With over 21,000 votes cast, representing 359 characters from 136 of the top fantasy book series, we have a decisive winner for the Best Fantasy Character of All Time!
But first, an overview of the poll methodology and results:
The Nomination Process
Character nominations were made by visitors to our site. Top Sources for nominations:
- Reddit/r/Fantasy
- Fantasy Website Forums (multiple)
Nominated characters were requested to be Point of View (POV) protagonists only, but some leeway was permitted for characters whose classification as a protagonist was debatable.
Nominations were closed on 9/17, at which point 359 unique nominations had been received.
- After 5,000 total votes were placed, any characters with only 1 vote were removed from the list.
- After 10,000 total votes were placed, the list was reduced to the Top 200.
- After 20,000 total votes were placed, polling was closed (technically 21,542 votes).
And The Winner Is…..
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Death (1023 Votes)
Series: Discworld
Author: Terry Pratchett
First Appearance: The Color of Magic
Our Favorite Quotation (Note: Death’s voice is always represented in SMALL CAPS with no quotation marks since Death does not actually “speak”):
WHO KNOWS WHAT EVIL LURKS IN THE HEART OF MEN? The Death of Rats looked up from the feast of the potato. SQUEAK, he said. Death waved a hand dismissively. WELL, YES, OBVIOUSLY ME, he said. I JUST WONDERED IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE.
Death’s gigantic 303-vote margin of victory over the second-place finisher represented enough votes to potentially put a character in 19th Place overall! Death’s win (combined with the fact that THE 3 TOP SPOTS were all characters from Discworld) may be the strongest endorsement for a Fantasy book series we have ever seen.
COMPLETE RESULTS
| Name | Series / Book | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Death | Discworld | 1023 |
| Granny Weatherwax | Discworld | 720 |
| Sam Vimes | Discworld | 678 |
| Karigan G'ladheon | Green Rider Series | 656 |
| Tyrion Lannister | A Song of Ice and Fire | 651 |
| Allanon | Shannara | 633 |
| Gandalf | Lord of the Rings | 573 |
| Kvothe | Kingkiller Chronicles | 566 |
| Jorg Ancrath | Broken Empire | 566 |
| Harry Dresden | Dresden Files | 551 |
| Aragorn | Lord of the Rings | 521 |
| FitzChivalry Farseer | Farseer Trilogy | 472 |
| Mat Cauthon | Wheel of Time | 425 |
| Arya Stark | A Song of Ice and Fire | 420 |
| Drizzt Do'Urden | Dark Elf Trilogy | 407 |
| Kaladin Stormblessed | Stormlight Archive | 343 |
| Locke Lamora | Gentleman Bastards | 338 |
| Phedre | Kushiel's Legacy | 318 |
| Harry Potter | Harry Potter | 300 |
| Rand al'Thor | Wheel of Time | 294 |
| Logen Ninefingers | First Law | 273 |
| Hermione Granger | Harry Potter | 272 |
| Jon Snow | A Song of Ice and Fire | 256 |
| Havelock Vetinari | Discworld | 227 |
| Belgarath | Belgariad | 225 |
| Jacob "Jake" Valance | Spinward Fringe | 223 |
| Sand dan Glokta | First Law | 220 |
| Samwise Gamgee | Lord of the Rings | 215 |
| Fool | Farseer Trilogy | 214 |
| Rincewind | Discworld | 209 |
| Seregil | Nightrunner | 206 |
| Bilbo Baggins | Hobbit | 185 |
| Raistlin Majere | Dragonlance | 173 |
| Tiffany Aching | Discworld | 169 |
| Vin | Mistborn | 166 |
| Richard Rahl | Sword of Truth | 165 |
| Geralt of Rivia | Witcher | 162 |
| Walker Boh | Shannara | 160 |
| Anomander Rake | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 160 |
| Pug | Riftwar Saga | 159 |
