History CharacterGush / Literature

** Abbot Orsino. Behind the stern facade of a KnightTemplar is a SugarAndIcePersonality BadassPreacher, who deeply cares for his flock and Odette (as he is her confessor) in particular and works hard to fix the MiscarriageOfJustice of Rothbart's first conviction for sorcery. Make no mistake, unlike many a KnightTemplar, he is genuinely pious to the point that [[GoodHurtsEvil magic can't harm him and his prayers keep a dragon at bay]].

** Odile. [[DaddysGirl Won't renounce her father]] even for the chance to marry Siegfried; develops UndyingLoyalty to Odette after the latter pardons Rothbart and becomes her first real friend; saves Siegfried's life when he is poisoned; remains an utterly kind-hearted girl despite everything she and her nearest and dearest have been through.

* She is mostly a plot device for the main characters, but Victoria from ''Literature/{{Stardust}}'' (the book, not [[AdaptationalJerkass the movie]]) manages to get a character arc of her own in the background and evolve into an incredibly sweet and mature young woman. In the beginning, she wants to get Tristran off her back but rather than telling him straightaway that she loves another she, just for the fun of it, acts as MasterOfTheMixedMessage and tells Tristran to fetch her the star. But then imagine [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone what she must have gone through]] after Tristran takes it seriously! For several months, she has to live with the fact that she could have sent him to his death. After Tristran returns, she tells him the truth, begs for his forgiveness and is ready to marry him like [[IGaveMyWord she (foolishly) promised]]. And then we get one of the most adorable and heartwarming scenes in the book where Victoria befriends Yvaine and is deliriously happy and gushing about her upcoming wedding with Robert. The girl has definitely earned it.

* [[Literature/{{Misery}} Annie Wilkes.]] Sure, [[Creator/StephenKing King]] has dozens of memorable heroes and villains alike, but none really affect you like Wilkes. [[Literature/{{It}} Cosmic, interdimensional,, shapeshifting, murderous clown demon?]] That's never a good string of adjectives to put together, but I'm not gonna run into that any time soon. But Annie Wilkes is so nuanced, cold, unreasonable, and strangely realistic, possibly because she was based on both King's cocaine addiction and his controlling fans. Annie's an awful, ugly hag of a woman with an [[LoonyFan obsession with the protagonist's, Paul Sheldon, book series]], and to an extent, [[AbhorrentAdmirer Paul himself]]. Things descend into madness as Annie reveals her [[AxCrazy true colors]]. And it is TERRIFYING.

** I came here to add this and found it right at the bottom of the page. I hate to be that person who's being overly friendly via Wiki/TVTropes page, but we should really be friends. Anyway, while I'm here, Anji is pretty great too. She's only in half as many books as Fitz, so she doesn't get as much characterization[[note]]and is unfortunately hampered by being an Asian businesswoman being written by white authors, leaving open silly questions such as whether her ethnicity is Indian or Pakistani and what her career actually involves[[/note]], but she's just kind of awesome. She's a clever young [[WhiteCollarWorker futures trader]] who apparently MinoredInAssKicking. And she's [[NotSoAboveItAll funnier and quirkier]] than she first appears. And she balances being close friends with the Doctor with being very skeptical about him. And her friendship with Fitz is often quite adorable. ''And'' she's the first (and so far only) Asian companion in ''Series/DoctorWho'' history, which admittedly makes it a bit [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter sad]] she's just an ExtendedUniverse character. She's the sort of person you'd love to have as a coworker or travel in time and space with.

*** Cranked UpToEleven now that we have Peter Dinklage's [[Series/GameOfThrones magnificent performance]].

* Bren Cameron of Creator/CJCherryh's ''Literature/{{Foreigner}}'' novels. Having the guts and mind to forge his way to a top spot in an alien culture which doesn't even have a concept for 'friend' and assassination is acceptable problem-solving... and being the ''only'' human there? And his position was supposed to be more like a low-order clerk and dictionary maker? Part {{Woobie}}, part MoralityChain, part BadassBookworm. Crazy. Awesome.

*** [[Literature/CircleOfMagic Briar]] [[AwesomeMcCoolname Moss]] makes me into a fangirl. He transforms from awesome+cute, to awesome+awesome, to awesome+awesome+PTSD. That is all.

*** She's terrifying in a different way to Voldemort, because she's possible in real life. There might be Umbridges wandering the world right now.

** Basil "Stag" Hare. Need I say more? ''Redwall'' is a great book anyway, but he was the one who tipped the scales by jumping into the war like it was his job, all while ''[[RascallyRabbit outrunning Cluny's horde and simultaneously mocking them]]'', [[SpotOfTea making tea in his burrow]] [[StiffUpperLip between chases]], throwing outdated British slang all over the place and being ''absurdly'' hilarious. I know we're not supposed to use the CrazyIsCool trope lightly, but old Basil could be its mascot.

