Russ
Istar
While there are stereotypes about male fighting men looking and acting a certain way, I don't see it as much of a crisis or cause for alarm for two reasons.
Firstly, if you want a character, or story that is based around combat, you do need a certain amount of physical and mental strength and prowess to do that. It is freakin' hard to do a sword fight, in or out of armour, with or without a maille wedgie.
Secondly fantasy literature is full of main characters who do not have traditional looks or physical prowess. Perhaps more than any other genre that I can think of.
I don't think Frodo would make the cover of men's health. Elric, surely would not. Thomas Covenant was a leper. How about Raeodin in Elantis?
Now from time to time, I quite enjoy a read of say Conan, or Sojan, or some crafty muscle bound killing machine, but I think if you are somehow finding your reading filled with muscle bound characters who you don't like or are too traditionally masculine for your taste, I think you are making bad decisions on what to read.
Firstly, if you want a character, or story that is based around combat, you do need a certain amount of physical and mental strength and prowess to do that. It is freakin' hard to do a sword fight, in or out of armour, with or without a maille wedgie.
Secondly fantasy literature is full of main characters who do not have traditional looks or physical prowess. Perhaps more than any other genre that I can think of.
I don't think Frodo would make the cover of men's health. Elric, surely would not. Thomas Covenant was a leper. How about Raeodin in Elantis?
Now from time to time, I quite enjoy a read of say Conan, or Sojan, or some crafty muscle bound killing machine, but I think if you are somehow finding your reading filled with muscle bound characters who you don't like or are too traditionally masculine for your taste, I think you are making bad decisions on what to read.