Heroes who are mad, bad and dangerous to know…
Stargate Atlantis is on today in my part of the world. Woohoo! I love the blend of sf, hum
or and action in this show. I also really love the characters – and one character I find particularly interesting is that of Ronon Dex. He’s mad, bad, dangerous to know, and he only speaks when absolutely necessary.
Sounds like an excellent romance hero, don’t you think?
Why do you think we like to read about such heroes? I guess the easy answer would be to say that we enjoy seeing their heroines civilize them, but I don’t think that’s necessarily true.
For example, my leopard changelings are pretty much as uncivilized as usual after they mate. Only difference is that they sometimes choose to behave for their mate. Sometimes. Part of their charm lies in their wildness, and I don’t believe that we, as readers, would want them to lose that.
And it’s not just in paranormals that we find these heroes: for example, Derek Craven from Lisa Kleypas’s Dreaming of You (historical) is most certainly not civilized.
How about sharing some of your favorite heroes who fit this description? And what do you think is the appeal in a hero who walks that dangerous edge – and who quite often makes it incredibly hard for the heroine to get close?
54 people have bellied up to “Heroes who are mad, bad and dangerous to know…”
Actually, I’m rather fond of heroines/sheroes like that, too. The sorceress Kade, in Martha Wells ‘Element of Fire’ is one of my favorite characters.
=A
I agree that heroines like this work, too, but like the heroes, they have to be done right, otherwise there is much gnashing of teeth.
Ronon!! Oh man, he was my favorite Stargate characater! My very, very favorite!
Of course, it probably wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me to learn that my one true bad boy love will always be Lucivar. He’s dangerous! He’s angry! And oh my GAWD he owns my grubby little heart.
We should create a Lucivar Fan Club. I luuuuurrrrve him
MR EDWARD ROCHESTER!!!
lol Jane Eyre. Mr Rochester, is moody, cranky, he teases (sometimes in really hurtful ways) sharp tongued. Hes just a crimpy man. But the experiences he has had in his life have made him like this. He acts like God is punishing him.
But he is a very passionate man.
Jane comes along shes stubborn and strond, independant and believes in the ultimate good of everything and together they set their own world on fire.
He is still grumpy when they are together but thats just him. He loves her and she loves him.
I think its because these heros arent perfect. They hurt the heroines feelings, you want to kill them, they are real and human (well sort of lol)
If you had prince charming who is all nice and polite. Doesnt argue etc. You would kill him and run far, far away. There is men out there that are like that with a dash of over things in there with them but I think we like imperfect heros because it feels like it is more possible we will meet someone like that.
Or that might just be me lmao
crimpy? I meant grumpy. My brains not working if there is more mistakes in there lol
Oh and Ronon Dex… yummy lol
Yes, I think that hint of imperfection definitely makes them more real.
I think perhaps we like the idea that there is something there underneath the “badness,” that there’s something romantic about that kind of hero only opening up to that heroine because she’s the only one who understands him. I think for me, I’m fascinated by what I don’t know about him. He’s not saying anything? Hmm I wonder what he’s thinking. =) We don’t want them to lose their wildness or to change, but we like believing that they would voluntarily choose to set aside that wildness for a short time for that one special person.
Laria pretty much sums up my reasoning for it. And since Rochester was already mentioned above, I’d like to add a certain Archangel of New York to the list of dangerous hotness.
Tracy – wait till you see him in AK
I think that puts it perfectly! It’s the voluntary nature of their choosing to allow the heroine in that’s so powerful.
One of my favorites is Lachlain MacRieve from Kresley Cole’s A Hunger Like No Other. He’s just so bad, he’s good. He sure does love his mate and will do anything for her, maybe that’s why I love him.
I think he was the first KC hero I ever read
Well, since noones mentioned him yet, I’ll just keep Curran for my own.
Honestly? The thing I like best about “otherworldly” heroes? They’re smart.. not easily manipulated (well, for the most part) . I like reading about those guys who’ll go toe to toe, challenge the way someone thinks/acts.
Intelligence is always, always an attractive trait I think, in both heroes and heroines.
I love when the heroine can show the hero that there are other and different ways to do things (i.e. make decisions, treat people, etc.). It might not be the right way, just different. Two of my favorite leading men are: 1. Jaime Frasier from the Outlander Series. Any man in a kilt :::stares dreamily into space::: and 2. Bowen McRieve from the Immortals After Dark Series. He is just so angry and old fashioned, and Mariketa just whips him into this century.
And following on from that – I think the sense of partnership that grows between the hero and heroine as a result feels really special.
