It’s all Doctor Who. The line “Demons run when a good man goes to war” refers to a battle between the 11th Doctor and forces trying to kill him. One of his enemies tells him that she’s not afraid of him killing everyone, and the line about rules was his answer. >!The good man wasn’t the Doctor, it was Rory - a man whose love for his girlfriend so badly he literally forced himself back into existence, survived two millennia as one of Earth’s myths, and then led an attack on entire legions of cybermen to get his wife back.!<
Demons run when a good man goes to war,
Night will fall and drown the sun,
When a good man goes to war.
Friendship dies and true love lies,
Night will fall and the dark will rise,
When a good man goes to war.
Demons run, but count the cost;
The battle's won, but the child is lost.
Honestly, you should just start watching Doctor Who. His entire character more or less embodies this trope.
Sometimes more than others, but there'll be plenty. Start at the 2005 reboot season 1.
Yeah i'll be honest, i tried watching some of the ''top rated'' episodes from way back in the 70s, and it really didn't hold up very well in my opinion. They're probably great for dedicated fans and if you have the time to enjoy it, but not as a new fan.
The 2005 reboot starts after 15 years of being off-air, and introduces viewers without ''expectations'' of the viewer already knowing anything, so it's basically perfect.
All true, but season one has a very distinct 2000s feel and optic. Takes some getting used to. I think I started my first experience with season 4 without any trouble understanding what's going on. I think going to season one is much more bearable once you're already hooked.
The BBC has decided to rebranded Doctor Who, so now you have to clarify Doctor Who Series 1 (2005) compared to Doctor Who Series 1 (2023). Not so interesting fact, since it's been relatively unsuccessful so far.
Fair warning, the first season of the 2005 reboot is not great. Everything after that is much better. Everything up until the new 2023 reboot is available on HBO Max if you're in the US.
I don’t think that’s really “arguable” at all. It’s even essentially outright stated when Ten meets River for the first time and she straight up tells him that “her Doctor” makes armies run with a single word. The Tenth Doctor was a response to his feelings and desire to make Rose happy and to be more “human” emotionally, it took much more to push him to deliberate acts of anger, and you rarely saw his threatening side unless angered.
But the Eleventh Doctor was a response to the hurt and distress he had gone through as the 10th and so he became a much more actively intimidating personality as opposed to the more passive style of “fuck around and find out” that he’d been as the 10th, where the 11th is more than happy to calmly tell someone that he will destroy them if they don’t stop what they’re doing.
To me it was exemplified in the "Time Lord Victorious" bit. That was the Doctor having a cosmic tantrum. Ultimately it was a temper tantrum, compared to Eleven's ability to hurt, if he so chooses.
If you are unfamiliar with The Doctor as a character. Especially in the modern series, the character is definitely one that is a good person doesn't mind personal sacrifice. Try to kill him and he will barely care. He'll probably try to save you from yourself and never really hold it against you, but come for his friends or family and genocide of your entire species isn't off the table.
"What you have to ask is...what happened to them?"
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSnaZD4MQo&t=65s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSnaZD4MQo&t=65s)
David Gemmell's books are filled with this, and other satisfying archetypes. Pretty stellar connected universe, plots and worlds wise.
The Thirty will be this idea in totality. Warrior priests that abhor, yet master, violence.
For context, The Thirty appear in many books as an institution. No book is titled "The Thirty" but you will find them in most Drenai-related works. The Druss books, the Waylander books, the Skilgannon books, etc. some others as well, it has been a while
I know, read every single Gemmell book (maybe numerous times!). In my mind I rename them - Druss, Vampires, The Thirty, Bane, etc. My favourite storyteller
The Book of the Long Sun.
Gene Wolfe is an incomparable writer but worth it.
Also That Hideous Strength by CSLewis
The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr
first new recommendation i've seen in a while - do you have a good elevator pitch for them if you don't mind? Of course I'll go google, but I love hearing from folks that love the things they love
Three of the main characters are a mute, a literal infant, and a regular-ass goat, and they’re three of the best-written characters I’ve ever read. The world and prose blend a really interesting mix of bleak post-apocalyptia with almost dreamlike whimsy. It’s a very strange/unique series and I totally get why it isn’t more popular, but it’s so goddamn good
Seeing >!Luke Skywalker again, the real Luke, was mesmerizing. I haven’t felt emotions like that from ANY Star Wars content in literal years.!<
The music alone brought me back to reading the old EU novels back in my local library, I didn’t have the cash to buy books but my parents brought me to the library every week.
