Best | Mentors

In every fantasy tale, there are mentors - from the Gandalf-esque cryptic advice dispensaries to the more practical tutors. As always, I'm going to feature just a few of my favourites, for whatever reasons, so please feel free to add your own in the comments.

Chade Fallstar - Realm of the Elderlings series, by Robin Hobb

Chade numbers among my favourite mentor figures for one main reason: his relationship with Fitz is allowed to mature, and to develop complications. Fitz is allowed to learn of Chade's fallibility in time, and this is something that both parties find hard to accept and move on from: even the adult Fitz sees Chade as his old mentor, and Chade is often tempted to assume old authority - sometimes causing problems. It's a complex relationship and all the better for it. But I've jumped too far ahead. Who is Chade?


Well, he's the eponymous assassin of Assassin's Apprentice - the spymaster of King Shrewd, who sees in the royal bastard FitzChivalry both a potential liability and a useful tool. Chade is tasked with turning him into the latter, first by teaching the young boy using 'games' and then later more directly. And it only goes on from there, as more complications as well as genuine affection arise. He's also one of Fitz's many parental figures... Possibly explaining a great deal.

But while the ruthless Chade is an interesting mentor in his own right, it's the evolution of his relationship with Fitz that is truly fantastic - from young indoctrinated boy to questioning teenager to an independent man who still slips into old habits.

Lu-Tze - Thief of Time, by Terry Pratchett



Not so much a serious pick as a pastiche of the wise old mentor monk trope, Lu-Tze is one of my favourite Pratchett characters full stop. He is the man who inspires genre-awareness regarding little, smiling old men: Rule One's "Do not act incautiously when confronting little bald wrinkly smiling men!". He is a legend. And he presents himself as a harmless street sweeper, with a book full of the wise sayings of his former landlord. Why not? After all, who notices the sweepers?




Naturally Lobsang, his newest student, is rather disappointed to find his lessons consist mostly of broom handling. Until they get dragged away to - you guessed it -save the world, and of course Lu-Tze is capable of the odd legendary feat after all...

Lu-Tze might be an entertaining mentor, but he's also an interesting one. His initial lessons are superficially useless, but Lobsang learns something from the man anyway: underestimation is useful. And that's true to the book's very end. But let's not forget the entertainment either! Lu-Tze's numerous lies, half-truthes, disappointments and 'wise sayings' are truly hilarious - mainly paired with Lobsang's reactions.

Lupe dy Cazaril - The Curse of Chalion, by Lois McMaster Bujold

Cazaril is a different type of character to the previous two: a literal mentor, rather than a mentor figure. In fact he's the protagonist, tasked with instructing the young Royina (essentially a princess) and her friend, in a court which seems determined to tear them apart. Cazaril is an interesting choice because his tutoring is frequently the method by which he manipulates events - making the Royina reconsider her actions. Having the protagonist as an advisor makes for an interesting book indeed, and one more fascinating still for his lack of direct power for much of it. Ever wondered how frustrating fantasy youngsters might be? Try Cazaril's perspective.

But aside from his interesting role, he's simply a great character. My textbook example of tragic past done well for one thing. A former castillar forced into politics - and the machinations of religion - with the enemy who once 'forgot' to ransom him and condemned him to slavery. And one who has to face them again for his pupils' sake this time. If that's not a setup for a fantastic character driven narrative, I don't know what is.

So, these are mine - what are yours?

I'm at Nineworlds right now, so posts may be a little slow - but be prepared to hear plenty about it later (and if you're there too... Feel free to come say hi!)