic character, not that awful Stallone movie)?

He enforces pseudo-fascist laws without a so much as a twinge of conscience and isn't afraid to gratuitously beat perps with little provocation...

 

[Canaan]

Thomas Covenant tops my list of all time anti-heroes. Raping, self-pitying, cowardly bastard!

 

[Merkuri]

I'd say so - [House] does the heroic (save lives) in an unheroic (and often inethical) fashion, for unheroic reasons (curiosity/can he do it? rather than altruism).

He's definitely an anti-hero, though Cuddy and Wilson are pushing him to be a real hero. That's what makes the show so interesting. Would anyone be watching it he was just a regular hero?

Each time I watch the show I get a strong "chaotic neutral" vibe coming from House.