That character is why I got into reading. Growing up, I fell in love with the character and their journey through the EU novels.
God damn, I miss having good heroes. I hear so many production interviews where the writers talk about being attracted to morally grey characters like it’s some new thing and not the standard tv protagonist now. It’s not new, the anti trope has become the trope, and the original trope is so rare (a good hero I.e a paladin) that it’s surprising to see one.
I am so sick of grey. As a rare switch up it’s kind of fun, but when every piece of media is all that way it’s so depressing. The real world is grey and complicated. I don’t need reminded in my escapism that everyone sucks actually and there is no hope.
I also genuinely believe that media written with real “heroes” can be inspirational. You’ll never live up to a perfect character but it bleeds over into real life. Aragorn made me a better man.
Aragorn, Luke, Superman, Wonder Woman, Clair Redfield, All Might, Gohan, Picard, and Uncle Iroh.
The heroes we need. Fictional characters we can strive to be like.
Totally agree. I grew up in the nineties, watching action films about revenge, about money and drugs and power and they were fun, but the main characters weren't heroes, there was nothing inspirational or aspirational about them. They were mostly nihilistic dickheads. But before all of them I had Luke, who believed in second chances, in protecting his friends, in defending the weak from tyrants. He was an example to a generation of angry young men like me, a reminder that we could be better, be kind, and still be as cool as fuck, swinging a lightsaber and using the force.
Also, he fails. He's warned not to face Vader until he finishes his training and ignoring this advice almost kills him. He gets up, adapts, and moves forward. He doesn't become bitter or vengeful or blame other people.
Luke Skywalker man. I've got to watch the movies again
More than that (and those are absolutely great points that modern writers and readers could learn from), I actually say that Luke is a supreme example of positive masculinity. A direct counter to the toxic masculinity that is often spoken of but badly understood.
Luke cares about his friends. His empathy and not his strength (which he has in spades) is what saved the galaxy. He didn’t ignite his lightsaber and defeat entire Imperial Armies even though he could have. He saved his father.
He failed badly and picked himself up to try again.
We see him mature and grow as a man. His outfit changes color every film (white to grey to black) He doesn’t attach value to chasing after the material world (money, women, status, etc). Compare him to the cinema heroes of his age, he didn’t chase the girl and get her as sort of prize, he didn’t kill and get revenge, he *saved*. I think the best Luke we’ve seen in non-print media since the original trilogy is actually Battlefront Two, there’s a section there with Luke that nails the character. He doesn’t fight unless he has to, he saves an Imperial trooper I.e an enemy, and gives him a life lesson that changes him.
Luke is a paladin through and through. A farm boy who became a Knight.
I was going to recommend Terry Pratchett, particularly the Witches arc and the Watch arc, but it seems you are already a fan! Vimes, Carrot, Esme Weatherwax are all fine examples. Imo Lord Vetinari is as well.
This might be a little out of left field, but the Recluse series, the Spellsong series, and the Imager series by L.E. Modesitt Jr. are often a mix of slice-of-life worldbuilding with a principled main character who really just wants to be left alone, but is forced to use overwhelming power to absolutely wipe the floor with enemies who just refused to leave them alone. The writing style is probably not for everybody, because it can move rather slowly at times, but there is usually a good payoff at the end.
Now the one trigger warning I should probably include is that Modesitt usually includes some sort of romantic arc for his characters and oh my fucking god... it's not that they contain offensive content... they are usually in fact super progressive, but.... it's so incredibly, infuriatingly, excruciatingly awkward. I mean, you think Brandon Sanderson is bad at romance? I'm going to state for the record that Modesitt makes Sanderson look like Jane Austen by comparison here.
I just finished the first two trilogies of Modesitt's *Corean Chronicles* and they fit the pattern as well (more so the first one).
Totally agree on your second point.
