Who is your Favorite Science-fiction or Fantasy Hero?

 

Who is your Favorite Science-fiction or Fantasy Hero?

For Father’s Day, let’s discuss some of my favorite fictional heroes.

With dad’s often being the true-to-life everyday heroes, what better way to show your appreciation than to share some of the greatest heroic adventures in sci-fi and fantasy with them?

Battlefield Earth

First on the list is Jonnie Goodboy Tyler from L. Ron Hubbard’s classic novel, Battlefield Earth. Mankind is an endangered species with the huge, nine-feet tall, 1,000-pound sociopathic Psychlos having eliminated most of the human race. Jonnie is subdued and trained in the Psychlo technology, but no matter what tortures he endures, he never gives up his fight to beat these evil aliens. You’ll have to read the novel to see how it unfolds, but it an epic tale of the indomitable human spirit pit against impossible odds―an emotional roller-coaster with characters you will love and hate. “Pulse-pounding mile-a-minute sci-fi action adventure.” —Brandon Sanderson

Quality paperback with bonus content: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1592129579

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battlefield-earth-l-ron-hubbard/1100824883?ean=9781592129577

Dune

Paul Atreides of Dune by Frank Herbert has trained his entire life to be a future leader of a centuries-old dynasty, but his world is completely upended when his father is murdered during a political coup. Paul and his mother flee civilization and learn to live in a tooth-and-claw desert environment, adopting the ways and life of the vanquished natives. He must become the leader they need in their fight to take their planet back, and avenge his father’s death. “One of the monuments of modern science fiction.”—Chicago Tribune

Deluxe hardcover:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dune-Deluxe-Frank-Herbert/dp/059309932X

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dune-frank-herbert/1100608835?ean=9780593099322

The Foundation Trilogy 

There are multiple heroes in The Foundation Trilogy by Issac Asimov but Hari Seldon who only briefly appears in the first Foundation book, is the true hero running throughout the entire series. His science and predictions far into the future, plot the lives of many of the other heroes, giving them hope that it will all turn out as planned. All of the heroes avoid force for the sake of force, following one of my favorite Isaac Asimov quotes: “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”

Deluxe quality paperback box set:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Foundation-3-Book-Boxed-Set-Empire/dp/059349957

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/foundation-3-book-boxed-set-isaac-asimov/1140142744?ean=9780593499573

Ender’s Game

Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is the hero of Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.  Young children are recruited to be trained as elite officers in Earth’s battle against alien insects called the buggers.  Ender shows himself to be a leader with great tactical genius but is bullied, ostracized and treated harshly by commanders. Will his training prepare him to save Earth for the next alien attack? You’ll have to read the book to find out. “A gripping tale of adventure in space.” ―Library Journal

Hardcover:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Enders-Ender-Quintet-Orson-Scott/dp/0765394863

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/enders-game-orson-scott-card/1100353963?ean=9780765394866

Lord of the Rings

Frodo Baggins has to leave his comfortable life in the epic fantasy novel, Lord of the Rings in order to remove a malevolent ring from his shire. During his journey through Middle Earth, he finds that many parts of the world have been corrupted by a great evil searching for this powerful metal band. To complete his journey, he’ll have to head into the heart of the wickedness to destroy the ring. “An extraordinary work―pure excitement.” ―New York Times Book Review

Quality paperback box set:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0345538374

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jrr-tolkien-4-book-boxed-set-j-r-r-tolkien/1137493637?ean=9780345538376

Conclusion

These novels are excellent classics of science fiction and fantasy with great heroes and immersive worlds. Battles that mean true life or death; not just for the people involved but for all people of their kind. These leaders use their own determinism and mental capabilities to pull off true epic adventures, no matter how badly the odds are stacked against them! 

These are the books that make reading so worthwhile!

Each one (or all of them) are great gifts for Father’s Day―inspiration and excitement for the true heroes in many of our lives.

Guest Blogger: John Carey, an IT Manager, programmer, and SF author of Not Worthy of the Air you Breathe set in the future where nations have taken a cue from the business world and terminate their low performing citizens at the end of each year.