The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes
The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes is primarily focused on romance genre characters: the viewpoint character (heroine) and the desired mate (hero). While it's not the all-encompassing vision that efficiently collapses all possible heroic characters into sixteen easy-to-remember classes, it's well worth taking a look at, especially if you plan to write for the Romance genre.
The book goes into detail on strengths and weaknesses, as well as upbringing, and even discusses how the characters interact with each other (a Spunky Kid, for example, is good with a Lost Soul, because she can bring him out of his depression and help him learn to enjoy life again. Or something like that). Furthermore, google the book and you wind up on the homepage of one of the authors, where she goes into detail on the villainous versions of the heroes and heroines.
This page will serve as the index for at least two pages (one for the Heroes, one for the Heroines), and more if need be.
Compare Master Characters.
The Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes & Heroines: Sixteen Master Archetypes by Cowden, LaFever, and Viders; published by Lone Eagle, June 19, 2000.
- ISBN 1580650244
- ISBN 978-1580650243
Additional information (the villains, which aren't in the book) from Tami Cowden's website http://www.tamicowden.com/villains.htm Cowden's website also discusses the Hero and Heroine archetypes (albeit very briefly - you get far more info in the book).