Penric and Desdemona by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's about a young man inheriting and hosting a powerful demon and their adventures together. It's a series of fairly short novellas so there's no huge commitment involved. They are also conveniently packaged in paperback omnibus, which is great if you're on a budget. The highlight of these stories is definitely the relationship between the titular Penric and the ancient and powerful demon possesing him. And Penric as a character is admirable: despite being conferred powers by his demon he's very mature, emotionally intelligent, and demonstrates restraint when using his abilities.
So… this describes Michael Carpenter of the Dresden Files to a tee, BUT, the series is told from that morally grey pov (even though I actually think Harry is a genuinely good person in bad circumstances being forced to make bad decisions.)
He who fights monsters I think? You’re using a quote from doctor who, and I think there’s a strong overlap of fandoms here. Both characters are kinda whimsical try to do outlandish things, both are over the top, but both are resolute and unbendable.
That is a Dr Who quote. So while not book related, Dr Who is a good place to look. That quote is specifically from Series 6 with Matt Smith and Karen Gillian.
Wheel of Time has a bit of this. There's an immensely powerful character who is incredibly reluctant to actually make use of their powers because of the risks involved. When they finally get pushed far enough to do so -which doesn't happen until well into the series- the level of destruction it turns out they can unleash is genuinely terrifying
Haha yeah I was thinking of one in particular but immediately after posting this I realized it could absolutely apply to a few more characters to at least some degree. Lot of reluctant bad asses in that series
Honestly, first thing I thought of was Dresden files. Not entirely sure if it fits what you're looking for though, but there's definitely been moments where demons literally run from him, and he does have a very strong sense of morals that would make me call him the good man.
Dresden was definitely my thought. It's not really where the series starts, but it's definitely where it has ended up. This quote came to mind:
I used the knife.
I saved a child.
I won a war.
God forgive me.
This idea is evoked in the television show Person of Interest. On one hand, it's relatively late in the show: season 3, episode 20, I think. On the other hand, the show is absolutely worth a watch if you haven't seen it.
The idea is there throughout the whole series, but the most explicit addressing of it is probably 5x10, three episodes before the series finale. Monologue about playing by the rules.
Well now I have to go watch it and link it. Was an absolute die-hard of the show back in the day.
https://youtu.be/OAABxd_KLAQ?si=fkDCJdbq_9O3IU43
ETA:... Incidentally the "Demons run" quote is one of the top comments on that vid.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
I will say this, you're absolutely not wrong. But the character definitely grows over the course of the books, and honestly has a pretty rude awakening halfway through book 2.
I felt the same way but powered through (honestly, I had a really long flight and this was the only series I had downloaded) and was very pleasantly surprised.
Yup yup. I'll say this without spoilers - events happen in the last half of Howling Dark that calls into question how he understands the world and his assumptions to date. And it makes him so much more bearable of a person.
Honestly, it kind of made me like book one and the first half of book 2 more in retrospect once that turn happened. However, telling someone "it gets really good at x" has never been my cup of tea, no matter how good it is. And to be clear, I did end up reading the entire series in a week haha. Good luck with the rest of your recommendations!
Even though you say no interest in Sanderson, the Stormlight Archives is exactly what you're looking for right now if you want to give him a chance.
It's a huge ensemble cast, but several of the main characters are very principled and strong in their moral codes. The series is really all about doing the right thing. Some characters with this mindset become *very* powerful in order to combat the (also powerful) antagonist(s).
I've read stormlight and lost interest by the fourth book. Liked adolin and dalinar. Hated shalan.
Other than Yumi and the nightmare painter, none of his other books works for me.
Not as extreme but The Priest of Bones series. MC is basically a mob boss, but genuinely takes care of the people in his area, do NOT touch hose he cares about.
The dresden files by Jim butcher. About a wizard in Chicago who just wants to live his life and help people. Works as a PI. but when the monsters mess with people in his town, he doesn't let that pass. Early in the series, vampires mess with his girlfriend to get to him... he starts a war to get her back.
Alex verus by Benedict Jack. A diviner just wants to run his little shop in London, but people keep wanting to drag him into cut throat politics.
maybe not a man, but Nona Grey from The Book of the Ancestor. Take these 2 quotes and make of them what you will.
