Top Ten Favorite Fictional Characters,#4: Sam Vimes, Discworld
Captain Vimes was my introduction to Pratchett’s fantastic concept of militant decency: the anger that is not the problem, but is the fuel to fix the problem, on matters of basic [human]ity. Sam is witty, tactically astute, tough, and his contributions to the Discworld timeline are all about expanding the definition of people and what people are protected by the law, be they constructs, vampires, or foreign countries. Vimes is so good. Not because he bears righteous fury with all the answers, but because he bears righteous fury that continuously learns. That accepts nothing less than justice, even for people that don’t usually fall inside the rules.
Some of my favorites are my favorites because I identify with them. I don’t identify with Sam Vimes, I couldn’t. I admire from afar, and sneakily try to emulate the highlights.