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Who is your favorite character?

Thorin, because his name is so close to mine, and I am very evil and self-centered. The name YayGollum barely won out over No-H-Thorin, which means that Torin is my real name. Also, he's not a very popular character, for some crazy reason. Always a good reason for me to give him a chance.

Also, also, what's not to like? He's a Dwarf, easily my favorite race that the Tolkien person used, after Beornings. Full of pride. A prince, tossed out of his kingdom, lived for a while in some place that would be very substandard, to him, then eventually rounded up a few other rogue Dwarves, and came up with the quest to retake the Lonely Mountain. A crazy quest, no way he could have realistically fulfilled it. He was decently civil to some crazy wizard and some useless hobbit, and eventually admitted that they did help him out a bit. After all kinds of adventures and finally reclaming his kingdom, he was betrayed (but shouldn't you always expect that from some evil thief?) and forced into a war before he was really ready for one. Went out fighting and got a decent death scene. Very cool. If he had been a representative of some more popular race, lots more people would enjoy this character.

Beorn would be next, because he's a werebear, and bears are cool. Mysterious without being obnoxiously so. Private and independent. Had a cool house.

Gollum would be next, of course. He is easily the best character of that The Lord Of The Rings story, though.
 
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Aha! I feel more like I can post my favorite now that you have.

I have to say that Smaug is my favorite, because he is so intelligent and an intricate character. There is more to him than meets the eye, and even more (I believe) than Tolkien himself put down on paper. Before I read The Hobbit I'd never thought of dragons as being intelligent creatures, and as I read it for the first time I was thrilled and surprised to see him emerge the way he did.
 
Craziness. Thinking of dragons as mere terrifyingly magical beasts? I've always thought of them as terrifyingly magical as well as delightfully super intelligent. oh well. Smaug could have had more lines, probably would have been fun, but I don't see much evidence that the Tolkien guy knew much more about him. Glaurung was a lot more fun.

Ah, also, happy to be of service, giving you an excuse for another post.
 
Hmm hmm. I think that's a matter of opinion, so I guess best leave well enough alone. Shall I add another?

Bard was also another favorite. Merely because his history was so intriguing. Do you know if there's more about him in either Lost Tales or Unfinished Tales? I haven't had the time to read those. Not as much time for new books anymore.
 
Aw, but opinions are what you were asking for, and you didn't leave your curiosity for our favorite characters alone. Anyways, *gasp!* If Smaug is your favorite, wouldn't Bard be far from your favorite, since he killed the guy? oh well. But sure, Bard was also pretty achingly cool. Very different from the average dragon slayer. I don't remember reading anything extra about the guy in any other bookses, but mayhaps someone who has read the things more recently could prove me wrong.
 
I concede your point.

Concerning Bard the dragon slayer, whether or not I like a character doesn't depend very much on what they do to each other (that is to some extent).

Anybody else have a favorite they want to contribute?
 
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My favourite characters in the Hobbit?

Well of the dwarves I'd have to plump for Balin as being my favourite, as I thought he was the cool one. Always struck me as strange that as, if I'm remembering a-rightly, the oldest of the dwarves, he was always the look-out. I always wondered if he wasn't just compensating for his failing eyesight.


Smaug is also a favourite, the coolest dragon in all of Tolkien's work. He was witty, charming, and let's not forget - a real snappy dresser with that diamond waistcoat.
 
Aha! Another Smaug fan! Kudos to you Turgon. I also agree that he was "a real snappy dresser". Though he did forget to 'button his waistcoat' all the way up.
 
Beorn. Because he likes honey, and so do I.

And being able to turn into a bear and smash goblins to smithereens also helps increase his status in my eyes, of course.
 
For me I have to say Thorin, for he really gave me the vision and feel of what Middle Earth dwarves were like when I first read The Hobbit. The rest of the dwarves didn't really distinguish themselves much in my mind. Later when I read Lord of the Rings, Gimli pretty much fit the dwarfish Thorin mold in my mind.

I did like Bard and my interest in the men of Dale was piqued, but their part in the story was short if very important.
 
I really liked the captain and the butler of the wood elves getting drunk on the kings wine... Also Gandalf of course. He is often overlooked cos he is so obvious but he's a really cool grumpy old man
 
The Trolls!

When I think back and then get that urge to read the Hobbit again, it's usually for the Trolls

"Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!" -The Hobbit
 
I hate Thorin!!

I like the eagles... They make me smile!

And Gollum... I can't help but feel he's destined for a greater importance somehow... Him and that ring as well..

xo
 
My favorite character (lame and unoriginal as this may sound) is Bilbo.

I was largely disappointed when he did not play a bigger part in Lord of the Rings. Damn Frodo!
 
I have no particular favorites. That's like asking which is your favorite cogwheel in the clock. They are all equally necessary to make everything run right.

Barley
 
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