Definately!! No one wants to be with someone who isn’t going to challenge them on a daily basis.
For example, my leopard changelings are pretty much as uncivilized as usual after they mate. Only difference is that they sometimes choose to behave for their mate. Sometimes.
*swoon* *picks self off floor*
I think Lucas epitomises that…and I think Hawke will
And I agree that its their voluntary decision to let the heroine in that tugs at the heart strings. I used to have a cat who was as wild as they come…he was definitely a minature panther through and through. And quite a lot of the time he would do his own thing…and that was fine. But there were the odd moments (that I treasure) when we would just…bond. Together time 
And it was all the more perfect because I knew that those moments weren’t all the time. I wanted him to keep that wild part of him…I didn’t want him ‘tamed’. I wanted him to know he could be exactly who he was and I would accept that… Hopefully that analogy extrapolates 
Oh, Nalini. I watched Atlantis last night. Is it just me or is Ronan friends with McKay’s sister Jennifer?
Sorry, McKay’s sister isn’t Jennifer… need sleep!
Hmm, I’m not sure if they’re friends, but he was definitely really nice to her – it was a great glimpse into another side of his character.
Daemon and Lucivar!! Better watch out when Lucivar is in rut. Oh boy!
How did I know you were going to say that?!
I just watched the new Star Trek this weekend – Kirk was definitely a naughty boy. And pretty. I think it’s a winning combination.
I’m all about Spock *g*
Such excellent examples above but I would also add Lord Ian MacKenzie, he certainly isn’t civilized per the period. Also any one of the Dark or Were Hunters in Ms. Kenyon’s series but notably Wren, Vane and Valerius and we cannot forget the brothers, most notably V or Z and Rehv in the Black Dagger Brotherhood Brotherhood by J.R. Ward.
I think the draw of the mad, bad and dangerous to know hero is not only their choosing to bond but seeing how that aggressive nature turns protective for their chosen heroine. We get a special glimpse into them that no one else sees, that fierce tenderness to give their love everything and anything to keep them safe. Especially when it causes them to be self sacrificing or when it means finding peace within themselves for their past.
Yes, I agree – getting that glimpse into another aspect of them is a very important factor.
Ah, the lure of the bad boy. *sigh*
Ironically, my son and I were just discussing this yesterday. He’s eight and has just discover Disney’s The Lion King. He loves the villain, Scar. I asked him why and pointed out that the guy killed his brother, tried to kill his nephew and destroyed his homeland. What was there to like? My son answered, “I like the way he’s drawn and how he talks. He’s cool!”
Granted, the villain takes the bad boy role a little too far, but I think my boy described the character well. He’s cool! (Especially if he’s hot and dressed in leather…)
LOL!
I’d like to add Raphael
Ruthless, uber-sexy and dangerous…he’s just my type of hero.
Nalini, AK is absolutely fab. I’ve fallen for Raphael even more in this book.
Lucy, thank you!!
Your archangel of New York comes close, but my personal favourite is still Daemon Sadi from The Black Jewels Trilogy (sorry!). Badass, ruthless, intelligent, passionate.. and probably a few attributes I forgot to add. I suppose the author’s style in those books also plays a part in why I like him. Oh and the fact that if you piss him off, he’s gonna dig you a grave, bury you alive and no one will be the wiser as to what happened to you. A direct attack like a punch in the face ain’t even half as scary as someone who smiles in your face and then hits you were you don’t expect it, imo.
For different reasons, I also like Valek from the Study series. Mostly I like his relation to Yelena though. Often, heroines -do- at least try to tame the badass hero, or the hero gives up his badass ways after meeting her. Shame really. I like how the couple played out in those books, simply because it didn’t feel like she tried to tame him at all (and he wasn’t -suddenly- squeamish about assassinating people).
I like Daemon, too, but my favorite is Lucivar – grrrr…
Well I’m right there on the Lucivar and Daemon train, but would add Clay from Kelley Armstrongs books, particularly Bitten.
Yay, another member for the club. *g*
Raphael (february is too far away!), Curran, Zsadist, Daemon, Lucivar and Zarek (Sherri Kenyon, Dark Hunters) are some of my absolute favorites *fans*. I find their wildness/madness/bad boy tendencies make them sooo much more interesting than the average hero. And besides, it’s incredibly entertaining when their heroines put them in their place. *grin*
Yes, the entertainment factor cannot be discounted
Also, sometimes you get the unexpected moment of tenderness and wow, that packs a punch.
Hi Nalini!
For me, my favorite bad boys have to be, in no particular order because I just love all these guys:
Hawke and Vaughn from your Psy/Changeling series because they’re both scarred from their pasts and their rough and tough but have so much emotion within them it makes me melt.
