Having diverse characters in science fiction and fantasy books is really important, because everyone, children or adults, should have heroes who look like them. In this spirit, here are five awesome protagonists with a physical disability:
#1 Yarvi / The Shattered Sea trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
With a withered left hand, Yarvi cannot properly wield a sword or hold a shield - a real problem for a prince in a brutal Viking-inspired world where might and strength is everything.
#2 Kaz Brekker / Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo
Even though he walks with a limp and a cane, Kaz is a conman and a thief, and more than capable of holding his own in a fight.
#3 Miles Vorkosigan / Vorkosigan Saga series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Born with brittle bones and standing less than five feet tall, Miles accidentally becomes the commander of a mercenary fleet and has all sorts of wild adventures in space.
#4 Tyrion Lannister / A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin
A drinker, a womaniser and a dwarf, Tyrion uses his wits to survive in the midst of dangerous - and deadly - court politics.
#5 Sand dan Glotka / The First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie
Once a dashing war hero, now a crippled torturer, Sand dan Glokta is messed up, sarcastic, and full of self-doubt.
I chose these characters firstly because I really loved the books they appear in. Secondly, for all of these characters their disability is an inescapable part of their reality. It poses genuine challenges, and as a result is an important part of who they are, but they and their story are not solely defined by their disability. Having fully realised and complicated disabled characters in fiction creates empathy and empowerment - and what could be more awesome than that?
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