| Alanna of Trebond | Song of the Lioness | 154 |
| Daenerys Targaryen | A Song of Ice and Fire | 143 |
| Roland Deschain | Dark Tower | 139 |
| Fiddler | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 136 |
| Silk / Prince Kheldar | Belgariad | 126 |
| Carrot Ironfoundersson | Discworld | 126 |
| Alice Valent | Spinward Fringe | 124 |
| Kelsier | Mistborn | 123 |
| Karsa Orlong | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 121 |
| Jalan Kendeth | Red Queen's War | 119 |
| Polgara | Belgariad | 119 |
| Tehol/Bugg | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 119 |
| Jaime Lannister | A Song of Ice and Fire | 119 |
| Garet Jax | Shannara | 118 |
| Elric of Melnibone | Elric of Melnibone Series | 117 |
| Kahlan Amnell | Sword of Truth | 109 |
| Conan of Cimmeria | Conan of Cimmeria | 109 |
| Quick Ben | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 106 |
| Legolas | Lord of the Rings | 94 |
| Druss the Legend | Drenai Series | 89 |
| Thomas Covenant | Chronicles of Thomas Covenant | 87 |
| Vanyel Ashkevron | Last Herald-Mage | 85 |
| Garion | Belgariad | 83 |
| Lan Mandragoran | Wheel of Time | 82 |
| Moist von Lipwig | Discworld | 81 |
| Durzo Blint | Night Angel | 78 |
| Ged | Earthsea Cycle | 74 |
| Arlen Bales | Demon Cycle | 72 |
| Amberele Elessedil | Shannara | 71 |
| Kylar Stern | Night Angel | 71 |
| Frodo Baggins | Lord of The Rings | 70 |
| Perrin Aybara | Wheel of Time | 70 |
| Nynaeve al'Meara | Wheel of Time | 68 |
| Lyra Belacqua | His Dark Materals | 67 |
| Corwin | Chronicles of Amber | 66 |
| Dalinar Kholin | Stormlight Archive | 65 |
| Croaker | Chronicles of the Black Company | 64 |
| Elodin | Kingkiller Chronicle | 64 |
| Sazed | Mistborn | 61 |
| Daemon SaDiablo | Black Jewels | 61 |
| Eddard Stark | A Song of Ice and Fire | 61 |
| Sabriel | Old Kingdom Trilogy | 60 |
| Celaena Sardothien | Throne of Glass | 60 |
| Jimmy The Hand | Legends of the Riftwar | 59 |
| Stannis Baratheon | A Song of Ice and Fire | 59 |
| Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander | Sword of truth | 59 |
| Tasselhoff Burrfoot | Dragonlance | 57 |
| Percy Jackson | Percy Jackson and the Olympians | 56 |
| Sophie Hatter | Howl's Moving Castle | 56 |
| Caine | Acts of Caine | 53 |
| Egwene al'Vere | Wheel of Time | 52 |
| Moiraine Damodred | Wheel of Time | 52 |
| Whiskeyjack | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 52 |
| Sparhawk | Elenium | 52 |
| Lessa | Dragonriders of Pern | 50 |
| Auri | Kingkiller Chronicle | 50 |
| Gavin Guile | Lightbringer | 47 |
| Jarlaxle Baenre | Dark Elf Trilogy | 46 |
| Tavi | Codex Alera | 46 |
| Artemis Entreri | Icewind Dale Trilogy | 45 |
| Vlad Taltos | Vlad Taltos Series | 45 |
| Sansa Stark | A Song of Ice and Fire | 43 |
| Shallan Davar | Stormlight Archive | 42 |
| Menolly | Dragonriders of Pern | 42 |
| Nysander | Nightrunner Series | 41 |
| Mara of the Acoma | Empire Trilogy | 40 |
| Joscelin Verreuil | Kushiel's Legacy | 40 |
| Vaelin al Sorna | Raven's Shadow | 40 |
| Shea Ohmsford | Shannara | 38 |
| Althea Vestrit | Liveship Traders | 38 |
| Menion Leah | Shannara | 37 |
| Arutha ConDoin | Riftwar Saga | 36 |
| Robinton | Dragonriders of Pern | 36 |
| Severian | Book of the New Sun | 35 |
| Katsa | Graceling | 34 |
| Imriel de la Courcel | Kushiel's Legacy | 34 |
| Jaenelle | Black Jewels | 32 |
| Haplo | Death Gate Cycle | 31 |
| Akkarin | Black Magician Trilogy | 31 |
| Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter | Deed of Paksenarrion | 31 |