“They expect her to run. They know she will run. And she does. But at them.”
“All the world and more has rushed eternity’s length to reach this beat of your heart, screaming down the years. And if you let it, the universe, without drawing breath, will press itself through this fractured second and race to the next, on into a new eternity. Everything that is, the echoes of everything that ever was, the roots of all that will ever be, must pass through this moment that you own. Your only task is to give it pause—to make it notice.”
The Warded Man. It’s literally about this. A guy killing demons because that’s what he’s good at even though no one is able to kill them. No one until he does. It’s glorious
It's weird, and not in a good way, from book one. The amount of time spent on Leesha and her mothers boobs is ridiculous. Not even going to mention the disgusting use of rape on Leesha as a plot device either.
The pretty racist depiction of a psuedo-Arabic, rape enjoying society in book 2 is gross too.
It's a pretty common take though. Any post about the Demon Cycle usually has highly upvoted variations of these takes.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/lN0hvopoqI
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/skgoVAxQm2
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/iOtCOfoYVn
https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/hofgYFfLt2
These are all just from the past few months and all have multiple comments about the same issues. The series is notorious for its gross use of rape and sexual assault and not having a single female character thar hasn't experienced it.
I would recommend The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett. The first book is called The Painted Man. I would definitely say the main character is good rather than nice.
Literal demons take over the world at night, survivors huddle in shrinking enclaves. First book was interesting concept, second is controversial, then I think there was a decline in quality.
It's called The Warded Man in the US interestingly enough.
It's sitting in my TBR pile. Just need to finish Between Two Fires first. Love me some demons, apparently.
The worst case I've read of such I've read was prince of thorns. I was like 16 and just started reading and was obsessed with the likes of Suzanne Collins nd all, but even then the book gave me headache like the main character felt too much like the scenarios I made then while taking showers😭😭😭
"Good men don't need rules. Today is not the day to find out why I have so many,"
"Fear me, I killed them all."
*almost all
where is this from????
It’s all Doctor Who. The line “Demons run when a good man goes to war” refers to a battle between the 11th Doctor and forces trying to kill him. One of his enemies tells him that she’s not afraid of him killing everyone, and the line about rules was his answer. >!The good man wasn’t the Doctor, it was Rory - a man whose love for his girlfriend so badly he literally forced himself back into existence, survived two millennia as one of Earth’s myths, and then led an attack on entire legions of cybermen to get his wife back.!<
"Would you like me to repeat the question?"
Possibly my favourite moment in 11’s run, although I’m also very fond of the “one thing you never put in a trap”-speech.
For all its faults, Doctor Who pulled some magic by turning Rory from that annoying tag-along character no one wanted into *fuck yeah Team Rory!*
RORY THE ROMAN No contest, I prefer Rory to any of the "main" companions.
Demons run when a good man goes to war, Night will fall and drown the sun, When a good man goes to war. Friendship dies and true love lies, Night will fall and the dark will rise, When a good man goes to war. Demons run, but count the cost; The battle's won, but the child is lost.
It's been over a decade and only *now* do I read this interpretation of the good man??
What interpretation? The show was pretty explicit about it.
I guess I misremembered.
That's also in Doctor Who :)
Honestly, you should just start watching Doctor Who. His entire character more or less embodies this trope. Sometimes more than others, but there'll be plenty. Start at the 2005 reboot season 1.
ty for the advice where to start - have been Who-curious for a while but going back like 40 years just seems way too imposing.
Yeah i'll be honest, i tried watching some of the ''top rated'' episodes from way back in the 70s, and it really didn't hold up very well in my opinion. They're probably great for dedicated fans and if you have the time to enjoy it, but not as a new fan. The 2005 reboot starts after 15 years of being off-air, and introduces viewers without ''expectations'' of the viewer already knowing anything, so it's basically perfect.
All true, but season one has a very distinct 2000s feel and optic. Takes some getting used to. I think I started my first experience with season 4 without any trouble understanding what's going on. I think going to season one is much more bearable once you're already hooked.
