#fictional heroes

I got tagged recently and one of the questions in the meme was “name your top 3 fictional characters”.  Well, first of all, disclaimer - I am incapable of listing any true top 3 because I love so many, many characters.  But then, secondly, I had a go, and put down three characters I love very much.

They were

 Breq Mianaai, from Ann Leckie’s Ancillary series

Therem Harth Rem ir Estraven, from Ursula K Le Guin’s The left hand of darkness

and

Horatio Hornblower, hero of CS Forester’s Hornblower novels.

If it had been “top 5″ or “top 6″ then I would happily have added pretty much any of my current Rogue One heroes.  Jyn, Cassian and Bodhi all belong on that list, for sure.

So anyway, I’ve just been thinking about these wonderful fictional people and something struck me.  Despite being very different people they all have something very precise in common.  They are all characters who believe themselves to be worthless in one way or another - selfish, blinkered, useless, not strong enough or good enough, negligible, someone everybody will see through and leave, someone nobody would care about and nobody could ever respect, someone whose motives and actions, maybe even their very nature, make them deserving of every hard time and harsh blow life deals them.  They all have horrendous self-esteem issues.

And are they these contemptible people?  No; in fact they are all tremendously strong and courageous and selfless.  They are decent, honourable people who have done their duty whenever they could; some of them have had to do dreadful things or have sunk into just doggedly surviving, because the circumstances of their lives have stuck them there; but whenever they have some control, some agency, they grit their teeth and get up again, and they do the right thing, time after time, no matter how much it hurts.  And if in the end providence wills it, then (Rogue One, Estraven) they take one last deep breath and they lay down their lives to achieve a greater good.

So it seems my specific favourite hero type is the honourable soul who thinks they’re worthless.  The person who thinks no-one could ever love them; who deserves all the love in the universe.

Tomorrow, my novel "The Double" publishes on Amazon. (Grab your copy here.) The hero of the novel, Eddie Ankin, is my entry into the annals of heroic characters in contemporary fiction. An ex-Marine turned Hollywood stuntman who has to take matters into his own hands to stop a killer. I've always wanted to write a hero. I spent much of my early days in television focused on anti-heroes, so I've longed to see what it took to create a hero in today's world with all its challenges, big and small, professional and personal.

Why do we love to read about heroes?

Best-selling novelist Robert Crais has a pretty good answer. As he writes to his hero, Elvis Cole, in the anthology The Lineup, "you are a metaphor...you represents hope to people...most folks, all we have is ourselves, the transmission drops before Christmas, some dip keys your car, the rent jacks up, and we're left wondering how we're going to make it. That's where you come in."

Pick up Mr. Crais’s latest Elvis Cole novel here:

In contemporary fiction, characters like Jack Reacher, John Corey, or most of John Grisham's lawyers often possess qualities that readers find heroic and entertaining.

I thought about these qualities a lot when writing about my hero, Eddie Ankin, trying to build them into him while following him in his first adventure in "The Double." Read the book and judge for yourself if Eddie is a fictional character worthy of the label: "heroic."

In the meantime, here are 8 qualities that I think make a great fictional hero:

1. Mastery: The characters in the story have an extraordinary ability to develop creative solutions and a deep understanding of their respective fields. They use their expertise to excel in challenging situations and produce remarkable results.

2. Determination: Possessed of an unshakeable desire to succeed, heroic characters forge ahead. No matter the obstacle, they persevere with a ferocity borne from unyielding strength of will. They will not quit until their goal is accomplished. They endure hardships and setbacks but find ways to bounce back, showcasing resilience.

3. Courage: These figures may be confronted with risky or hazardous circumstances and demonstrate bravery in the face of adversity. They stay calm in a crisis. They keep their wits about them even in a dangerous or hostile situation. These figures fight for their cause and are not afraid to risk their lives for it.

4. Strong moral compass: They are often driven by a desire to do what is right. There can be a struggle between upholding a strong moral code and getting the job done. On the one hand, they have a strong moral code that they adhere to even when it comes into conflict with the law. On the other hand, they sometimes find themselves operating outside of the law in order to achieve their goals.

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5. Intelligence: They are often portrayed as intelligent and resourceful, able to think critically and solve complex problems.

6. Strength: These characters are no slouches in terms of physicality - they possess great strength, agility, and mastery of combat, giving them a definite edge when facing off against opponents.

7. Wit and charisma: Often, they possess a sharp wit and a sense of humor that adds an element of entertainment to their character. This is an important quality for readers to respond to as it injects a playful dynamic into the story and keeps the narrative lively. Characters with wit are adept at maneuvering their way out of tricky situations. For example, Jack Reacher is renowned for his wry comments. In every book, he dishes out funny lines that keeps readers invested in the story. Similarly, John Corey's dry sense of humor and droll sarcasm act as a counterpoint to his gruff demeanor which keeps readers hooked on every page. These characters have a certain magnetism that captivates readers, making them enjoyable to follow throughout their journeys.

8. Complexity: The protagonists of these stories are usually well-developed with interesting and complex backgrounds that draw readers in. Their struggles and motivations are the very things that make them instantly relatable. Watching how they use those struggles to solve the problems they face is what makes them captivating.

What do you look for in your fictional heroes?

Who are your real life heroes?

"The Double" on Amazon. (Grab your copy here.)

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