Raphael and Dmitri from your Guild Hunter series because they are both just ruthless, sexy, and a little psychotic, and let’s face it, that makes them extremely irresistable in my book!
Nykyrian from Sherrilyn Kenyon’s League series, Zsadist from J.R. Ward’s BDB series, Jonas from Lora Leigh’s Breeds series, and Bones from Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress series because they all have the same thing in common that makes me love them: They’re cold, manipulative, and methodical when it comes to getting their work done, but they all have that inner tortured soul that begs for acceptance and some serious lovin from the right female!
Oh, let me not forget Vishous from J.R. Ward’s BDB series and Dorian from Richelle Mead’s Dark Swan series because they are both powerful, ruthless, intelligent, and possess the nice amount of kinkiness to keep a woman on her toes and begging for more!
Wow, nice list!
…both just ruthless, sexy, and a little psychotic…
*g*
Raphael and Dmitri…because they are both just ruthless, sexy, and a little psychotic, and let’s face it, that makes them extremely irresistable in my book!
YUP! Dmitri is…I’m looking forward to AK
And how could I forget Daemon Sadi? I obviously need to reaquainte myself with his dark side
Maybe time for a reread?
And Dmitri is all kinds of bad in AK
Sweet! I can’t wait for AK-you’ve definitley made my night!
Bugger! I forgot about KMM’s Jericho Barrons!! And Adam Black! Yum!!
So many delicious heroes, so little time!
Mmm…never watched Stargate, but that pic is yummy. Can I haz him?
For me the brooding, dangerous hero appeals b/c he doesn’t appeal in real life (if that makes sense). I like reading about men who’ve got issues, who don’t know how to feel, but when they finally do feel…wowza!
However, if I met a man like that in real life, I’d probably end up in jail for strangling him. lol.
But would you kick him out of bed? That is the real question
Hello to everyone!
I have to say, very nice list indeed, I’m impressed. But why hasn’t anyone mentioned Judd yet? He may not be a sword-swinging, uncivilized badass but he is definetely an assassin in the true sense of the meaning. He is stubborn, betrays nothing to those who don’t know him and damn possessiv for a psy. I was totally in love with the leopard changelings but then Judd came along and I was truely lost. ^_^ If anything ever happened to Brenna again he’d leave no stone unturned to find the culprits and kill them. And they wouldn’t even see it coming because Judd’s the type that creeps up on you from the shadows and before you even notice what happened you’d be dead. If anyone had to face up to that guy I’d say they better make their peace with the world real quick. ^_~
Oh, and I’d also like to add Cian McKeltar from Karen Marie Monings books. Mr epitome of uncivility himself. ^_^ He’s one tough bastard and damn hot too. But Jessie knows how to handle him. ^_^
By the way, does anyone remember the movie series Princess Fantaghiro? I just LOVE Tarabas!!!!
I love Judd as as character – and I especially love seeing how he’s developing from book to book.
Me? Kick him out of bed? ha! lol
Oh, Judd! He’s still my favorite Psy/Changeling hero w/ Dorian right behind.
What about Raphael? Talk about a dark, twisted hero. YUMMY! 
anyone ever read Trudi Canavan’s Black Magician Trilogy? I kinda like Akkarin *g* who is the bad guy in those books (well till the heroine (somewhen in the third book) discovers that actually he is just trying to rescue everybody)…
My bad boy rake is Ian Thornton from Judith McNaught’s Almost Heaven…sigh
I’d go with Clay from Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld.
Or to take a completely different spin, How about the Hero who is civilized surrounded by wild things. John Crichton {Farscape} is dangerous in his own way but the truly dangerous one is Aeryn Sun {female lead} The entire show is him taming her! I mean, come on, who can resist a chick in leather who 2 minutes after meeting a dude, beats him up and is sitting on his face! Welcome to Farscape!
“And what do you think is the appeal in a hero who walks that dangerous edge?”
The possibility of having access to the power behind the “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” (being the power behind the throne) and brushing up against that power unscathed. It’s a power trip and an adrenalin rush, IMO.
There’s a really awesome but unpublished SFRish book by Ardath Rekha called Apprentice that deals with this exact issue. It’s fan fiction based on Pitch Black and turns Riddick into a romantic hero without defanging him. [Psychotic killers are not heroes, IMO, but she has such a good explanation for it that I didn’t care.] At the end, Riddick tells somebody, “I don’t work for you; I work for her. Remember that.”
http://ardath-rekha.com/archive/viewuser.php?uid=1