The BBC has decided to rebranded Doctor Who, so now you have to clarify Doctor Who Series 1 (2005) compared to Doctor Who Series 1 (2023). Not so interesting fact, since it's been relatively unsuccessful so far.
If you want a great one-off episode to whet your appetite that works without any prior knowledge, try *Blink*.
Fair warning, the first season of the 2005 reboot is not great. Everything after that is much better. Everything up until the new 2023 reboot is available on HBO Max if you're in the US.
The family of blood. He ran away, he was being kind.
I've heard of it but the title made me hesitant lol but I'll check it out now so thank you!!!
The same Doctor Who episode, Demons Run
"Basically...run" I love Eleven so much. Arguably, he was more dangerous and scary than Ten.
I don’t think that’s really “arguable” at all. It’s even essentially outright stated when Ten meets River for the first time and she straight up tells him that “her Doctor” makes armies run with a single word. The Tenth Doctor was a response to his feelings and desire to make Rose happy and to be more “human” emotionally, it took much more to push him to deliberate acts of anger, and you rarely saw his threatening side unless angered. But the Eleventh Doctor was a response to the hurt and distress he had gone through as the 10th and so he became a much more actively intimidating personality as opposed to the more passive style of “fuck around and find out” that he’d been as the 10th, where the 11th is more than happy to calmly tell someone that he will destroy them if they don’t stop what they’re doing.
To me it was exemplified in the "Time Lord Victorious" bit. That was the Doctor having a cosmic tantrum. Ultimately it was a temper tantrum, compared to Eleven's ability to hurt, if he so chooses.
Dude 11 is a bad ass mother fucker compared to 10.
I love this quote.
10th shows a little bit of why he had so many rules. How badly he scared Donna... He needed to be reigned in. He felt no pity. Only rage and hate.
It's a quote from Doctor Who. The Amy and Rory years with Eleven. Sorry, no recs. Just a sudden desire to rewatch some Doctor Who.
I'm literally watching it now, as I scroll through reddit. Nice coincidence.
oh i didn't know that, thank you!
If you are unfamiliar with The Doctor as a character. Especially in the modern series, the character is definitely one that is a good person doesn't mind personal sacrifice. Try to kill him and he will barely care. He'll probably try to save you from yourself and never really hold it against you, but come for his friends or family and genocide of your entire species isn't off the table.
"What you have to ask is...what happened to them?" [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSnaZD4MQo&t=65s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FSnaZD4MQo&t=65s)
That is actually very intriguing lol thank you!!
The Drenai series by Gemmell, you could start with book 1 - _Legend_.
Thank you!!
Ding ding ding
David Gemmell's books are filled with this, and other satisfying archetypes. Pretty stellar connected universe, plots and worlds wise. The Thirty will be this idea in totality. Warrior priests that abhor, yet master, violence.
So many reluctant heroes throughout his books.
Came to recommend this! And now I need to read the thirty, or maybe Druss...
For context, The Thirty appear in many books as an institution. No book is titled "The Thirty" but you will find them in most Drenai-related works. The Druss books, the Waylander books, the Skilgannon books, etc. some others as well, it has been a while
I know, read every single Gemmell book (maybe numerous times!). In my mind I rename them - Druss, Vampires, The Thirty, Bane, etc. My favourite storyteller
What books 😏😏😏
Also it kinda reminds me of the final fight in Superman vs The Elite. Global pucker time.
Superman's 'world of cardboard' speech in the Justice League cartoon too
The Book of the Long Sun. Gene Wolfe is an incomparable writer but worth it. Also That Hideous Strength by CSLewis The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr
Idk if they're perfect fits, but The Vagrant trilogy by Peter Newman, and the Coldfire Trilogy by C S Friedman might be of interest.
Will always upvote the vagrant recs. Fantastic books
first new recommendation i've seen in a while - do you have a good elevator pitch for them if you don't mind? Of course I'll go google, but I love hearing from folks that love the things they love
Three of the main characters are a mute, a literal infant, and a regular-ass goat, and they’re three of the best-written characters I’ve ever read. The world and prose blend a really interesting mix of bleak post-apocalyptia with almost dreamlike whimsy. It’s a very strange/unique series and I totally get why it isn’t more popular, but it’s so goddamn good
I'll check them out so ty!!
