History TheSmartGuy / Literature

* Mat from the ''[[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]]'' is an odd example of this because he's not very scholarly at all, maybe even BookDumb. But put him in charge of an army or a tight spot you'll find out why he's one of [[TheChosenOne Rand's]] main [[TheStrategist advisors]] and why his name was [[TheTrickster practically a curse in his home town]]. But he is very much the sneaky [[TheLancer lancer]] role.

%% * Philiby in ''Literature/KingdomKeepers'', though Maybeck is noted as being good with computers in the first.

* Professor Abraham Van Helsing and Dr John Stuart from ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', easily the smartest and most educated in TheTeam, but they tend to take a back seat in the combat compared to TheHero Jonathan Harker and TheBigGuy Quincey Morris. Though arguably they overlap with GeniusBruiser at certain points in the novel.

* While there is no clear FiveManBand at any point in ''Literature/TheHeritageOfShannara'', TheSmartGuy is probably Morgan Leah. He seems to be the automatic go to for strategy and sneaky plans, regularly divising ideas to get the [[LaResistance Free-born]] in and out of [[TheEmpire Federation]] jails, cities, and fortresses. Walker Boh could also be said to fullfill this role, as the resident Druid. Both are far from weak or stereotypically geeky.

** Hermione Granger. It's a RunningGag that she's the only one of her friends (and one of few in the entire school) who actually read "Hogwarts: A History", making her [[MrExposition Ms Exposition]]. Harry and Ron have increasingly snarky responses to her exasperation at no-one else reading it. More seriously, she's also extremely intelligent and logical, and she's the best at magic of the three, frequently performing very complicated spells for someone her age.

** Harry Dresden seems to be this to his allies - not because he's much smarter than his friends, but because he's often the only guy who knows what's going on. He starts to share information with his allies after making a bunch of mistakes that still haunt him, and this effect decreases to some extent.
** There's an excellent case for Bob the Skull being this to Harry, because of his vast degree of knowledge.

* Literature/RaceToTheSun'': [[TheProtagonist Nizhoni]]'s best friend Davery, who loves reading (no wonder, since his father is a librarian), has a great memory, is very Internet-savvy [[spoiler: and his magical weapon that he gets from the Sun is a book]]. Several characters comment that when he grows up, he will probably become a scholar or a medicine man.

%% *** Plus her boyfriend, [[{{Geek}} Evan]] [[{{Adorkable}} Tolliver]]. And one-shot love interest [[SmartPeoplePlayChess Kurt]]. Hell, even [[RichBitch Ian]] is said to have a ridiculously high IQ, he's just hampered by his own ego.

* In ''Literature/TheRadiantDawn'', Rick Sylvan serves as this. He developed the laser Dawn uses, moved satellites into position by hacking non-maintained control systems, got the radio working and partially figured out the attack strategy to go after the undead royals.

* Beetee in ''[[Literature/TheHungerGames Catching Fire]]'' and ''Mockingjay'', especially because he's from District 3, which makes electronics and explosives.
%% * Damian and Rephaim from ''Literature/TheHouseOfNight''.
%% * [[TeenGenius Annabeth]] and [[GadgeteerGenius Leo]] from ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus''.
%% * Brenda from ''[[Literature/TheMazeRunner The Maze Runner Trilogy]]''.

* Annabeth Chase from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' is without a doubt the smart girl of the group.

* ''Literature/RaceToTheSun'': [[TheProtagonist Nizhoni]]'s best friend Davery, who loves reading (no wonder, since his father is a librarian), has a great memory, is very Internet-savvy [[spoiler: and his magical weapon that he gets from the Sun is a book]]. Several characters comment that when he grows up, he will probably become a scholar or a medicine man.

%% * The Scarecrow from ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz''.
* Blackberry, of the initial refugee band in ''Literature/WatershipDown''. An amusing variant in that his skillset is basically that of an engineer, except downsized to a rabbit POV; his bright idea -- which becomes the key strategem in the climactic battle -- is that things which float on water can thus be used as transport out of reach of land-based enemies. It's strongly hinted that Fiver, the small seer who doesn't fight, is second smartest.

* Deconstructed in the ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}: {{Literature/Eisenhorn}}'' novel trilogy, where the savant Ueber Aemos is the walking databank he is because of a "meme-virus" that makes him compulsively pursue knowledge, culminating in [[spoiler: memorising the [[TomeOfEldritchLore Malus Codicum]]]].
%% * Kirsty and sometimes Yo-less from ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy''.

* Professor Abraham Van Helsing and Dr John Stuart from ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'', easily the smartest and most educated in TheTeam, but they tend to take a back seat in the combat compared to TheHero Jonathan Harker and TheBigGuy Quincey Morris. Though arguably they overlap with GeniusBruiser at certain points in the novel.

