Paladins in Fiction

[GSHamster]

Paladins are a pretty iconic archetype in fantasy. But I was trying to think of examples of fictional paladins and drew a blank. Aside from Arthurian fantasy and D&D novels, the only two modern books I can think of that feature paladins are Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion and Jim Butcher's Dresden Files.

Are there any other modern books that have paladins in them?

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I think minor character of Mandorallen in the Belgariad series comes close to the knight aspect of "paladin". I've read that some people consider Carrot from the Discworld series to embody "paladin-ish" tendencies.

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

Hrm. I haven't read many other modern-day fantasy novels, in fact I was going to answer about the Dresden Files before I got to the bottom of your post. Certainly no paladins can be found in the Anita Blake books.

One could make a case that Jon Shannow from David Gemmell's Stones of Power series is a paladin; he clearly has Special Powers and smites the wicked at will, though whether or not he's been specifically Chosen as a paladin is not entirely clear, as Gemmell's heroes are typically more "children of destiny" than anything else; he is continually searching for Jerusalem, which is where his nickname as The Jerusalem Man comes from. That he's on the floor of the Atlantic Basin several hundred years in the future and smiting his enemies with a .44 colt remake is not nearly the problem one might think it'd be.

Brad

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

The knights described in the fictionalized tales of Charlegmagnes' rule are generally considered to be Paladins:
Paladin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Song of Roland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jean D'Arc is considered to be a paladin. Whether you consider her fictional or not is your business!

Several Biblical warriors fit the mold of "paladin," even if they aren't called that. Consider Samson, for instance- a warrior for God who, when he relaxes his guard, loses his power...

Terry Brooks' tales about John Ross are clearly meant to be a modern take on the paladin.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Running-Demon-Word-Void-Trilogy/dp/0345422589/ref=sid_dp_dp]Amazon.com: Running With the Demon (The Word and the Void Trilogy, Book 1): Terry Brooks, Gerald Brom: Books[/ame]

Katherine Kurz & Scott MacMillan's Knight of the Blood books are also a modern take on the concept of paladins.

[ame=http://www.amazon.com/Knights-Blood-Katherine-Kurtz/dp/0451452569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230452527&sr=1-1]Amazon.com: Knights of the Blood: Katherine Kurtz, Scott MacMillan: Books[/ame]

 

[TwinBahamut]

If we talk about something other than books I can name a ton, but since we are I really can't think of much. The Paladin from Magic Kingdom For Sale... Sold! probably counts, though.

The Paladin class as holy knight with magical abilities is pretty much a D&Dism, and is about as widespread as any other D&Dism (which actually means it is pretty widespread, but only in certain circles), but it does borrow from the classic "heroic knight" archetype, which is extremely widespread. There is a lot of overlap that is hard to distinguish, though.

Oddly enough, my favorite example of a true paladin has always been Vash the Stampede from the Trigun manga, but a sci-fi gunslinger might be outside of what you are looking for.

 

[FireLance]

Holger Carlson from Three Hearts and Three Lions by Poul Anderson also has many elements similar to D&D paladins. However, given that it was published in 1961, it is quite likely that D&D paladins were inspired at least in part by that character.

 

[Umbran]

The knights described in the fictionalized tales of Charlegmagnes' rule are generally considered to be Paladins

Considered to be? Understatement. The term "paladin" basically originated with Charlemagne's Twelve Peers.

 

[Lord Mhoram]

The Bazell Bahnakson books by David Weber (Oath of Swords, War God's Own) the main character is a paladin. Great books, and should be required reading for any person wanting to play a paladin.

 

[Darkwolf71]

In the David Eddings' trilogy The Elenium and it's sequal trilogy The Tamuli Sparhawk and the knights of the Pandion Order are iconic paladins IMHO.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Considered to be? Understatement. The term "paladin" basically originated with Charlemagne's Twelve Peers.

Well, yeah...but...I...

Thats in the wiki I quoted, at least!