I am looking for novels with the theme of rivalry. Does anyone know of a good novel with a developed rivalry and well developed characters? Preferably, I like there to be some character foil and some duality. A complex relationship among the characters would be nice and I would prefer it if the author does not paint one characters as completely black. A developed and interesting plot is essential and telling it from two different points of view would be nice.
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
Bujold's Vorkosigan books. How much rivalry there is, and with whom, changes over the course of the series, but there tends to be a lot of it.
Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
The Other Boleyn Girl, but that is only one viewpoint. Lots of sibling rivalry though.
Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :
Julian May's Galactic Milieu Series has an epic rivalry between Jack the Bodiless and his brother Marc. It's a very believable love/hate relationship between brothers, and it's the hub the series revolves around.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
Ender's Game of course (and there's Ender's Shadow for the Bean POV, though I prefer what we see of Bean in the original).
And there's the Calvin-Alvin rivalry in books 4-6 of the Alvin Maker series (one of the best parts of the later books).
And also of course A Song of Ice and Fire for the ultimate in multiple viewpoints. Posted by MattB (Member # 1116) on :
Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Is this a homework assignment? Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
The Left Behind trilogy has rivalry between Jesus and the antichrist. Guess who wins?
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
the antichrist?
Posted by Fyfe (Member # 937) on :
I have a rather vague recollection of a book by Julian Barnes called Talking It Over, or Talking It Out, something like that, which I believe contained rivalry.
Also Jeffrey Archer's Cain and Abel. Definite rivalry going on there.
It sort of depends what you're looking for -- more sort of professional rivalry, or rivalry for the Hand Of A Lady (or gentleman), or what? The book of Julian Barnes' is more the latter, and Jeffrey Archer more the former.
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.
Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :
How about the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R. R. Martin?
still unfinished...
EDIT: oops, plaid already mentioned that one.
[ November 17, 2007, 07:25 PM: Message edited by: Pegasus ]
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by Morbo: Julian May's Galactic Milieu Series has an epic rivalry between Jack the Bodiless and his brother Marc. It's a very believable love/hate relationship between brothers, and it's the hub the series revolves around.
The rivalry between the eldest Remillard brothers (Denis' father and uncle) is much better, I thought.
Posted by VetaMega (Member # 8366) on :
No. I am planning on creating a novel based on that focus on the rivalry and the relationship between two characters with opposing philosophies, situations, a ways of life. Always loved reading about rivalries, especially the ones in history - Marx/Bakunin, King/X, Adams/Jefferson, Edison/Telsa, Grant/Lee, Bird/Johnson, ect but I haven't yet read a novel that truly develops the topic like I want to. I want to develop the idea that when two men of great capability are pitted against their polar opposites, their ability to grow and sympathize skyrockets.
Posted by Irami Osei-Frimpong (Member # 2229) on :
East of Eden
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Christopher Priest's The Prestige (very little like the movie, by the way) is a stunningly good portrayal of consuming rivalry.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
green eggs and ham
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
I should have known that Irami would beat me to East of Eden. That's definitely a must.
Others:
The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky (Ivan and Alyosha and really all the brothers)
The Bostonians, Henry James (Basil and Olive)
Father Goriot, Balzax (Goriot's two daughters)
And, of course...
Les Misérables (Jean Valjean and Javert)
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
Beggars in Spain, by Nancy Kress, not only has the theme of rivalry/jealousy between the Sleepless and the Sleeping, but specifically between Leisha and her sister Alice.
The Assyrian (and its sequel The Blood Star), by Nicolas Guild, has the epic rivalry between the protaganist Tiglath and his brother Esarhaddon.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
It was Sam I AM and ... who?, he was such conflicted character rivalry at its purest form
[ November 19, 2007, 08:05 PM: Message edited by: LargeTuna ]
Posted by DevilDreamt (Member # 10242) on :
You should check out the manga Berserk. The relationship/rivalry between Gatz (the main protagonist) and Griffith (the main antagonist) is beyond epic. The characters are well developed and the character relationships are very complex, yet believable and easy to understand.
For a simple summary, Griffith is very much like Lucifer in Milton's Paradise Lost (he's willing to sacrifice anything for his dreams). One day, Griffith tells Gatz that the only person he can truly consider a friend is someone who is strong enough to follow their own dreams. Gatz, seeking to be worthy of such a title, sets out to fulfill his dreams. This drive ultimately sets him at odds with Griffith, so in order to be friends, they become very deep enemies. I can't really go into detail over their feud, but it goes well beyond epic. The story isn't over yet, and there is still much doubt as to who will win.
You should be able to find a way to download them for free pretty easily, but if you happen to be rich, they are well worth buying.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lisa: Beggars in Spain, by Nancy Kress, not only has the theme of rivalry/jealousy between the Sleepless and the Sleeping, but specifically between Leisha and her sister Alice.
Ooh, good one!
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
You should not check out the manga Fruits Baskets, however, as the rivalries are less than epic.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"when two men of great capability are pitted against their polar opposites, their ability to grow and sympathize skyrockets."
So, you are not interested in female rivalries? Or how about male-female rivalries?
Posted by VetaMega (Member # 8366) on :
quote:Originally posted by Elizabeth: "when two men of great capability are pitted against their polar opposites, their ability to grow and sympathize skyrockets."
So, you are not interested in female rivalries? Or how about male-female rivalries?
Female rivalries, yes. I would love to have male-female rivalries only if the two rivals don't end up falling in love or if the female is somehow made to seem inferior to the male. I've never seen it done and would be very interested in seeing it.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
The Bible!
Had to say that, hmmm...
Harry Potter, probably. Peter Pan, though that isn't a novel. Don Quixote; his rival is reality. :-D
Posted by DevilDreamt (Member # 10242) on :
A novel:
The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester
It's a sci-fi remake of The Count of Monte Cristo, very interesting. You could always check out the Count of Monte Cristo as well. Typically it's billed as a revenge story, but revenge usually involves rivalry.
Posted by Dobbie (Member # 3881) on :
quote:Originally posted by LargeTuna: It was Sam I AM and ... who?, he was such conflicted character rivalry at its purest form
His name was Sam, not "Sam I AM"!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:The Stars My Destination, by Alfred Bester
Gully Foyle vs. the universe.
It's a pretty even match.
Posted by LargeTuna (Member # 10512) on :
I guess i need to re-read that one, XD
Posted by Tatiana (Member # 6776) on :
I third East of Eden Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by JonHecht: Peter Pan, though that isn't a novel.
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(and there's Ender's Shadow for the Bean POV, though I prefer what we see of Bean in the original).![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
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