Tag: Miscellany Page 116 of 175

Percy Weasley from the—

Weeks ago, when I started making notes for this series, I literally wrote that as a joke to myself, and had to keep it.

But seriously…

Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter of Three Firs from The Deed of Paksenarrion

I was kind of bullied into reading this series in college, but there were a couple of guys in my dorm who would just not stop talking about it, even though I was on a little break from fantasy after ODing on it the year before. I’m so glad I caved to peer pressure. Paks is the daughter of a sheepherder who runs away from home so she doesn’t get married off and goes in search of glory in battle. She learns that it’s not like the stories yet struggles on and goes on to be the legend she dramed about. Her series is in my personal Fantasy pantheon, and it’s almost only because of this paladin who saved the kingdom.

Quinn Colson from the Quinn Colson series

Quinn Colson is one of my favorite lawmen–former Army Ranger who became the Sherriff of his hometown. He, his friends, deputies, an ex-deputy, and a couple of feds have now waged a decade-long campaign to clean up Tibbehah County, Mississippi from all sorts of crime and corruption. He’s got grit, a quiet humor, a sense of honor that seems out of place in his world (and ours).

Jack Reacher from The Jack Reacher series

(yeah, I could’ve used a pic from one of the movies, but I just refuse)

So, what can I say about Lee Child’s modern knight errant? Former Army MP who decided to walk around the country he spent his entire life serving, but spent almost no time in. So, now he just walks the earth, you know, like Caine in Kung Fu. Just walking from town to town, meeting people, getting in adventures. Whoops, I think I confused Jules Winnfield and Reacher–easy mistake. Anyway, he walks into town, stumbles onto some sort of criminal activity, usually one that’s hurting a woman (but sometimes a man), and does what he can (which is a lot) to stop it and mete out a little justice. It’s the same basic story, time after time after time, but somehow tales of Reacher are horribly addictive. Just something about this coffee addict walking around with just the clothes on his back.

(which, incidentally, is the name of a great album full of songs about Reacher.)

Spenser from the Spenser series

Um, what can I possibly say about Spenser at this point? I’ve been writing monthly pieces about his first appearances this year, and am having a hard time thinking I can say anything new. So I’ll adapt something I wrote earlier this year: He’s a former professional boxer (not that good, but he did get his nose broken by someone who was very good); a Korean War vet; a former Massachusetts State Trooper, assigned to the DA’s office in a County that fluctuates depending on Robert B. Parker’s memory; and now a Private Investigator. He’s very literate, he likes to cook, he drinks a lot, thinks he’s funnier than anyone else does (except the readers of the novels)—which brings him a lot of grief. Honor’s very important to him and it will influence the way he deals with clients, victims, criminals and everyone else along the way. He’s very much a latter-day knight.

I’ll just borrow this bit from Looking for Rachel Wallace

“What is it you want to know?”

“Why you engage in things that are violent and dangerous.”

I sipped half a glass of beer. I took another bite of veal. “Well,” I said, “the violence is a kind of side-eiffect, I think. I have always wanted to live life on my own terms. And I have always tried to do what I can do. I am good at certain kinds of things; I have tried to go in that direction.”

“The answer doesn’t satisfy me,” Rachel said.

“It doesn’t have to. It satisfies me.”

“What he won’t say,” Susan said, “and what he may not even admit to himself is that he’d like to be Sir Gawain. He was born five hundred years too late. If you understand that, you understand most of what you are asking.”

“Six hundred years,” I said.

and maybe add in this bit from God Save the Child:

Healy said, ‘Didn’t you used to work for the Suffolk County DA once?”

I said, “Yes.”

“Didn’t they fire you for hotdogging?”

“I like to call it inner-directed behavior,” I said.

“I’ll bet you do.” Healy said.

Huh, I went from not knowing what to say to saying too much. Spenser has that affect me.

Toby Daye from the October Daye series

October Daye is the daughter of Amandine (daughter of Oberon) and a human, she’s half-Dochas Sidhe/half-human changeling. She’s a hero of the Realm, the Knight of Lost Words and a former countess. When we meet her, she’s a non-practicing P.I. recovering from spending fourteen years as a fish in a pond in a San Francisco park. But she starts getting involved with the Fae again, and things start happening. She’s toppled kingdoms, killed a Firstborn Fae, and has generally saved the day on a regular basis. She does it with a grim determination, a smart mouth, and an attitude that makes her more enemies than fans or friends. But when there’s trouble afoot, you want no one else at your back.

