SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I love, love, love Maia in The Goblin Emperor. Katherine Addison has left me craving for totally underpowered, underestimated, lovable, a little pitiful protagonists. I keep running into recommendations of good fantasy books but almost always the protags would either be overpowered, overconfident, or have a nearly overwhelming special skills/magic/advantage. I would love to get some recommendations centering around the mundane, the average, the talentless and the pitiful, the unloved-disrespected-bullied-by-the-authors that somehow overcome the odds anyhow, or not, either way they tried. Did I mention I want them pitiful?

And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky has a very unlovable main character but otherwise he ticks the rest of those boxes

The Deverry Cycle by Katharine Kerr features reincarnation. The main female character is put through the wringer life after life.

The protagonists in a number of T. Kingfisher's books fit this description. Try Nettle & Bone or A House with Good Bones

CBRetriever wrote: "And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky has a very unlovable main character but otherwise he ticks the rest of those boxes"

Some of his other books are like this too. The Expert System books, Made Things, etc

Rick wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "And Put Away Childish Things by Adrian Tchaikovsky has a very unlovable main character but otherwise he ticks the rest of those boxes"

Some of ..."

Thank you for the rec, I've never looked into the author before, it'll be a good dive!

Michael wrote: "The Deverry Cycle by Katharine Kerr features reincarnation. The main female character is put through the wringer life after life."

I have that series in my to buy list, thanks for bumping it up!

Colin wrote: "The protagonists in a number of T. Kingfisher's books fit this description. Try Nettle & Bone or A House with Good Bones"

Awesome I already have these books in my library, guess this is cue to finally sink my teeth in 'em. Thanks for the rec.

Oh, check out A Winter's Promise - it features a very lovable but short, shy, and plain protagonist who has it pretty hard throughout the whole series. It’s very charming and unique!

The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet - Becky Chambers’s characters are ordinary people without much power, but really lovable.

I you like historical murder mysteries set in Joseon Korea with a love story, try The Red Palace - the protagonist is a lowly nurse in the dangerous environment of the palace while women are dying. It’s based on a true story, no fantasy elements.

The Warrior's Apprentice is the start of a fantastic space opera series featuring Miles Vorkosigan, who was born with fragile glass bones and a very short stature into a warrior society that respects strength. Follow him as he makes his way through the universe with wits and guts alone! He fails often and falls hard, but always gets back up again, and he’s very lovable. (The series can also be started with the books about Miles’s mother, but I think it’s better to start with him and read her story later.)

Six Crimson Cranes also has a lovable main character who gets cursed, is unable to speak about it, and has to wander the world trying to find a way to undo the curse and save her brothers.

I agree about The Warrior's Apprentice. Love Miles and his forward momentum.

Another vote to T. Kingfisher from me. A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking immediately came to mind.

You want The End of the Day - Charlie is about as average and pitiful as it gets but so lovely. Advance warning - this book hurts.

I am going to suggest the first Riddle Master book. Not exactly a pathetic mc but certainly not a powerful one.
The Riddle-Master of Hed

Maybe Tanya Huff The Silvered. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Young female should-be-a-mage but barely qualifies is being paraded by mum on the marriage mart, and then the pushy neighbours invade.

Eva wrote: "Oh, check out A Winter's Promise - it features a very lovable but short, shy, and plain protagonist who has it pretty hard throughout the whole series. It’s very charming and unique..."

I went off to inspect some of these books and I think A winter's Promise and The Warrior's Apprentice are right up my alley. Thank you for the rec!

Carro wrote: "Maybe Tanya Huff The Silvered. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Young female should-be-a-mage but barely qualifies is being paraded by mum on the marriage mart, and then th..."

Interesting way to introduce the book, I'll be picking this up definitely. Thanks!

Dj wrote: "I am going to suggest the first Riddle Master book. Not exactly a pathetic mc but certainly not a powerful one.
The Riddle-Master of Hed"

I can also recommend other books by this author, The Changeling Sea and Ombria in The Shadow.
But the one that best fits this definition is Heroine of the World by Tanith Lee. And perhaps the Royal Bastards trilogy by Andrew Shvarts.
I should probably also mention Silver Hands by Elizabeth Hopkinson. The main protagonist lost both her hands and was pursued by her enemy from England to Japan, so she's definitely very pitiful. And she didn't have any breathtaking beauty or magical powers, and she wasn't a princess, so she fits that definition.

Eva wrote: "Six Crimson Cranes also has a lovable main character who gets cursed, is unable to speak about it, and has to wander the world trying to find a way to undo the curse and save her brothers."
A really good book!