Vlad's not a particularly tough guy. I mean, he's a killer and physically very capable, but that's not the same thing. He's emotionally raw for most of the 13 books. He's deeply in love, and very sentimental about his friends, and is often wracked by guilt that seems disproportionate for an assassin by trade. The other books I've read the most of, the Khaavren ones, are really truly not macho at all--they balance the mockery of the flowery higher fantasy level without me ever feeling like it's derisive.
Yeah, Vlad's not macho to me at all, and he's pretty much Brust's primary protagonist.
One of the things I like about Brust's fiction is just that--that his main man is introspective, not overly hesitant about feeling or acting on their emotions, and sincere about them. What's "tough guy" macho about that?
Umm I don't see conflict between sensitive and tough. And macho is almost always a front. It is an attitude maintained, and lived up to.
Crazy author? that's fine - it's the obnoxious/offensive that bothers me.
Oh - and in case you hadn't heard - Anne Rice has written a werewolf book. Looks to be the first of several, if not an entire series.
I saw that. Doesn't her sister write some truly awful werewolf books, too?
...Are they werewolves for Christ?
The phrase "tough guy" has common connotations above and beyond just being tough. Were you not using it that way?
And I contend that the characteristics you listed of Brust's, in combination with *your* term macho, do not accurately describe Vlad Taltos. That's the point of my post. He's tough, but he's not a "tough guy". He's not macho--he's not putting up that front.
Oh - and in case you hadn't heard - Anne Rice has written a werewolf book. Looks to be the first of several, if not an entire series.
I saw an interview on GMA yesterday, in which she was already casting the movie version with White Collar actors. Thankfully, Twilight has already conditioned me to put some werewolf stories in the "not worth the effort of reading" column.
Ooh, I should corner the market on Zombies for Christ, while I still can, huh?
Jesus is the only zombie Christians need, isn't he???
You know, I think Liese has something there...
Bwah! But one day Jesus is going to make us all zombies with him1!! Which means he's going to...bite us? Was that what all the stuff with communion was about?