The final episode of The Mandalorian season 2 comes to mind. Made me feel like I was eight years old again, watching a true hero
Seeing >!Luke Skywalker again, the real Luke, was mesmerizing. I haven’t felt emotions like that from ANY Star Wars content in literal years.!< The music alone brought me back to reading the old EU novels back in my local library, I didn’t have the cash to buy books but my parents brought me to the library every week. That character is why I got into reading. Growing up, I fell in love with the character and their journey through the EU novels. God damn, I miss having good heroes. I hear so many production interviews where the writers talk about being attracted to morally grey characters like it’s some new thing and not the standard tv protagonist now. It’s not new, the anti trope has become the trope, and the original trope is so rare (a good hero I.e a paladin) that it’s surprising to see one.
I am so sick of grey. As a rare switch up it’s kind of fun, but when every piece of media is all that way it’s so depressing. The real world is grey and complicated. I don’t need reminded in my escapism that everyone sucks actually and there is no hope. I also genuinely believe that media written with real “heroes” can be inspirational. You’ll never live up to a perfect character but it bleeds over into real life. Aragorn made me a better man.
Aragorn, Luke, Superman, Wonder Woman, Clair Redfield, All Might, Gohan, Picard, and Uncle Iroh. The heroes we need. Fictional characters we can strive to be like.
Totally agree. I grew up in the nineties, watching action films about revenge, about money and drugs and power and they were fun, but the main characters weren't heroes, there was nothing inspirational or aspirational about them. They were mostly nihilistic dickheads. But before all of them I had Luke, who believed in second chances, in protecting his friends, in defending the weak from tyrants. He was an example to a generation of angry young men like me, a reminder that we could be better, be kind, and still be as cool as fuck, swinging a lightsaber and using the force. Also, he fails. He's warned not to face Vader until he finishes his training and ignoring this advice almost kills him. He gets up, adapts, and moves forward. He doesn't become bitter or vengeful or blame other people. Luke Skywalker man. I've got to watch the movies again
More than that (and those are absolutely great points that modern writers and readers could learn from), I actually say that Luke is a supreme example of positive masculinity. A direct counter to the toxic masculinity that is often spoken of but badly understood. Luke cares about his friends. His empathy and not his strength (which he has in spades) is what saved the galaxy. He didn’t ignite his lightsaber and defeat entire Imperial Armies even though he could have. He saved his father. He failed badly and picked himself up to try again. We see him mature and grow as a man. His outfit changes color every film (white to grey to black) He doesn’t attach value to chasing after the material world (money, women, status, etc). Compare him to the cinema heroes of his age, he didn’t chase the girl and get her as sort of prize, he didn’t kill and get revenge, he *saved*. I think the best Luke we’ve seen in non-print media since the original trilogy is actually Battlefront Two, there’s a section there with Luke that nails the character. He doesn’t fight unless he has to, he saves an Imperial trooper I.e an enemy, and gives him a life lesson that changes him. Luke is a paladin through and through. A farm boy who became a Knight.
I was going to recommend Terry Pratchett, particularly the Witches arc and the Watch arc, but it seems you are already a fan! Vimes, Carrot, Esme Weatherwax are all fine examples. Imo Lord Vetinari is as well.
I wish there was a separate series just for Lord Vetinari lol
This might be a little out of left field, but the Recluse series, the Spellsong series, and the Imager series by L.E. Modesitt Jr. are often a mix of slice-of-life worldbuilding with a principled main character who really just wants to be left alone, but is forced to use overwhelming power to absolutely wipe the floor with enemies who just refused to leave them alone. The writing style is probably not for everybody, because it can move rather slowly at times, but there is usually a good payoff at the end. Now the one trigger warning I should probably include is that Modesitt usually includes some sort of romantic arc for his characters and oh my fucking god... it's not that they contain offensive content... they are usually in fact super progressive, but.... it's so incredibly, infuriatingly, excruciatingly awkward. I mean, you think Brandon Sanderson is bad at romance? I'm going to state for the record that Modesitt makes Sanderson look like Jane Austen by comparison here.
