From King Aragorn in J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to the bespectacled wizard in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, from the lion Aslan in C.S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia to Ged the Sparrowhawk in Ursula K. Le Guin's Earthsea series, fantasy is full of heroic characters who use their bravery to serve a greater good. But it also features many more nuanced, flawed, sometimes selfish and violent characters, acting out of self-interest or pursuing a path of revenge. These characters, often referred to as antiheroes, are often more compelling than their kind-hearted counterparts. We come back to eight of them which particularly marked us!
#8 FitzChevalerie Farvoyant (The Royal Assassin, by Robin Hobb)
FitzChivalerie Farseer, the tormented protagonist ofThe Royal Assassinby Robin Hobb, is undoubtedly one of the most exciting characters in fantasy literature. Bastard of the heir to the throne of the Six Duchies, he grew up in the shadows of the court, despised for his illegitimate birth and trained from childhood to become an assassin in the service of the crown. Abandoned by his father, FitzChivalry belongs to a world where loyalty is a double-edged sword. Torn between his duty to King Subtle and his desire to protect those he loves (Molly, the Fool), FitzChivalry makes choices dictated by his heart and his conflicting allegiances, which often lead to tragic consequences.
#7 Morpheus (The Sandman, by Neil Gaiman)
Morpheus (or Dream in English) is the main character of The Sandman by British author Neil Gaiman, one of the greatest comic book series of all time. A member of the Infinite family, Morpheus is the Master of Dreams. Mistakenly imprisoned for decades by a sorcerer who hoped to become immortal, Dream manages to free himself. After taking revenge and finding his kingdom in complete decay, Dream is confronted with his past mistakes, particularly regarding Lyta Hall, who blames him for all his misfortunes, and the death of his own son Orpheus. If The Sandman is remembered for its dreamlike poetry, Morpheus's journey remains one of the greatest strengths of this tale mixing fantasy and gothic.
#6 Locke Lamora (The Gentle Bastards, by Scott Lynch)
A central character in Scott Lynch's The Gentle Bastards cycle, Locke Lamora - nicknamed the Bramble of Camorr - is the leader of a band of thieves who steal from the powerful and wealthy. But don't think of this as a fantasy version of Robin Hood! The poor don't get a single penny from the Gentle Bastards' kidnappings. Orphaned by a thief who pretended to be a priest, Locke Lamora is a cynical and proud character, brilliant for his ingenuity and intelligence. He challenges the established order of this city inspired by the Italian Renaissance, and unfortunately has the unfortunate tendency to underestimate his adversaries. Furthermore, unlike several anti-heroes in this selection, Locke Lamora is not a great fighter, despite the fact that his reputation has painted him as an invincible swordsman. The most human part of Locke Lamora is, of course, the loyalty he feels towards the Gentlemen Bastards, starting with Jean Tannen, and his love for Sabetha, developed in the third volume of the trilogy, A Republic of Thieves.
#5 Tyrion Lannister (George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones)
Often cited as a fan favorite in George R.R. Martin's literary saga A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister is the youngest child of the powerful Tywin Lannister. From the outset, Tyrion's destiny is marked by tragedy: his mother dies giving birth to him, and he is afflicted with dwarfism. Two reasons that earn him the hatred of his father and his sister Cersei. Becoming an outcast within his own clan, Tyrion Lannister only earns affection from his brother Jaime. As an adult, he uses his intelligence and eloquence as weapons in a society where warrior prowess commands greater respect. A lover of alcohol as much as women, Tyrion uses the deplorable image his contemporaries have of him as a weapon. However, he is endowed with true heroic qualities, such as loyalty and courage, notably during the Battle of the Blackwater. When his nephew Joffrey Lannister dies of poisoning, he is accused of being the culprit of the regicide and is sentenced to death by his own father, who will use the testimony of his former lover, Shae, against him. Saved in extremis by Jaime Lannister, Tyrion will put his talent for strategy to the service of a more noble cause - that of Daenerys Targaryen - after having killed his father and his former mistress in turn. Two crimes for which he will never forgive himself.
