Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

What traits do you look for in a kickbutt hero/heroine?

They take various forms. I'd say one common thread is McGuiverism. Most of them kick but in some way or other, but the most common thread is the ability to make something out of the bare minimum. They can use their brains, as well as braun.

I'd also say that many of them have a past they are trying to escape in some way or another.

Oh that is a good point. I love the resourceful hero.

For some reason, I am a big fan of reluctant heroes. They would rather not be bothered, but they step up to the plate because they must!

Sometimes I think the entire Sigma Force is made up of reluctant heroes and "Monk." I think you just described "Painter Crow" the first Hero of the Sigma series. (In Sandstorm)

Then this should be my kind of read. I just dug the book out and I will slot in to read for next week!

A hero who would do what is right, no matter how hard that is. I can respect such heroes. If they are bada$$, this is good, however :-)

Amen! So many people are into these really dark heroes (if you can call them that) who are almost as blood thirsty and cut throat as the villains. It's just a matter of choosing sides.

I spent some time as an Equal Opportunity officer (before I retired) and there is my day job (Substance Abuse Counselor), that have taught me time and time again that "Sometimes doing the right thing is the HARDEST thing to do." I'd say it takes some pretty seroius courage and commitment to stick to that.

I do like that in the fiction characters I read.

I do love a hero with a strong sense of honor. It doesn't have to fit everyone else's for me. It's very hard to do the right thing, and you don't always get a tangible reward either.

I like the do or die attitude. They won't give up or quit. That's why I like Shane "Scarecrow" Schofield so much from the Matt Reilly books. He doesn't quit, ever!

I also like a snarky sense of humor, and of course, a hero/heroine who can kick some serious butt.

Kate Daniels from the series by Ilona Andrews is one of my favorites for the above reasons.

I think a touch of humanity helps. I'm okay with supermen as heroes, but the best Action Heroe's are made to look human, more like us.

Yes, the humanity is important. If they are invincible and perfect, it takes all the fun out of reading about them.

I agree with Lady D. I like honorable characters. They don't have to be paragons though.
I don't like action characters who look for a fight. They stand up for themselves and others but aren't bullies.
I like strong female characters but not "witches".
And I like humor. Of all kinds.
As with everything there's a balance to characters. Too much of any one thing and they become a flat stereotype.

You might like the The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Ratby Harry Harrison. It's hilarios in parts and the lead is an intergalactic theif.

Jack Collins from "Event" fits the bill then.

I really don't like bullies. Bullying is not a trait that I look for in a good hero. I like strong women who have some self-control, and who know how to comport themselves. Not vindictive and mean.

It's definitely important to have a multi-faceted character to avoid the stereotype trap.

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "You might like the The Adventures of the Stainless Steel Ratby Harry Harrison. It's hilarios in parts and the lead is an intergalactic theif.

Jack Collins from "Event" fits the bi..."

The Harrison books are 60s goodness I'll have to look into them! Event is already on my wishlist.

I finished my review of "The Watchan" if anyone is interested.

Harry Harrison is funny. The Rat is a tighter read than "Bill the Galactic Hero" (also funny) but not as well written.

Boy, it looks like I are a highly skilled technition there...

what I meant to say was The Rat is a better read in my opinion than "Bill the (yaddayadda)" Bills a funnier book but the story is harder to take seriously (there's a place for Bill in my reading heart too).

and that's for the review. I'll get the handle on this new fangled internet thang yet. My last computer was a Comodore Vic 20.

Wow, I'm a little surprised. I usually feel a little lonely when I go to bat for the Honorable Hero/Heroine type. As noted already so many like the "criminal" or anti-hero. I don't mind an antihero if it's a forced into the shadows etc. type where the hero's doing "what must be done" or something. I don't care for the sneering "fie on goodness" types.

I grew up on Matt Dillon, Paladin (no he wasn't an antihero, he always went and did what was right, he just liked black LOL), comic book heroes and so on. I still like a hero/heroine who'll do what's right in spite of the odds.

I mean look at my favorite books! The Deed of Paksenarrion always at the top, a you woman who starts as a soldier and becomes a paladin!

I think that a good antihero isn't the sneering fie on goodness type. They are layered and textured, so you can see from their perspective why they aren't the typical honorable/upstanding type. I don't like antiheroes because they rejoice in doing the wrong thing. I like antiheroes because you see the battle within in them to define what is right and wrong and where they stand on that line.

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Sometimes I think the entire Sigma Force is made up of reluctant heroes and "Monk." I think you just described "Painter Crow" the first Hero of the Sigma series. (In Sandstorm)"

I loved Sandstorm.

Cool, what's next "The Black Order" or... Map of Bones?

