Is having my protagonist take drugs distasteful?

[jordanisonfire]

When its not the main subject of the story. Its also a sci-fi story. I wanted to make him take drugs recreationally in order to make him more distanced from the cliche adventuring heroes that we have roaming around in fantasy. Or at least, attempt to. I'm not sure yet if he will continuously do it throughout the series, but I've started writing my first chapter and he's taking it in that. Just wondering if its just a poor plot tool or if it'd be a negative factor in his character?

[Mercy]

I think it's fine, I can't see why it wouldn't be. ^^;

[lango]

Characters are allowed to kill, rape, use drugs, the list goes on. They're characters. Maybe some people will call it distastefull, others will say you're just trying to be modern. But if that's how you think your character behaves, then that's how he behaves.

[Bowie20049]

It would make the story pretty gritty, which is not bad considering the "Gary Stu" type protagonists I see all the time.

[Starry]

It depends on how you portray it. If you run around saying that your character can do drugs all he wants and still be perfectly fine, it's going to be unrealistic and antagonize the reader. But if it provides moral/emotional complexity then it's definitely good for the story.

[Shaun]

You have full license with your characters. If you want them to huff paint, then have them do so. But if you want us to like him or her, then you need to do a bit of extra work to make sure they are likable. Consider why this character does drugs recreationally. Is it illegal? Does he have a chronic pain problem? A haunted past? Does he just like the stuff and doesn't want to give it up? Does it affect him or her as a person?

But, generally speaking, you can have a character do just about anything and still make them likable with a little careful work. Look at Tobias S. Buckell's work. His character Pepper kills all sorts of people, indiscriminately, and yet we still like the guy.

[jordanisonfire]

Yeah, I have an issue protraying it, and thats what I was worried about to begin with. I thought it might stem from the fact that drug use doesn't really have a place in a sci-fi novel when there are more important things, but you've convinced me otherwise. When I include it, however, it just seems to upset the flow. Like I'm just forcing it in there and leaving it there to say to the reader, "There, my character isn't your typical goody-goody adventurer guy, suck on that." I guess I'll just have to go over it a few times and let you guys devour it. I'm sure that'll help me solve the problem.

And, if I may do a bit of advertising, this is the novel:

http://www.youngwritersonline.net/showthread.php?t=3521

The prologue's been up for a while now, but I was hoping to get a few more crits on it before I post chapter one. I hate the prologue, as it sets it up as your typical mainstream fantasy. I assure you, I'm doing my best to make it anything but that. The prologue won't be similar to the rest of the novel.

[Shaun]

Well, if it feels forced, it might very well be. Try re-examining your novel to see if there's a better way to stick the drug use in there. And drug use can be a great way to build a good character.

[jordanisonfire]

I think giving little mention to it is best, for now. Its not exactly a major plot tool, so there's no need.

[Bowie20049]

It has potential for character development though.

[Carraka]

With me (being of fan of dark gray stuff), if your protagonist takes drugs, I'll be predisposed to not liking him, but if you get me to like him anyway, I'll like him that much more. (that = expansive waving of arms)

Maybe a good example is Hunter's Run, a science fiction novel written by Gardner Dozois, Daniel Abraham, and some other dude I forget who. In the beginning the guy named Ramon guts a diplomat in a knife fight for no good reason, fights with his long-term probably-not-going-to-marry girlfriend, and then flees out into the wild to escape the police and wait for things to cool down.

It's more character-driven than action, plot whatever, but I'm just referencing at as an example. By the end of the novel, (after the aliens and chupacabras) some things about Ramon are fundamentally different, and some things are fundamentally unchanged. In your case, if Ramon were a real-life person, I'd probably still shrink away going aaah, why is he still a druggie after all that character development? But since Ramon is not real, I admire him for coming a long, long way, and I really don't ask him to go any further, because then he would be entirely boring. Most likely preaching the authors' opinions of religion and philosophy.

[jordanisonfire]

Now that you've said that, I had been wondering whether I should incorporate my own beliefs into my novel. I'm currently undecided on that, seeing as I neither want to accidentally show support for conflicting beliefs, but I don't want to seem pushy and preechy, either.

[DefJam101]

Depends on the genre and how tastefully it is presented.

For a cyberpunk/dark scifi story, it's pretty much standard.

[thecollector]

When its not the main subject of the story. Its also a sci-fi story. I wanted to make him take drugs recreationally in order to make him more distanced from the cliche adventuring heroes that we have roaming around in fantasy. Or at least, attempt to. I'm not sure yet if he will continuously do it throughout the series, but I've started writing my first chapter and he's taking it in that. Just wondering if its just a poor plot tool or if it'd be a negative factor in his character?

It's not a negative factor or poor plot tool at all. I think it would add interest into your novel for the simple reason of uniqueness. I've never really heard of anyone using a detail like that in their novel so I say go for it. It would surely make him distant at the same time making the reader curious.

[Ninjatrone]

Tony Montana was addicted to coccaine, and we all know how he ended up at the end of Scarface.
Face down in his mansion's fountain with 18 holes in his flesh.

But as for your question, in my opinion, I think fabricating a new kind of drug would be the better road to take.
Other than that sure, it's an nice variation from the ideal action hero.

[pebhorses]

i think it could be a good plot device if you work it well. it would set them apart from conventional protagonists.