Who's your favorite anti-hero?

[Elfwreck]

My husband & I were talking the other day about possibly the original anti-hero: Sherlock Holmes. Anti-social, drug-using, rude and arrogant man, with friendships with various lowlife & criminal types, who solved crimes as a hobby.

[just_jeepin]

I would have to agree with Thomas Covenant from "The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant" by Stephen R. Donaldson.

OR his other anti-hero

Angus Thermopyle from "The Gap Cycle".

[Penforhire]

Funny you mention Charlie Huston because I was thinking of nominating Henry Thompson from his "Caught Stealing" trilogy. I'll have to check out Joe Pitt.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

My husband & I were talking the other day about possibly the original anti-hero: Sherlock Holmes. Anti-social, drug-using, rude and arrogant man, with friendships with various lowlife & criminal types, who solved crimes as a hobby.

To be a real anti-hero, he should have caused crimes as a hobby.... Like A. J. Raffles....(Available here, of course!)

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by AlexBell

Harry Flashman, from George MacDonald Fraser's extensive series set in Victorian times. As well as the intriguing character the books contain very well researched historical accounts of the period.

Regards, Alex

I heartily second this one. Flashman is a coward and a philanderer who always seems to end up falling on his feet (or into a beautiful woman's bed) whilst others around him are being killed trying to be heroic. Beautifully written and, as Alex said, containing a wealth of historical data, I recommend them highly.

[llreader]

I think Elric and Thomas Covenant are two of the best conceived anti-heros. Covenant was good through the first book, but (as others have mentioned) there was limited character growth.

I want to put in a good word from Lucas Corso from El Club Dumas (The Club Dumas, in English - don't read the plot summary, it will spoil things):

Lucas Corso, a mercenary book-dealer and master manipulator who specializes in acquiring rare and valuable editions for anonymous buyers and other book dealers.

Also, I think the best executed anti-hero is still Gene Wolfe's Severian, Journeyman of the Guild of Seekers of Truth and Penitence. Not only is he a monster, he seems like a fundamentally good person. The kicker comes in the fifth book, when we realize how heroes / anti-heroes are made. Brilliant!

[MichaelFStewart]

I like Jack Reacher - the classic wandering man - by Lee Child.

I remember hearing Lee Child speak about why he thinks female readers like Jack. He said that it was a desire to ravished without attachment. A woman in the audience stood up and said, I think you're mistaking that with a male fantasy.

[BenG]

John Dortmunder, the star of Donald Westlake's series of comic caper books.

http://www.thrillingdetective.com/dortmunder.html

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

My husband & I were talking the other day about possibly the original anti-hero: Sherlock Holmes. Anti-social, drug-using, rude and arrogant man, with friendships with various lowlife & criminal types, who solved crimes as a hobby.

Is that how you saw him? I always saw him as a brilliant man who solved crimes.

Most truly brilliant people are anti-social. Must be terrible to be continually surrounded by those dumber than you. Not that I would know.

The rudeness and arrogance was simply his inablility to connect with those who didn't keep up with his lines of thought.

The lowlifes and criminal types weren't social friends...they were used to gain information about the crimes that needed to be solved. Certainly an upstanding citizen wouldn't know anthing useful.

The drug using was normal for that period of time.......if I'm not mistaken, they were still prescribing opium for women with 'the vapors' and for babies who couldn't sleep.
Interesting article here

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...es/cu/cu1.html

[MelC]

Anti-heroes seem to be very popular these days - they are running amok on Showtime/HBO:

Dexter
Nurse Jackie
Weeds
Californication

...I'm sure I could come up with more if I thought about it for a while.

From literature, I am a huge fan of Douglas Coupland who always incorporates some great anti-heroes into his books.

Mel

[MichaelFStewart]

Originally Posted by MelC

From literature, I am a huge fan of Douglas Coupland who always incorporates some great anti-heroes into his books.

Mel

I'm with you Mel. Douglas Coupland is wonderful. Buy hey, I'm Canadian and perhaps biased.

[Tattncat]

Put another one down for Dark Tower's Gun slinger. He's hard to beat.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by latexsalesman

Hmmmm and Death from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series.

I would not think of Death as an anti-hero. I'd think of Rincewind.

[JSWolf]

An anti-hero I've not seen mentioned is Arthur Dent from The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Elfwreck

My husband & I were talking the other day about possibly the original anti-hero: Sherlock Holmes. Anti-social, drug-using, rude and arrogant man, with friendships with various lowlife & criminal types, who solved crimes as a hobby.

He actually made his living doing it, as a consulting detective. He was not independently wealthy.

He certainly knew various lowlife and criminal types, but save for Dr. Watson, it's unclear he had any "friends".
______
Dennis