Malazan Empire: What makes Anomander Rake so awesome? - Malazan Empire

Now, Anomander Rake is clearly my favourite character in the Malazan universe (only other guy who comes close is Karsa Orlong). And I am certain that I am not the only one who feels this way.

But I am asking myself: Why? What exactly makes Rake such an awesome character? Why do we love him?

I am an aspiring fantasy writer myself, and in my world I have a Rake-inspired character whom I want to inspire similar feelings. So I am trying to understand Steven Erikson's artistic tools.

Anomander has only been in two books so far and we've never seen his POV. He's not even in all that many chapters, and we know little of his background, his motives and his feelings. What does he have that makes us drool?

What do you guys think?

*laughs* Ironically I am the same as you. Writing and greatly enjoy the character that is Rake. Of course I enjoy anti-hero's quite a bit. I think one of the reasons he is so enjoyable is the fact we all know he has a lot of power. Enough to shake those who should be very powerful in their own way whether ascendants or humans. Rake's name is spoken in awe. But with all that power he cares about an ounce. It means nothing to him nor his standing among others. That is intriguing because a lot of the time when someone has power it consumes and shapes them. That isn't the issue in his case.

Another reason would have been in Memories of Ice we got a glimpse of what lies beneath through his discussions with Whiskeyjack. It's like Cotilillion in the way how we think of them as the definition of badass yet there is more to them than that and it travels rather deep. We get insights on their views of matters shaping around them and how they both feel the burden of their actions and what path they must walk.

Eh, just my two cents.

Well, he is hundreds of thousands of years old (and still looks young). That has allowed him to give off the whole wisdomy feel and not to mention makes it easier for us to accept his badassery. Over all those years he must've been in like a million fights right?

He is one of the first of his race and a born ascedant. How can he not be awesome? I also find that anyone who is tall seems to have an imposing presence wether they want to or not. Also his super crazy-awesome-badass sword helps out too.

There are also all those other people in the books who refer to him in utter awe. It's an inconspicous way of makking us think of him in such a way aswell.

Speaking in terms of writing, and besides the place Anomander Rake has in the story (born of MD, Knight of HHD etc.) I think Rake is so popular and considered 'cool' for a these reasons -

1. He was the first 'uber-character' introduced in the Malazan saga. In GoTM, while everyone else was morally ambiguous and balanced in power, the big event being built up was Rake vs Raest. There were awed and whispered build ups regarding the character. He was referred to less as 'Rake the Tiste Andii' and more as 'Lord of Moon's Spawn' the hidden power that made the mage cadre uneasy, his was the pivotal card in Tattersail's readings etc.

2. He was the first soletaken, and one of the first dragons introduced to us. There is something awesome in the concept of the soletaken... they became common come DG, but in GoTM Rake was (I think) the only one. Also, how cool is the standoff between him and the Galain (sp?) lord?

3. Dragnipur is an immensely cool plot device. Paran's jaunt inside it and Rake delivering Apsalar from Shadow gave him more awesomeness credit

4. Rake as a tragic but honorable, immortal yet cold, powerful yet never fully revealed character has classic charm to him. He fits and twists every cliche of the tragic hero. (Reminds me a lot of Elric as has oft been mentioned)

5. He is Whiskeyjack's friend, and MOI got him a lot more fans that GoTM.

6. Finally, in GoTM (and subsequent books) every one of the characters speaks about him in hushed tones (which carries over to the fandom

Just one qualifer, Olar Ethil is the First Soletaken (big undead dragon/T'lan Imass Bonecaster from DG/MOI if you forgot). But Rake is up there in like, second.

Illy, he means the first Soletaken we SAW in MBotF...
and incidentally, there were 3 (4) others--of the dragons battling Raest, only Silannah was a pureblood Eleint...
Rake is fascinating. Most of all, i think it has to do with his position. We are used to think "Dark=evil, bad, must hate, desise, etc". Yet in GotM, as we slowly realise that High ZHouse Dark is NOT the root of all evil, we also see him being a "hero" (rescuing the "damsel in distress" Apsalar from the clutches of the Rope), plus the overall badassitude.. and this discrepancy between the cliche and reality is what makes it memorable... and the feats of badassness, Dragnipur, and the way everyone quakes when they think of him just adds to that...

I've always liked Rake because he has nice silvery hair.

What?

He's got cool color-changing eyes. I think that's cool.

He banged envy

nough said

Zanth13;241646 said:

Ironically after I made my post I had that thought come to mind too. As much as we heard about how hot she was...yeah he needs props on that one and then it seemed he just got tired of her like it was no thing. Rake = Pimp? Heh sorry couldn't resist.

Deuce;241816 said:

I was under the impression that she dumped him.

I thought that he dumped her...So then out of revenge she slept with his Son....Otherwise she dumped him then moved on to his wimpy son....Yeah I am going to go with he dumped her....

I have always like Rake cause he is smart and a there always seems to be the possibility that he will just go off and destroy a city or two....Great combination...

why does nobody think of the possibility that envy blurred his mind and made sure he banged her? Because if that is the way, envy should get the rep... not rake. (as a male off course, I believe Rake had the noble victory... but who knows)

nah, Rake's too cool to have his mind blurred...

He's male, he would have slept with her without mind blurring.

I have to agree, he's the best character of the series IMHO. I also agree that it's got a lot to do with other characters building him up. He's not been directly in the story line much except in MOI but even in GotM the focus wasn't on him much. But he's mentioned a lot. Often little snippets of information that just leave you wanting more.

His brothers look upto him, a relevant and effective point. He denounces godhood unlike almost all others and he only does what is necessary...behind his calm ever changing exterior knows friendship and grief which he'd protect with his life (probably).

Nequam;241498 said:

Menandore;241898 said:

These were good and useful points. Thanks, guys.

kud13;241629 said:

We do? Huh. I'm usually rooting for the villains myself. (And my writing reflects this a lot.)

The point everyone has forgotten so far is, Rake is hot.

Dancer;242763 said:

:folken: and also hung like a dragon

Xander;242966 said:

Aaaand... there you just ruined it *shudder*

Apt, willing to bet money Xander has some serious fan-fiction under his bed that mother's not allowed to see