** Niall - adorable. Just plain adorable. Complete woobie, fashionably scarred, strong enough to protect you, yet vulnerable enough to need taking care of, loving, trust issues, strong, a survivor through and through...and lets not forget his oh-so-adorable, if [[LoveHurts somewhat damaged]] relationships with [[YaoiGuys Irial]] and [[BodyguardCrush Leslie!!]]

* Say what you want about [[Creator/StephenieMeyer Smeyer]], but [[Literature/TheHost Ian O'Shea]] is a wonderful man and a great love interest for the main character.

** Artemis Entreri, from the same. Initially, he was just another awesome example of TheRival; time passed and we got to see him [[DeadpanSnarker snark, smirk, [[PerpetualFrowner scowl (a lot)]], [[DarkAndTroubledPast reflect]], [[FlashBackEcho flashback]], and of course, kick a lot of bad-guy ass along the way]]. After his initial appearance (and that whole 'kill Drizzt' thing), Entreri was really more of an [[ByronicHero Byronic]] AntiHero, with help from the above tackily-dressed drow. And then, resolving his massive childhood trauma, Artemis is together enough to ditch said helpful-if-oh-so-manipulative drow and [[WalkingTheEarth forge his own path]], this time on much more stable ground. Also, he's [[TallDarkAndSnarky attractive]] and has a [[PermaStubble five-o''-clock shadow]] and [[Tropers/DesignatedNPC I]] may or may not be [[InLoveWithYourCarnage in love with his carnage]] so there's that too.

* I read the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'' half because [[{{Fandom}} I like it]] and half because [[{{Hatedom}} I hate it]]. But I recently was surprised to discover the one part that I really, ''really'' like---[[LadyOfWar Nasuada]]. She's maybe twenty, leading a massive army, out-politicking her own advisers and most of the world's major powers, and does it ''not'' because she's a super-awesome God Mode Sue like Eragon and Arya, but through sheer grit and clever thinking. She has problems, ''tons'' of problems, but they tend to be practical as opposed to the "deep" issues those two face, and thus she avoids the overdone angst and [[CluelessAesop Clueless Aesops]]. And while not played up much, there are all sorts of subtle tensions within her---she's a determined general but also [[IJustWantToBeNormal wishes she could be a normal woman]], comes from a culture different than the one she's leading, etc. I'm actually really surprised when I look for fanfics or fanart and find out other people don't consider her the EnsembleDarkHorse that I do, because I just keep looking ahead hoping the POV changes to her again. (I just wish she wouldn't constantly say/think [[CreatorsPet how important and special Eragon is...]])

** Basil "Stag" Hare. Need I say more? ''Redwall'' is a great book anyway, but he was the one who tipped the scales by jumping into the war like it was his job, all while ''[[RascallyRabbit outrunning Cluny's horde and simultaneously mocking them]]'', [[SpotOfTea making tea in his burrow]] [[StiffUpperLip between chases]], throwing outdated British slang all over the place and being ''absurdly'' hilarious. I know we're not supposed to use the CrazyAwesome trope lightly, but old Basil could be its mascot.

*** Thirded. I simply cannot understand why some people hate Snape so much. So he's not a nice guy, big deal-- If you ask me, ''more'' fictional heroes should be [[KnightInSourArmor snarky, bitter, and blunt]], not the "oh-looky-me-I'm-trying-not-to-be-an-obvious-{{expy}}[=-=]of-Jesus-Christ" archetype people have become used to. (I blame UsefulNotes/TheHaysCode.) Snape is also probably the most realistic character in the series, and the perfect example of a person who left behind a truly horrific past and more than atoned for his mistakes, all in the name of love. [[SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped Which was Rowling's whole point.]]

** Reputation of [[AngstDissonance wangst]] aside, Tobias is a truly compelling character. He is caring, loving, and gentle to his friends, yet bluntly refuses such compassion for himself, for fear it will make him weak. He is a predator and relentless warrior, but tries to hold on to mercy for the weak and defenseless. Such a dichotomy makes for a fascinating read. Also, he is a part of the Pantheon/TropePantheons!

* [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory Willy Wonka]], between the original novel and [[Literature/CharlieAndTheGreatGlassElevator its sequel]], is an impossibly awesome person -- a [[TheTrickster Trickster]], a MadScientist, a SupremeChef, a businessman in the FictionFiveHundred, a GentlemanAndAScholar, a DeadpanSnarker, a GadgeteerGenius, a BoldExplorer, even an impromptu poet, as well as master of TheWonderland of karmic justice. And his tricky, mysterious nature makes him a wonderfully InterpretativeCharacter for actors.

