Good fiction often stands out thanks to the humanity it captures within the pages of a book, and nothing will drive that so powerfully home as a deep sense of camaraderie between characters.
It’s time to dig into a few examples of great works of fiction with a focus on friendship and the bonds that drive people to loyalty and sacrifice.
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
The characters in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are always going on and on about friendship and how important it proves in the face of adversity, but it’s not as if they don’t put their money where their mouth is. The relationship between the main trio — and that would be Harry, Hermione, and Ron — is essentially what makes this tale work. Our protagonists care about each other as if they were related by blood, and it’s pretty normal in the course of this narrative to see them go out of their way to help each other and even make the ultimate sacrifice. Harry would’ve been dead or worse a dozen times over if not for Hermione and Ron always having his back.
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett
Such is the narrative power of a great duo that some books are essentially centered on it. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is one such tale. Revolving around two heavenly beings, Aziraphale, an angel with a heart of gold, and Crowley, a demon with a nihilistic outlook, Good Omens is about how the unlikely camaraderie between these two beings is capable of stopping an actual end-times event that is supposed to destroy the world and settle the score between the host of angels and the legions of hell once and for all.
Some might interpret Crowley and Aziraphale’s relationship as a romantic entanglement, and there are certainly enough hints to warrant that in the books as well as the popular Prime Video television adaptation, but even if they are amorously interested in one another as some people propose, there’s still no denying that the foundation of that bond is an acquaintance and a history as old as the universe itself.
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
If you’ve watched the modern live-action take on Sherlock Holmes, you need no convincing that the titular protagonist and his sidekick Dr. John Watson don’t need to be told twice to shout each other’s names from the rooftops. But that dynamic is not wholly an invention of the BBC showrunners. Indeed, more than being just a trusty sidekick and a chronicler of Holmes’ adventures in the books, Dr. Watson is a friend who understands Sherlock better than anyone else, even his close kin. And it is because of this friendship developing over the span of these short stories that we keep coming back to Conan Doyle and his timeless detective tale.
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
If this were a ranking of the best friendships in books, then The Lord of the Rings would be at the very top. Tolkien’s tale might ultimately be about the eternal struggle of good vs. evil, the heart of courage under dire circumstances, the spring of hope in the pitch-black of twilight, and what it means to live through a time of peril, but what makes all of this work at the end of the day is the spirit of communion and love. Of fellowship.
The dynamic between Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee as they take on this troublesome burden and go to the ends of the world is nothing short of spectacular character work. There is no sidekick, nor friend, nor partner or companion, in all of fiction as loyal and trustworthy, not to mention courageous and unrelenting in his sacrifice, as Sam. Frodo says in the books that he would not have gotten far were it not for his brave gardener of many years, and that sentence rings truer than all the words of wisdom you could read in the entire Lord of the Rings.
Aubrey–Maturin by Patrick O’Brian
A nautical fiction series taking place in the early 19th century, Aubrey–Maturin only pays off through the sheer brilliance of the friendship between its two titular characters, Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and his ship’s surgeon, Stephen Maturin. When you read Patrick O’Brian, you walk down the lanes of history at the height of the Napoleonic Wars and bear witness to how Aubrey and Maturin’s connection ever so slowly blooms into one of the greatest and most profound friendships in all of fiction.
Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb
At times, the Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb might appear to be nothing more than a senseless and brutal tragedy revolving around a royal bastard who changed the world in his wake, but the writer herself has deliberately avoided the high and epic swashbuckling action of the fantasy genre in favor of deep characters and more so the ever esoteric dynamics between those characters. Now whether it be the bond between Fitz and his wolf Nighteyes, or Fitz’s ambiguous but intimate connection with the Fool — harboring very nearly homoerotic undertones — there’s no denying that Realm of the Elderlings is all about those thought-provoking, poignant friendships.
Mistborn: Wax and Wayne by Brandon Sanderson
The second Mistborn era is a detective story centering around two characters, Waxillium “Wax” Ladrian and Wane, as they try to uncover the mysteries of the Scadrial world during its industrial phase. Wax is a lawman with a strong moral obligation, while Wayne is his comedic, lighthearted sidekick and best friend. In other words, the two complement each other perfectly, making all the shenanigans they get swept up in all the more compelling. Every Brandon Sanderson narrative has a hook. As far as Wax and Wayne is concerned, that hook is the relationship between Waxillium and his deputy Wayne.
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Jesse Aarons is a fifth grader with artistic inclinations, but the circumstances of his family have turned him into a bitter and depressed young boy. That all changes when he meets his new neighbor Leslie Burke. Leslie is also very imaginative and, befriending Jesse, tries to bring him out of his mood of doom and gloom. The two end up creating the imaginary world of Terabithia, where they spend many an afternoon playing and creating fairy tales out of thin air, little caring that the real world and its dilemmas always have a way of catching up to people. Bridge to Terabithia is one of the most heart-rending stories about friendship.
The Fault in Our Stars John Green
This is yet another story of romance, but what romance worth its salt isn’t fundamentally a tale about friendship? The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is one of the most recognizable books of the 21st century, chronicling the tale of 16-year-old Hazel Grace and her fight with cancer. Hazel’s life is changed when she meets Augustus, a 17-year-old whose own disease is currently in remission. Hazel Grace and Augustus develop a deep bond and understanding that eventually grows into a full-blown romance. While Fault in Our Stars may at first glance be a rural story, the stakes of the story are always high, and that in turn makes everything all the more real.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
A coming-of-age young adult novel by Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows the story of an introverted teenager named Charlie. The character must go through adolescence and juggle friendships and acquaintances of all kinds as Chbosky delves into themes like sexuality, friendship, drug abuse, and mental health. The Perks of Being a Wallflower deftly discusses the challenges of interacting and socializing with other people, be they friends or strangers or anything in between, as Charlie wrestles with the idea of adulthood.
Published: Aug 29, 2024 08:21 am