Given the recent flap over J.K. Rowling’s revelation that Hermione and Ron were perhaps not the best choice to put together in a long-term relationship (though she has since said they’d probably be OK with some counseling), Alix and I were wondering if any of us could do a better job playing Cupid this Valentine’s Week.
Alix wants to introduce Arya Stark and Kvothe, because, she says, “I never bought Kvothe and whassername for a second, and Arya would take him down a notch or two.”
As for me, I’d like to see Anomander Rake and Galadriel together. Both are so ancient that they’d have decades of conversation just talking about their pasts, and when that gets dull they can recite epic poems at each other. Both bear the burden of leadership and can share the weight a bit, though each has a bit of humor if you dig deep enough. Each has a strong enough personality to stand up to the other. When they’re tired of flying around place to place in Rake’s Skykeep, they can chill in Lothlorien and smell the Niphrendil.
Anomander and Galadriel?
So here’s your chance to play matchmaker: what two characters from different fantasy world do you think would be a great couple? You needn’t limit it to opposite genders or even same-species. And don’t forget to give us your reasons as to why you believe they’re a match made in heaven, Arda, Middle-Earth, Midkemia, Narnia, Wu…
Impossible question. I’ve wanted to borrow characters for a particular novel, but never for romantic purposes. Moon Shadow series meets Markhat. Amelia Peabody visits the Kingdom of Sage. I could totally see Vicky Bliss entering the world of Markhat (Frank Tuttle’s series) or Amelia Peabody visiting his All the Paths of Shadow series.
John Levitt’s Dog Days series could seriously use a romance, but I can’t think of a character to borrow. Let me think on that a while. There must be some magical female out there that would do well in that world.
Hmm. I am not a good cupid at all.
Brienne of Tarth with Childermass from Jonathan Strange. Much better for her than Jaime. He wouldn’t be fazed by her, and she would fit right in as a Yorkshirewoman!
Btw: I think I’m too far away to win.
You know, this exercise is a lot more difficult than it seems at first glance. In the end, I managed to come up with three potential matches.
The first I’d like to present is Druss the Legend from David Gemmell’s Drenai Saga and Tazendra from Steven Brust’s Dragaera. Anyone who knows these characters should find it obvious that they fir together: both are venerable warrior heroes who hide surprising depth and complexity beneath their seemingly simple surface.
The second would be Cawti, again from Steven Brust’s Dragaera, and Elend from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn. After quitting her work as a Jhereg assassin, discovering a noble cause to fight for and going through a rather painful breakup with Vlad, Cawti deserves a passionate idealist like Elend. Likewise, Elend needs someone who is thoroughly acquainted with the darker, uglier realities of life, to balance his idealism.
The last couple is not necessarily a very serious or plausible pairing, but I find it irresistibly intriguing: Jean Tannen from Scott Lynch’s books about Locke Lamora and Brighid, the goddess of poetry, fire and forge from Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles. Given Jean’s tastes in literature, I think he would probably be attracted to Brighid and she would find him “a suitable consort”.
That’s all I can think of for now. Well, not really all. I did think of putting together Kelsier from Mistborn and Vlad Taltos from Dragaera, but although they share a burning hatred for their oppressors, you can’t really base a long-lasting relationship on that. Besides, neither has been shown to have even an ounce of romantic appreciation for other men. Still, they’re so similar, one can’t help entertaining the thought.
Wow, Vojislav! You have really thought this out! I love your ideas!
I just finished reading “The Compleat Crow,” a collection of Titus Crow short stories by Brian Lumley. Crow is an occult detective with — not exactly supernatural abilities, exactly, but an unusual way of observing the world. So I have two possible romantic partners for him:
–Harper Blaine, the Greywalker, would find she has a lot in common with Titus. At the very least,he would come up to speed pretty quickly on her skills. They would have to conduct a long-distance relationship, though, since they both seem so big a part of their surroundings (Seattle for her, London/England generally for him).
–Dumbledore and Titus Crow. “What?” you say. Well, Titus Crow, at least in this story collection, can certainly also be read as a closeted gay man. He and Dumbledore have both committed themselves to fighting evil, and Crow has a piercing intelligence, which is something Dumbledore admires. They are both in Britain, which might make the relationship work more easily.
In the world of Comics, I suggest some Marvel and DC marriages:
Thor (Marvel’s version) and Wonder Woman
Batman and Black Widow
Witchblade and Wolverine
Harley Quinn and Madrox (Multiple Man)
Catwoman and Hawkeye
This took a lot of thinking and help from a friend – apparently I don’t make the best matchmaker. Anyway, here’s my match and why:
Harry Dresden, Wizard (Dresden Files)& Dina Demille, Innkeeper (Innkeeper Chronicles)
Harry can be reckless and needs a steadying influence – someone he can talk to and hang out with but doesn’t drink his kool aid all the time either. They have much in common – magic, responsibility, pets that are more than they seem, staffs…I think they could be a perfect match.
Vojislav, if you live in the USA, (or have a US address)you win a book of your choice from our stacks.
Please contact me (Marion) with your choice and a US address. Happy reading!