I'm another reader in favor of the "good guy" action hero. I read a lot of mystery/ police procedural books as well and am getting really tired of the 'conflicted detective/cop with personal/emotional issues, lost his/her family and/or friends and drinks or drugs to forget' kind of hero.

Give me the old-fashioned "kick butt because he can and likes it" good guy ... and stop with the angst already!

Jack Daniels (Konrath) She's a kick but detective! Very Human.

Whiskey SourThis is the first one. I wasn't as excited about the last one, after reading it, but I haven't given up on the series. There are a lot of books for this series. this is one of the best ones. (Not all are 4s from me)

I like a hero to have real-world problems you can relate to. Spider-Man has all these super powers but can barely pay his rent, for example. Sherlock Holmes is a top-notch sleuth but has a drug addiction and tends to stuggle in social situations.

Incidentally, I do not mean to imply I can relate to having a drug addiction! But hopefully you see what I'm trying to say.

I definitely know what you mean, Adam. No worries!

Vulnerability, if the hero/heroine is too good or skilled or honorable then it's hard to find conflict. Without kryptonite, Superman is just a dude on a winning streak. I ran into this with Adam, luckily it's sci-fi A/A so I didn't have to sweat too long in coming up with heap-big-trouble for my half-alien hero.

I had more trouble with my heroine. Striking that balance between unholy bitch and TSTL is tough.

Pax Rolfe

Heh, Pax, don't worry. I've been reading "Day of the Triffids" by Wyndham and that seems to be a problem from a long way back, finding that balance in female roles. Wyndham's Joselle reminds me of Natalie Wood in "Sex and the Single Girl." Where she played Hellen Gurley Brown.

The ultimate question "how do you write a female hero as powerful without making her look, in some way, male, or unrealistic?

and how to make her look feminine without her coming across as needy?

Anger, and Fear are easy emotions for men. Even though men have the full myriad of emotions sucess is often determiend by how well they manage these two. Women have a different set of expetations.

I had this issue with "Event" (Golemon). I also find it interesting that female authors seem to struggle with the same issues as male writers and you'd think they might have an inside track on understanding?

The little writing I've done (unpublished and likely unworthy of publishing) I've struggled with female action characters too. For some reason the guys are easy (well easier) to write than the girls.

I think it comes down to whether an author, regardless of gender, is able to balance action/competence with basic human emotions in both male and female characters.

I find it interesting that with two of my favorite series, both action/sci-fi, the one with the female main character was written by a male author (Honor Harrington/ David Weber) and the one with the male character was written by a female author (Miles Vorkosigan/ Bujold).

I also have to say, however, that Bujold, in particular, has written equally good female characters.

Anyone here read Save The Cat? It's a book about writing screenplays and had an interesting rule for mainstream movies that I think applies to books too.

It's that, somewhere toward the beginning of the story, the hero has to do something to get the audience on his side (like saving a cat). So even if you have an anti-hero, it makes the audience sympathetic to him or her pretty quick.

For example, in the movie Aladdin, he's a thief, but in the first few minutes he gives the food he stole to some poor kids.

I agree with that, Adam.

Maybe we should have a vote for the top action 100 (the top 100 action characters from books?)

That's a great idea, Hugh.

It is?.. .I mean (cough) Ahem... of course it is. I am a genius after all... Wile E. Coyote, SUUUuuuper Genius. (right Mike?)

Yes you are!

Yep Hugh, you and Harry Dresden....

LOL!

Okay, there's a nother reason to read the Dresden Files. (I don't get it. (B-{(>

Harry used that line in one of the books...I forget which.

In that case, if we're using the same lines (nevermind Mike used it before I did) it's furhter proof of my geniosity...um...geniousness... nevermind...)

thank you for clairifying for me. I'm happy now.

I do recommend the Dresden books. They start out good Storm Front. The second is also good Fool Moon and then unlike some series, they start to get better.

I've loved the first four books..As far as I've gotten. Yes, I'm way behind, like on most series.

Storm Front is now on it's way to my kindle.

GR has made me miss the single story-single book reads. There are too many good series. Discipline is hard. Am behind on series too.

Mike (the Paladin) wrote: "Yep Hugh, you and Harry Dresden...."

Ha.

Now I want to dig out some Dresden to read.

Damn you and your brilliant ideas.

These series are kicking my butt! I can't keep up.

I know what you mean. I was looking at my list of books read this year. Only a tiny percentage of them are non-series. At least a couple of them ended this year.

I love series, but it would be nice to read more books that were standalones.

Sometimes I think it's my fault. I remember standing in a bookstore years ago wishing more books were in series. I said the "W" word out loud and look what happened!

Me too, Alice. I do love when the author writes a book for the intriguing secondary character, and I have a tendency to buy all the books in a series. Now it's just so much my eyes are crossing!

I'm trying not to buy any new series until I've read down the ones I currently own.

*grimace* Here's hoping my will power holds true!