* Mat from the ''[[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]]'' is an odd example of this because he's not very scholarly at all, maybe even BookDumb. But put him in charge of an army or a tight spot you'll find out why he's one of [[TheChosenOne Rand's]] main [[TheStrategist advisors]] and why his name was [[TheTrickster practically a curse in his home town]]. But he is very much the sneaky [[TheLancer lancer]] role.
%% * Philiby in ''Literature/KingdomKeepers'', though Maybeck is noted as being good with computers in the first.
* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'' arguably divides the role between a few different people, depending on what ''sort'' of knowledge you're looking for. TheLancer-ish, BrilliantButLazy [[TheStrategist Marco]] is more of a long-term strategist compared to Jake's field leader, while [[TheHeart Cassie]] is the team's go-to-girl for information on new animal forms. The quiet, reserved Tobias is the team's "eye in the sky" due to [[ShapeshifterModeLock taking the form of a hawk.]] Ax, as the only Andalite on the team, obviously knows more about advanced science and other planets than the rest of them...unless he was AsleepInClass on that particular day.

%% * ''Literature/The39Clues'' has several:
%% ** The Ekaterina branch as a whole.
** Also the Lucians in their own scheming way.
%% ** And of course, let's not forget [[ShrinkingViolet Amy]] [[BadassBookworm Cahill]].
%% *** Plus her boyfriend, [[{{Geek}} Evan]] [[{{Adorkable}} Tolliver]]. And one-shot love interest [[SmartPeoplePlayChess Kurt]]. Hell, even [[RichBitch Ian]] is said to have a ridiculously high IQ, he's just hampered by his own ego.
* Mention must be made of polymath, weapon-maker (and namer), PerkyGoth, occasional Amazon and all-around bright girl Dess (Desdsemona, in full) of the ''Literature/{{midnighters}}'' trilogy. You've never ''met'' anyone as good at maths - or at applying it - as Dess.
* Thomas from ''{{Literature/Malevil}}''. He's a college educated student of science in a rural region of France. Skeptical and an atheist to boot.

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'':
** Harry Dresden seems to be this to his allies - not because he's much smarter than his friends, but because he's often the only guy who knows what's going on. He starts to share information with his allies after making a bunch of mistakes that still haunt him, and this effect decreases to some extent.
** There's an excellent case for Bob the Skull being this to Harry, because of his vast degree of knowledge.
* Beetle in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap''. While lacking both Septimus's '''Magykal''' powers and Jenna's speed, he's quite versed in knowledge of '''Magyk''' and other arcane matters.

* In ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'', [[RobotBuddy DV-9]] starts off in this kind of role, though all characters tend to know or be familiar with ''something'' that the others don't, and even BookDumb Zak is fairly intelligent. By the end of the series, while Uncle Hoole knows more in general this role is largely taken by Tash, who is studious and tends to think more and plan, compared to Zak who does more reacting.
* ''Literature/XWingSeries'': While most members of Wraith Squadron are smart in their own way, Voort "Piggy" saBinring takes the cake in terms of sheer intellectual ability. He can calculate hyperspace routes in his head, coordinates dogfights while in the middle of them, and when [[spoiler: taking over command of the Wraiths, he came up with a perfect plan to bring down a corrupt general that impressed [[TheChessmaster Face Loran]] himself]]. The kicker? He's a ''[[DumbMuscle Gamorrean]]''.

%% * Jem Carstairs from ''Literature/TheInfernalDevices''.
* ''Literature/VampireAcademy'':
** Lissa Dragomir has excellent and consistently high grades. [[spoiler:She later uses her intellect to investigate a regicide and simultaneously work on the mental challenges presented to candidates in the running to become the Moroi monarch. She does well on both fronts]].
** Sydney Sage is multilingual, a car geek, interested in classical architecture, skilled in using computers. All as a teenager.

* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Nolien is the brains of the Team Four novices because he is TheMedic in a verse where HealingMagicIsTheHardest and also their tactian when [[TheLeader Basilard]] isn't around.
* In the AmateurSleuth group that is ''Literature/TanteiTeamKZJikenNote'', Uesugi ([[GoodWithNumbers math]]) and Kozuka (Social and Natural sciences) take turns for this role.
* Albert in ''Literature/FishInATree'' is a very intelligent person. He often knows rather obscure facts.

* Annabeth Chase from ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' is without a doubt the smart girl of the group.
* Simon Lewis from ''Franchise/TheShadowhunterChronicles'' is the smartest member of the group from shadowhunters.

* RamaII: All the scientist astronauts, which they get to prove when they variously become lost aboard the spaceship, and get to interact with other sentients in tense situations.