Five (Plus One!) Characters I’d Love to Hang Out With

 

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Now to the blog post–over on her own blog, Siri’s been talking about favorite places, both real and fictional. I thought I might too, but then I noticed her favorite fictional places and mine overlap a bit. (Pern? Hogwarts, forsooth!)

So I thought I’d talk about my favorite fictional characters instead. But not just my favorites—the ones I’d like to hang out with. As much as I love, say, my Marine character Eve Marcori, I don’t think I’d enjoy spending a lot of time with her. There’s just too much violence and noise wherever she is, you know?

Miles Vorkosigan, on the other hand, would make both lists—he’s one of my favorite characters, and he’s someone I’d like to hang out with. If you haven’t read Miles’ escapades, I’d recommend starting with Warrior’s Apprentice as soon as you can get your hands on it. Following Miles around would be such a blast. And wherever he led me—into the middle of a mercenary army or a clone creche or even a camp for prisoners of war—I’d know Miles had a plan for getting us out again.

Maybe not a good plan, maybe not a workable plan, but Miles would have a plan.

Minerva McGonagall of, naturally, the Harry Potter books and movies. I think it would be fun to hang out with her if we were on the same level—I wouldn’t want to if I were a student! But she’s got a great sense of humor, and I love her strength. I could teach—oh, Muggle history or something, and we could talk about which wizards to fix up with Dumbledore. And if Snape bothered us, we’d—wash his hair!

I’d also love to hang out with Vanyel Ashkevron, the Herald-Mage of Mercedes Lackey’s Last Herald-Mage trilogy. I’d learn to play the harp, and learn his favorite songs so I could hang out in taverns and sing with him. I’d enjoy looking at him, and love listening to his voice, and I’d probably have to remind myself to keep my hands off him, but I could do that. I’d be interesting and peaceful so he could relax, and I’d manage not to fangirl because he’d really hate that.

Belgarath, on the other hand, would enjoy some fangirling, I think. And I’d enjoy hanging out with him. I love that he’s the Wise Old Sorcerer, but really he’s a rascal! I need more scoundrels in my life. Belgarath would be fun. I’d love to see the things he’d show me. And truly, I couldn’t ask for a better guide to the world of the Belgariad.

Mat Cauthon, of the Wheel of Time books. See “I need more scoundrels in my life.” Mat would fit the bill! Drinking, gambling, and dancing, but don’t mess with this prankster or you’ll regret it. With an army devoted to him and the Dark One’s own luck—yeah. You want to just let Mat have his fun. And me—’cause I’ll be kicking up my heels right next to him.

Siri is doing lists of five, but she also cheats with Honorable Mentions, so I can do a “plus one.”

And who is my “plus one?” Howl, of Howl’s Moving Castle. Talk about magical rogues! Even more than Belgarath, magic is fun for him, possibly too easy, but utterly…magical. I can’t even say. I want to learn to walk on air the way he taught Sophie! And oh, how I love the castle!

Now I want to read all their books again.

So that’s my list that I couldn’t really trim farther, in no particular order. I’ll point out again these aren’t necessarily the characters I’d choose at my side through the zombie apocalypse (though come to think of it, they’d all be good choices!) nor is it KD’s List of Characters She’d Like to Boink.

Maybe I’ll put that list on my own blog.

Who would you put on this list, and what would you like to do while hanging out with them?

 

 

 

2 Comments:

  1. How funny, I’m doing a re-read of the Howl series over at my blog right now. (I linked the discussion about Howl’s–I hope–in my name, and we’re doing Castle in the Air on Thursday.) I think I’d rather hang out with Sophie myself, honestly, but it does seem like a nice group to spend time with.

  2. Wow, I forgot about the existence of Vanyel and Belgarath. *is instantly transported back to high school*

    I’d have to think long and hard about a shortlist of my favourite characters to hang out with. But I do know one — you might have to fight me for Miles Vorkosigan. 😉

    Siri

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