* Master Elodin, of ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicle.'' Not only is he a DeadpanSnarker and master of ObfuscatingInsanity (though just how much of the insanity is a mask is up for debate), he is also an incredible StealthMentor. ''Every single interaction'' with Kvothe is a lesson of some kind or another, even if [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Kvothe]] is too blind to see it at first. Oh, and he's a Master Namer, which basically makes him the most dangerous character in ''the entire setting,'' with a couple of exceptions (both of whom are Fae).

** Niall - adorable. Just plain adorable. Complete woobie, fashionably scarred, strong enough to protect you, yet vulnerable enough to need taking care of, loving, trust issues, strong, a survivor through and through...and lets not forget his oh-so-adorable, if [[LoveHurts somewhat damaged]] relationships with [[YaoiGuys Irial]] [[BiTheWay and]] [[BodyguardCrush Leslie!!]]

* [[Literature/EighthDoctorAdventures Fitz Kreiner]]. [[GoodSmokingEvilSmoking Chain-smoking]], [[GirlOfTheWeek sex-obsessed]], [[CowardlyLion cowardly]], [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking scruffy]] guitarist from 1963 who travels with the Eighth Doctor for most of his run. And also the most unconventionally heroic companion ''Series/DoctorWho'' has ever seen. He's incredibly complicated and subtly characterized, he's sweet (though he pretends not to be) he's fantastically funny and unbelievably tragic, and to top it all off, he's [[YaoiFangirl in love with]] [[BiTheWay the Doctor]].

** DEATH. TheGrimReaper really shouldn't be that sympathetic and charming, but... yeah. In Discworld/{{Hogfather}}, when he rescues the little match girl. The original poem is read in sophomore English classes, and it just about caused a HeroicBSOD. [=GodDAMN=], Pterry deserved getting knighted for that scene alone. He made the freaking Grim Reaper a goddamn hero. Hell, rereading that passage gets the same reaction every. single. time.

* Master Elodin, of ''Literature/TheKingkillerChronicles.'' Not only is he a DeadpanSnarker and master of ObfuscatingInsanity (though just how much of the insanity is a mask is up for debate), he is also an incredible StealthMentor. ''Every single interaction'' with Kvothe is a lesson of some kind or another, even if [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Kvothe]] is too blind to see it at first. Oh, and he's a Master Namer, which basically makes him the most dangerous character in ''the entire setting,'' with a couple of exceptions (both of whom are Fae).

* [[LiteralMinded Mat]][[HeelFaceTurn thi]][[NobleWolf as]]. [[LoveAcrossBattlelines Hel]][[UndyingLoyalty var]]. From ''Literature/SixOfCrows''. It's always satisfying to see a character go through as much development that Matthias does, [[spoiler: unlearning his FantasticRacism against Grisha]], and if you add that to his Adorkable scenes with Nina and his [[spoiler: RedemptionEqualsDeath]], it's hard not to love him!

*** While we're talking about the ComicBook/XWingSeries, Aaron Allston's [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap magnificent version of]] Warlord Zsinj. Thoroughly devious, flamboyantly evil... and just an absolute hammy pleasure to read. And I swear to God, when Wedge, Han, and the Wraiths are taking his plans to pieces in ''Solo Command'', there's a [[VillainousBreakdown scene]] where I genuinely felt ''[[AlasPoorVillain sorry]]'' for the poor bastard.

*** I adore Boromir, mainly because in a series full of larger-than-life characters ([[TropesAreNotBad not that that's bad]]), Boromir's fall feels ''real''. My heart just breaks for him every single time.

** Luna Lovegood, oh good God Luna Lovegood. How could you not love this girl? Delightfully kooky yet so utterly centered at the same time, she is almost pure {{WAFF}} in human form. Words are not adequate to describe her awesome-ness. Weather or not you thought Luna should have ended up with Harry, they have such a sweet friendship that develops the last three books that I just want to reach in the pages and give this girl a hug. And radish earrings are made of win.

*** Leia's also quite awesome in the Barbara Hambly novels. She's a bit more of a PrincessClassic, and she [[RecycledScript gets kidnapped a few too many times]] by the BigBad, but she's sure as ''hell'' no Distressed DamselScrappy (one book, the baddies have to ''drug her'' so she doesn't cause havoc). She's snarky, clever, aristocratic, and a total badass with a lightsaber. And her InnerMonologue give you some absolutely fascinating hints about her life on [[DoomedHometown Alderaan]], and her [[HappilyMarried love for Han]] is just ''[[{{WAFF}} aaaawwww]]''.