#4 Geralt of Rivia (The Witcher, by Andrzej Sapkowski)
The main character in the Witcher saga by Polish novelist Andrzej Sapkowski, Geralt of Rivia is a monster hunter whose body has received numerous genetic mutations to endow him with supernatural powers. Spanning the Continent, Geralt is as feared as he is despised by the inhabitants. A formidable warrior, he fights monsters not altruistically but against hard cash. While capable of empathy for those oppressed by the powerful, Geralt acts pragmatically. He refuses on principle to get involved in the political and magical conflicts he witnesses, but often ends up being forced to participate in them because of his allegiances to certain characters, including Yennefer and Ciri. His cynical view of the world and his flexible morality do not prevent him from having heroic moral qualities. We are terribly impatient to discover his first adventures in the new novel that Andrzej Sapkowski has dedicated to him, to be published in France at the end of 2025.
#3 Elric of Melniboné (Elric Cycle, by Michael Moorcock)
Created in 1961 by the English author Michael Moorcock, Elric of Melinboné is the main character of the cycle that bears his name. The last Emperor of the decadent island of Melniboné, Elric is an albino and suffers from fragile health. Following the betrayal of his cousin Yyrkoon and the murder of his lover and cousin Cyrmoril, for which he was responsible, Elric abandons his throne and goes into exile in the Young Kingdoms. However, he maintains a dependent relationship with his sword Stormbringer, which, by drinking the souls of those he kills, gives him the vigor he needs to live. Overwhelmed by regret, Elric is a character both tragic and fascinating, who continues to inspire many fantasy anti-heroes.
#2 Don Benvenuto (Tales of the Old Kingdom, by Jean-Philippe Jaworski)
First appearing in the short story Bad Deal from the collection Janua Vera, Don Benvenuto Gesufal is the assassin of the Guild of Whisperers who has become the shadowy servant of Podestà Leonide Ducatore, the highest authority in the Republic of Ciudalia. This lawless scoundrel, whose only principle is to put his own best interests before those of others, is the main character in the cult novel Winning the War by Jean-Philippe Jaworski. At once a liar, cynical, racist, homophobic, and violent, Don Benvenuto is also endowed with a devastating sense of humor, which allows him to gain the reader's complicity; it must be said that while Don Benvenuto is undeniably a bastard, he takes orders from scumbags more harmful than himself. His impressive fighting skills and insolent luck have allowed him to escape the most deadly dangers. Fans were delighted to see this good old scoundrel of Bouche-Cousue again in the trilogy Le Chevalier aux Épines, another masterpiece by Jean-Philippe Jaworski; He is also the narrator of the second volume, The Assassin's Tale, in which he commits other unspeakable crimes.
#1 Guts (Berserk, by Kentarō Miura)
A warrior recognizable by the imposing sword he is always equipped with and which he is the only one able to wield, Guts is the protagonist of the manga Berserk by the late Kentarō Miura. Initially presented as a violent and angry character, he turns out to be a terribly endearing character when his tragic past is revealed. Born to a hanged mother, Guts is found beneath his mother's gallows by a troop of mercenaries. Forced to fight from an early age, he is raped at the age of nine. After killing his tormentor, he leads a solitary life as a mercenary until the day he joins the Falcon Troop led by the charismatic Griffith. Throughout their adventures, his admiration for his leader grows along with his affection for the troop's second officer, the beautiful and powerful Casca, with whom he gradually falls in love. Unfortunately, this happiness will only last for a short time: Griffith sacrifices his former comrades on the altar of his excessive ambition. One of the only survivors, Guts pursues his former friend in order to get revenge. Although very violent, Guts remains a character who is searching for his place in the world; and for that reason alone, he has our affection forever.
And you? Which fantasy anti-heroes have had the greatest impact on you? Don't hesitate to tell us in the comments section. And if you liked this article, we encourage you to discover our selection of the best dark fantasy works.
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