and…

Turtle Wexler from The Westing Game

Maybe it’s just because I read a book a week or so ago that I compared to The Westing Game, or maybe it’s because of the news of the new adaptation (that promises to be fairly faithful) in the works–but I can’t stop thinking about Turtle (sorry, Mrs. Wexler, Tabitha-Ruth). So I’m bending my own little rule and naming her here, too. Turtle is smart, clever, with a mouth that gets her into trouble, a little impulse control, and a nasty shin kick. There’s a real sense that me reading about Turtle (and wishing I could meet someone like her) in elementary school that paved the way for…well, Spenser, and Toby, for starters. Also Mercy Thompson, Lizzy Spellman, Archie Goodwin, and a few more that have made the lists in this series. For a thirteen-year-old girl to outsmart an apartment building full of adults to win control of Sam Westing’s company–and to do it in a believable and stylistic fashion–made me a fan for life.

Kvothe from the The Kingkiller Chronicles

My name is Kvothe, pronounced nearly the same as “quothe.” Names are important as they tell you a great deal about a person. I’ve had more names than anyone has a right to. The Adem call me Maedre. Which, depending on how it’s spoken, can mean The Flame, The Thunder, or The Broken Tree…My first mentor called me E’lir because I was clever and I knew it. My first real lover called me Dulator because she liked the sound of it. I have been called Shadicar, Lightfinger, and Six-String. I have been called Kvothe the Bloodless, Kvothe the Arcane, and Kvothe Kingkiller. I have earned those names. Bought and paid for them.

But I was brought up as Kvothe. My father once told me it meant “to know.”

I have, of course, been called many other things. Most of them uncouth, although very few were unearned.

I have stolen princesses back from sleeping barrow kings. I burned down the town of Trebon. I have spent the night with Felurian and left with both my sanity and my life. I was expelled from the University at a younger age than most people are allowed in. I tread paths by moonlight that others fear to speak of during day. I have talked to Gods, loved women, and written songs that make the minstrels weep.

You may have heard of me.

I love The Name of the Wind, our first introduction to Kvothe and his world, I’ve bought copies just have on hand to give away. I was let down, somewhat, by The Wise Man’s Fear but man…there’s something about Kvothe. Even if we never get The Doors of Stone (as seems increasingly likely)—I’m just glad to have met him.

The Luidaeg from the October Daye` series

The Sea Witch. One of those monsters that Fae parents warn their children about to get them to behave. The First of the Firstborn. She’s simply a delicious character, from the first book in the series, she’s been probably my favorite. She can be counted on to be creepy, comic relief, terrifying, and disturbing at any point (frequently the same moment). One day, she is going to kill Toby, in the meantime, she’s her most powerful ally. She’s brought me to the verge of tears three times (so far). I’m not sure what exactly to say about her, really, words can’t sum her up.

Mercy Thompson from The Mercy Thompson series

Mercedes “Mercy” Athena Thompson. Volkswagon Mechanic. Coyote skinwalker. Wife of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin Pack of werewolves. Trouble magnet. Mercy is (as she’ll tell you herself) one of the weekest supernatural beings around, but she finds herself in the middle of all sorts of trouble—from the Fae (all sorts), werewolves, vampires, witches, miniature zombie goats, and others—and somehow, she always manages to come out on top. Sometimes it’s because of a powerufl ally or friend (or family member), frequently it’s because she’s quick enough and clever enough to outsmart whatever/whoever she’s up against. As the daughter of Coyote, she’s an agent of chaos—and man, oh, man, can she bring it.

Nina Hill from The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

There’s something about Nina Hill that just speaks to me. It was practically love at first sentence. Nina Hill is a reader — books are how she defines herself, the prism through which she sees and interacts with the world. She has a job (bookseller), a cat, a small home with a lot of shelves, a trivia team, book club, a place she exercises, a visualization corner, a fantastic planner and a love of coffee and quality office products. Her life is pretty regimented, but everything is just how she likes it. She also is introverted, prone to anxiety, and averse to change. Nina’s smart with a great memory, a penchant for honesty, and highly-developed sense of who she is.

Oberon from The Iron Druid Chronicles and Oberon’s Meaty Mysteries

Clearly, he’s a favorite—I have a stuffed toy of him. Atticus O’Sullivan’s Irish Wolfhound. After being bound to Atticus, the two can communicate telepathically. Oberon has a taste for TV and movies, he loves chasing squirrels and eating sausages (and has a thing for French Poodles). Either in his own novellas or in the novels about Atticus he’s a constant source of laughs and is the real heart of the Iron Druid</b books.