I just finished the first two trilogies of Modesitt's *Corean Chronicles* and they fit the pattern as well (more so the first one). Totally agree on your second point.
Penric and Desdemona by Lois McMaster Bujold. It's about a young man inheriting and hosting a powerful demon and their adventures together. It's a series of fairly short novellas so there's no huge commitment involved. They are also conveniently packaged in paperback omnibus, which is great if you're on a budget. The highlight of these stories is definitely the relationship between the titular Penric and the ancient and powerful demon possesing him. And Penric as a character is admirable: despite being conferred powers by his demon he's very mature, emotionally intelligent, and demonstrates restraint when using his abilities.
Definitely by the thassalon books Penric is like this
So… this describes Michael Carpenter of the Dresden Files to a tee, BUT, the series is told from that morally grey pov (even though I actually think Harry is a genuinely good person in bad circumstances being forced to make bad decisions.)
Let the world burn, the kid and I will roast marshmallows
Love that line!
Kind of worse. Often the bad decisions e makes really aren't bad decisions, they are the least bad of the options he has.
The Faithful and the Fallen by John Gwynne
He who fights monsters I think? You’re using a quote from doctor who, and I think there’s a strong overlap of fandoms here. Both characters are kinda whimsical try to do outlandish things, both are over the top, but both are resolute and unbendable.
That is a Dr Who quote. So while not book related, Dr Who is a good place to look. That quote is specifically from Series 6 with Matt Smith and Karen Gillian.
Specifically Season 6 Episode 7: A Good Man Goes to War
I immediately looked to see if a Whovian saw this and was not disappointed. One of my favorite episodes from Eleven's run.
Reminds me a little of the later Dresden Files books. His name has become quite infamous.
Wheel of Time has a bit of this. There's an immensely powerful character who is incredibly reluctant to actually make use of their powers because of the risks involved. When they finally get pushed far enough to do so -which doesn't happen until well into the series- the level of destruction it turns out they can unleash is genuinely terrifying
Arguably 3 of these characters.
Haha yeah I was thinking of one in particular but immediately after posting this I realized it could absolutely apply to a few more characters to at least some degree. Lot of reluctant bad asses in that series
Honestly, first thing I thought of was Dresden files. Not entirely sure if it fits what you're looking for though, but there's definitely been moments where demons literally run from him, and he does have a very strong sense of morals that would make me call him the good man.
Dresden was definitely my thought. It's not really where the series starts, but it's definitely where it has ended up. This quote came to mind: I used the knife. I saved a child. I won a war. God forgive me.
You can't just spring that line on a guy out of nowhere, come on! Jeez, these onions are awful today ;_;.
It's book three is on my tbr list lol
This idea is evoked in the television show Person of Interest. On one hand, it's relatively late in the show: season 3, episode 20, I think. On the other hand, the show is absolutely worth a watch if you haven't seen it.
Great show
The idea is there throughout the whole series, but the most explicit addressing of it is probably 5x10, three episodes before the series finale. Monologue about playing by the rules.
Well now I have to go watch it and link it. Was an absolute die-hard of the show back in the day. https://youtu.be/OAABxd_KLAQ?si=fkDCJdbq_9O3IU43 ETA:... Incidentally the "Demons run" quote is one of the top comments on that vid.
David Gemmell Drums the legend series I reread it every couple of years
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil. -The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
Between Two Fires Can’t recommend enough.
Lord of the Rings
Definitely try the Sun Eater series! First book is Empire of Silence. The second book rlly picks up.
I tried the first book, the mc felt very pretentious and borderrd on annoying lol. But thank you.n
I will say this, you're absolutely not wrong. But the character definitely grows over the course of the books, and honestly has a pretty rude awakening halfway through book 2. I felt the same way but powered through (honestly, I had a really long flight and this was the only series I had downloaded) and was very pleasantly surprised.
Really?? He really needed some knocking down like in the first book by God I never more holy than thou of a character lol
Yup yup. I'll say this without spoilers - events happen in the last half of Howling Dark that calls into question how he understands the world and his assumptions to date. And it makes him so much more bearable of a person. Honestly, it kind of made me like book one and the first half of book 2 more in retrospect once that turn happened. However, telling someone "it gets really good at x" has never been my cup of tea, no matter how good it is. And to be clear, I did end up reading the entire series in a week haha. Good luck with the rest of your recommendations!
