Crème de la crème of 2014 - the best characters and villains

 

Are you tired of all the Best Ofs already? I'm not, so from hereon to the end of the year I'll publish a few "cream of the cream" lists of my own. This first one features my favourite fictional boys, girls and villains of the year 2014 - a wonderful year of reading it was.

 

The best female character

Jessica Atreides courtesy of SanC-Art.

Holly Sykes from The Bone Clocks (David Mitchell)

 

Holly, Holly... At first you were this and then that, and also a little hidden in between. Thank you for showing that an awesome character does not need to be in the spotlight throughout.

Jessica Atreides from Dune (Frank Herbert)

 

I admit being slightly allergic to the phrase "kick-ass female character" (I much prefer my girls to be normal human beings, thank you very much), but it kind of fits the bill in your case. It was all kinds of wonderful to follow your inner monologue. If Bene Gesserit training was available in our world, I would not need to be taking anti-depressants.

Morwenna (Mori) Phelps from Among Others (Jo Walton)

 

Dear Mori, let me give you a hug. I know how it feels. I was you once, long ago. Your mind is a wonderful thing - don't ever let it become narrow and let people tell you "SF? What are you - a kid/nerd/trekkie?" I love you.

The best male character

Locke Lamora & Jean Tannen courtesy of BotanicaXu.

 

Jacob de Zoet from The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet (David Mitchell)

Ah... how tragic be you, life. Jacob is a beautifully written character, thus the title should go to Mitchell instead. He is charming in his naivety and courage (always the winning combination).

Jean Tannen from The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas Under Red Skies (Scott Lynch)

Jean is the character I would have dated in high school. Must be the glasses and the bookishness. Though it's pretty okay, in my book, how he constantly saves Locke's skinny ass. (Who's the main character of these books, again...?)

 

Homer Wells from The Cider House Rules  (John Irving)

I don't have an easy reasoning to love Homer Wells. He is a bit of a broken soul, and no hero. Most people would consider him a coward I suppose (right on, Melony), but I prefer to think some people simply struggle with more complicated inner conflicts. He does the right thing, in the end. Truth is, I just love Irving's male characters (OWEN MEANY). Right? Right.

The best villain

William Hamleigh.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen courtesy of SimonDubuc.

Arabella Donn from Jude the Obscure (Thomas Hardy)

 

Arabella, you are in the top of the list of despicable human beings I have ever met in fictional world. That is all.

Dolores "hem, hem" Umbridge from youknowwhatbooks (too lazy to check which numbers they were) (J.K. Rowling)

The favourite "love to hate" villain in the world, most likely. Despite my pacifistic views, I would have liked to punch her in the face.

William Hamleigh from The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)

William, though I hate you from the bottom of my heart, I also pity you. What a miserable life it must have been, filled with hate and stupidity from being a little boy to being an old man. Also, you are a perv.

Baron Vladimir Harkonnen from Dune (Frank Herbert)

Dear Baron, you are a member of my favourite category of villains - The Fat Wiseass. Maybe you don't even belong here because I do admire your intelligence and cunning mind.

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The next crème de la crème edition - Best Quotes of 2014.