Paul Atreides - "Muad Dib"
“The power to destroy a thing is the absolute control over it.”
From: The Dune Mythology.
So What's His Story?
The young Duke Paul Atreides is the main protagonist of Frank Herbert's Science Fiction Novel "Dune". He starts out as a naïve, yet very intelligent 16 year old, being groomed to become head of house Atreides, who have just been placed in charge of the most important planet in the empire- Arrakis. Also known as Dune. Why is it so important? Because only on Arrakis can be found the spice mélange. The spice is a mystical substance that causes… changes in people. It also allows the navigators to use their powers to bring ships across the universe. Without the spice there is no space travel, no empire.
So naturally, House Harkonnen who had control of the planet previously decide to take it back (in fact leaving it in the first place was an elaborate trap). As the Harkonnen spring their trap, the young Paul is forced to live with the desert dwelling tribes; the Fremen. There he takes on the name Muad'Dib.
What Makes Him One of the Top Sci-Fi Heroes?
A combination of the spice, Fremen life, and a unique breeding program Paul was born of, plus mentat training he received, turn him into a force of nature. He is a military genius, a master knife fighter, able to appear in two places at once, ride and control giant kilometer long sandworms, and is worshipped as a Messiah by the Fremen. Oh and to cap it all off he becomes the emperor. Not bad for someone who's not even hit 25 by the end of the story, and is set in a world best described as "Dark and Gritty".
Hero Rating: Eight out of ten Sand Worm Teeth.
“The Fremen control the spice.”
The Doctor
“Do I really have the right? I cross these two wires and an entire race has never existed…”
From: Dr Who, A British TV series.
So What's Hhis Story?
To put it short, a 900 year old time lord who wonders around the entirety of creation and time in a blue phone box called the TARDIS ( acronym standing for Time And Relative Dimension In Space) which is larger on the inside than the outside, picking up random strangers and saving everything from himself to the universe. His real name is never told, he simply always refers to himself as “The doctor” or “A doctor”. He has been portrayed by many different actors over the years (ten to be precise, not including spin offs), and unlike James bond his changes of appearance are explained by his "regeneration". In short, when he dies he comes back to life but in a slightly different form. Each actor then adds their own little touch to the character, and everyone in Britain has a favorite actor who played Dr Who (Mine's probably either Peter Davidson or Christopher Eccelston).
What Makes Him One of the Top Sci-Fi Heroes?
First off is the series itself. The Dr Who saga is arguably one of the best written TV shows in history. Recurring villains are well done, with stories that always provide plausible explanations as to why they keep coming back. This was even born out in the newer series when the Daleks (Arguably the most recognizable sci-fi villains of all time) where brought back.
The doctor himself is a very interesting character, passionate and driven with a compassion for all life. Yet many people who only started watching Dr Who after it's "rebirth" with Christopher Eccelston as the doctor will be surprised when they realize he is no angel. In the past the doctor has been directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions, possibly billions of souls, a fact that seems to weigh heavy on his mind. He's also pretty much psychotic, and seems to get more and more crazy the older he gets. If this is imply actors portrayal or actual dementia in the character, we do not know. But later incarnations of the Doctor are… unstable. One minute he's happiness and smiles, joking and laughing, then one mention of the Daleks later and he turns into a rage fuelled machine with a desire to do nothing but kill.
Aside from regeneration and the ability to travel though time, the doctor has two hearts and a massive collection of knowledge on just about everything. Always quick witted, the doctor thinks his way out of and around situations rather than going in all guns blazing like many science fiction characters. But his true awesome is subtle. Watch the series to find out.