| Melisande Shahrizai | Kushiel's Legacy | 30 |
| Bee Farseer | Fitz and The Fool | 29 |
| Saltheart Foamfollower | Chronicles of Thomas Covenant | 29 |
| Alberich | Heralds of Valdemar | 28 |
| Icarium | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 27 |
| Wil Ohmsford | Shannara | 27 |
| Rhapsody | Symphony of Ages | 27 |
| Tamír í Ariani Gherilain | Tamír Triad | 27 |
| Gerald Tarrant | Coldfire Trilogy | 27 |
| Adolin Kholin | Stormlight Archive | 26 |
| Yelena | Study Series | 26 |
| Thorin Oakenshield | Hobbit | 26 |
| Jasnah Kholin | Stormlight Archive | 26 |
| William Laurence | Temeraire | 25 |
| Ruth | Dragonriders of Pern | 25 |
| Ammar ibn Khairan | Lions of Al-Rassan | 24 |
| Taran | Chronicles of Prydain | 24 |
| Wren Elessedil | Shannara | 24 |
| Royce Melborn | Riyria Revelations | 23 |
| Waylander the Slayer | Drenai Series | 23 |
| Tanis Half-Elven | Dragonlance | 23 |
| F'lar | Dragons of Pern | 23 |
| Kip Guile | Lightbringer | 22 |
| Braylar Killcoin | Bloodsounder's Arc | 22 |
| Nysta | Nysta Series | 22 |
| Nest Freemark | Shannara | 21 |
| Tamas | Powder Mage | 21 |
| Theon Greyjoy | A Song of Ice and Fire | 21 |
| Bremen | Shannara | 20 |
| Julianna Taraen | Tears of Rage | 20 |
| Arithon | Wars of Light and Shadow | 20 |
| Alexia Tarrabotti | Parasol Protectorate | 19 |
| Bruenor Battlehammer | Icewind Dale | 18 |
| Taniel | Powder Mage | 18 |
| Min Farshaw | Wheel of Time | 18 |
| Seoman Snowlock | Memory, Sorrow & Thorn | 18 |
| Hadrian Blackwater | Riyria chronicles | 18 |
| Dakeyras/Waylander | Drenai Saga | 17 |
| Trull Sengar | Malazan Book of the Fallen | 17 |
| Rue Meridian | Shannara | 16 |
| Cnaiür urs Skiötha | Prince of Nothing | 16 |
| Zorian Kazinski | Mother of Learning | 16 |
| Ringil Eskiath | A Land Fit for Heroes | 16 |
| Quickening | Shannara | 16 |
| Túrin Turambar | Children of Húrin | 16 |
| Cadderly Bonaduce | Cleric Quintet | 15 |
| Achmed the Snake | Symphony of Ages | 15 |
| Brom Holcombsson | Inheritance Cycle | 15 |
| Eilonwy | Chronicles of Prydain | 15 |
| Valek | Study & Soulfinders Series | 14 |
| Cazaril | Curse of Chalion | 14 |
| Malta Vestrit | Liveship Traders | 14 |
| Adamat | Powder Mage | 14 |
| Skilgannon | Drenai | 13 |
| Steerpike | Gormenghast | 12 |
| Jill | Deverry Cycle | 12 |
| Amber | Liveship Traders | 12 |
| Red Knight | Traitor Son Cycle | 12 |
| Gotrek Gurnisson | Warhammer | 12 |
| Kettricken | Farseer Trilogy | 12 |
| Monza Murcatto | Best Served Cold | 11 |
| John Taylor | Nightside | 11 |
| Ysandre de la Courcel | Kushiel's Legacy | 11 |
| Jon Shannow | Jon Shannow | 11 |
| Cugel the Clever | Dying Earth | 11 |
| Alessan bar Valentin | Tigana | 11 |
| Catherine "Cat" Hassi Barahal | Spiritwalker Trilogy | 10 |
| Earl Harbinger | Monster Hunter International | 10 |
| Warden | Low Town | 10 |
| Dorian Hawkmoon | Eternal Champion Series | 9 |
| Mhoram | Chronicles of Thomas Covenant | 9 |
| Yarvi | Shattered Sea | 8 |
| Amara | Codex Alera | 8 |
| Siuan Sanche | Wheel of Time | 8 |
| Winter Ihernglass | Shadow Campaigns | 7 |
| Moirin | Moirin's Trilogy | 7 |
| Thorn | Shattered Sea | 7 |
| Brashen Trell | Liveship Traders | 7 |
| Jezal dan Luthar | First Law | 7 |
| Gath of Baal | Death Dealer | 7 |
Thank you or reading, and a special thanks to everyone who voted! If there are any other polls you’d like to see let us know using the Contact page.
This post first appeared on Best Fantasy Books HQ: The Homeplace Of Epic Fanta, please read the originial post: here