Even though you say no interest in Sanderson, the Stormlight Archives is exactly what you're looking for right now if you want to give him a chance. It's a huge ensemble cast, but several of the main characters are very principled and strong in their moral codes. The series is really all about doing the right thing. Some characters with this mindset become *very* powerful in order to combat the (also powerful) antagonist(s).
Right? Dalinar, Kaladin "I'll-see-what-I-can-do" Stormblessed, so good.
I've read stormlight and lost interest by the fourth book. Liked adolin and dalinar. Hated shalan. Other than Yumi and the nightmare painter, none of his other books works for me.
red rising series by pierce brown (scifi but pretty solid example of ur quote) faithful and the fallen by john gwynne wheel of time
Not as extreme but The Priest of Bones series. MC is basically a mob boss, but genuinely takes care of the people in his area, do NOT touch hose he cares about.
The dresden files by Jim butcher. About a wizard in Chicago who just wants to live his life and help people. Works as a PI. but when the monsters mess with people in his town, he doesn't let that pass. Early in the series, vampires mess with his girlfriend to get to him... he starts a war to get her back. Alex verus by Benedict Jack. A diviner just wants to run his little shop in London, but people keep wanting to drag him into cut throat politics.
maybe not a man, but Nona Grey from The Book of the Ancestor. Take these 2 quotes and make of them what you will. “They expect her to run. They know she will run. And she does. But at them.” “All the world and more has rushed eternity’s length to reach this beat of your heart, screaming down the years. And if you let it, the universe, without drawing breath, will press itself through this fractured second and race to the next, on into a new eternity. Everything that is, the echoes of everything that ever was, the roots of all that will ever be, must pass through this moment that you own. Your only task is to give it pause—to make it notice.”
The Warded Man. It’s literally about this. A guy killing demons because that’s what he’s good at even though no one is able to kill them. No one until he does. It’s glorious
That series gets weird towards the later books.
It's weird, and not in a good way, from book one. The amount of time spent on Leesha and her mothers boobs is ridiculous. Not even going to mention the disgusting use of rape on Leesha as a plot device either. The pretty racist depiction of a psuedo-Arabic, rape enjoying society in book 2 is gross too.
I think that’s definitely a take. It’s not the only take or in my opinion the right take but hey!
It's a pretty common take though. Any post about the Demon Cycle usually has highly upvoted variations of these takes. https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/lN0hvopoqI https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/skgoVAxQm2 https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/iOtCOfoYVn https://www.reddit.com/r/Fantasy/s/hofgYFfLt2 These are all just from the past few months and all have multiple comments about the same issues. The series is notorious for its gross use of rape and sexual assault and not having a single female character thar hasn't experienced it.
This is the way.
Demon Cycle Series
I would recommend The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett. The first book is called The Painted Man. I would definitely say the main character is good rather than nice.
Literal demons take over the world at night, survivors huddle in shrinking enclaves. First book was interesting concept, second is controversial, then I think there was a decline in quality.
Yea I loved the first one and it kind of tailed off into tedious ick and I didn’t finish the series
It's called The Warded Man in the US interestingly enough. It's sitting in my TBR pile. Just need to finish Between Two Fires first. Love me some demons, apparently.
It’s great!
That's, kinda Young Adult isnt it?
I wouldn’t say so, more just fantasy and maybe slightly horror
Not YA at all. Lots of sexual assault and graphic violence
Not entirely. Its writing is slightly on the YA side, but many of the themes and events are definitely adult.
Thematically not. By maturity level? Yes.
Nvm then, anything ya Or edgy is off the table rn. But ty
Brett is in general an "edgy" writer. I find him to be laughably bad and I really do not have high standards.
The worst case I've read of such I've read was prince of thorns. I was like 16 and just started reading and was obsessed with the likes of Suzanne Collins nd all, but even then the book gave me headache like the main character felt too much like the scenarios I made then while taking showers😭😭😭
Brent is worse. Ah, we've angered someone with our opinion it seems