2020 Silmaril Award Nominations for Wisest Counselor - djedwardson.com

2020 Silmaril Award Nominations for Wisest Counselor

September 7, 2021 / 204 Comments

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Counselors. Advisors. Sages. Mentors. They don’t usually get top billing. They aren’t always the most fun. And sometimes they can be positively feeble when compared to their more heroic counterparts. But don’t underestimate them.

Most heroes wouldn’t get very fire without their timely, far-sighted advice. And many adventures would not start at all without the prompting or prodding of these marvelous guides.

2020 Silmaril Award Nominations

Welcome to the fifth annual Silmaril Awards, the fantasy character awards! This is a chance to nominate your favorite fantasy characters in a fiction free-for-all to see which ones are the wisest, most heroic, or nefarious of all.

There are ten awards up for grabs (see the list below for links to the other awards). On this page we’re accepting nominations and seconds for Wise Counselors. All you have to do to nominate is post a comment with the name of the wise counselor you’d like to see considered for the award. Or, if that character has already been nominated, you can simply reply with a “second” to the original comment for that character.

The rules for nominating are as follows:

  • You may nominate as many characters as you wish.
  • You may also second as many characters nominated by others as you choose. The more “seconds” (and thirds, fourths, etc) a character receives, the more likely that character will move on to the voting round, which will feature the top five most nominated characters from each category (the host will break any ties).
  • Nominations are allowed for fantasy book characters only! (Movie characters are not allowed, unless the book came first).
  • The Silmaril Awards are “lifetime” awards. Characters who have already won a Silmaril in previous years are not eligible to win the same award again (though they may win other awards.) Previous winners of wisest counselor include: Remus Lupin from Harry Potter (2019), Professor Kirke from The Chronicles of Narnia (2018), Professor Hamilton from Dragons in Our Midst (2017), and Aslan from The Chronicles of Narnia (2016). For a list of past winners for other awards, please visit silmarilawards.com.
  • Also, unfortunately, characters from Tolkien’s works are not allowed. Instead, they are the presenters of the awards. These awards are for all the “other guys.”

wisest counselor 2020

This year’s awards

Here it the list of the rest of this year’s awards with links to where you can make your nominations:

It’s not just characters that get to win

This year, there will also be a chance to win some great books and book related prizes as well. You can participate in the bookstagram challenge using the hasthtag #SilmarilAwards2020. You can also enter the contest even if you’re not on Instagram. Either way, we’ll be giving out one of the prizes below to each winner. Hardbacks, ebooks, maps, bookmarks, there’s something in here for everyone. Don’t miss out!

5th annual silmaril awards challenge

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The bookstagram challenge starts August 24th and ends on September 4th, but the giveaway runs through to the end of the awards. Be sure to follow all the hosts on Instagram so you don’t miss out on the fun.

@swordspeaker @jenellelschmidt @thebookishchristine @traceydyckauthor @sarah.taleweaver @kylerobertshultz @madelinejrose @eerawls_author @zac_the_geek @thesmudgedthoughts⁠

Have at thee!

And so it begins.

The cutoff for accepting nominations is midnight CST Time, September 4th. Until then, nominate away! And if you have any questions, please put them below and I will answer them as soon as possible. Have fun. I can’t wait to see who you nominate!

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204 thoughts on “2020 Silmaril Award Nominations for Wisest Counselor”

  1. Maya Joelle

    I nominate Aethelbald from the Tales of Goldstone Wood, Brom from the Inheritance Cycle, Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter, and Rubidius from the Gateway Chronicles.

    Reply
  3. Grace T.

    (I can’t see the other comments so apologies if any of these are repeats)

    I nominate:

    Wit from the Stormlight Archives (yes I nominated him elsewhere and also nominated him as Hoid in yet another Silmaril but his counsel to Shallan made me cry in chapter 82 of Oathbringer so he goes here too)

    Irene’s Grandmother from The Princess and the Goblin/The Princess and Curdie

    Sazed from the first Mistborn trilogy

    Reply
    5. DJ Edwardson

      Ooo, Irene’s Grandmother is a wonderful choice. Have you ever read The Wise Woman and the Lost Princess by George MacDonald? The Wise Woman is a lot like the Grandmother in Princess and the Goblin.

      Reply
    10. John Lindauer

      I second Wit and Sazed wholeheartedly. (My gaming usernames are all some version of Elhokars Wit, so you could say I’m a fan of the character)

      Reply
  5. H. S. J. Williams

    I nominate Beana from Tales of Goldstone Wood! Also Eanrin…for such a sassy creature, he had quite a lot of wise advice.

    Reply
  7. Deborah O'Carroll

    I nominate:

    Halt (Ranger’s Apprentice series by John Flanagan)

    Cosimo Livingston (Bright Empires series by Stephen R. Lawhead)

    Chrestomanci (Chrestomanci series by Diana Wynne Jones)

    Dominic the Electrical butler (The Electrical Menagerie by Mollie E. Reeder)

    Reply
    16. Gracelyn

      Not read either, but I’ll second Halt (because my brothers like the series and I’ve heard he’s good) and Dominic (because “ELECTRICAL BUTLER”)

      Reply
  15. Sarah Pennington

    I nominate:
    Wizard Fenworth from the DragonKeeper Chronicles (Donita K. Paul)
    Captain Valithor from The Door Within Trilogy (Wayne Thomas Batson)
    Laisren from The Dark King’s Curse (Wyn Estelle Owens)
    Galen from Wrought of Silver and Ravens (E.J. Kitchens)
    The Abhorsen from Sabriel (Abhorsen trilogy, Garth Nix)
    The Daisha and Rendar from Moonscript (H.S.J. Williams)

    Reply
  21. Jenelle

    Seconding:
    Halt
    Imraldera
    Cosimo
    Chrestomanci

    Nominating:
    Merlin (can I just nominate “Merlin” in general, like… whichever version people like best? Because he’s in SO MANY retellings I’m not even sure I have any idea which one is my favorite. If I have to choose, then the Merlin from Stephen R. Lawhead’s Pendragon Cycle)

    Reply
  22. Iris Dontell

    I nominate Lukyan from The Restorer by Sharon Hinck, and Lord Alistair from Blades of Acktar by Tricia Mingerink. Oh, and The Daisha from Moonscript by H. S. J. Williams!

    Reply
  23. Hazel Dontell

    *realizes I can’t nominate Uncle Iroh from Avatar: The Last Airbender because it’s a tv show* *cries*
    However, I do nominate Jupiter North from Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. And I second Halt so hard. SO hard.

    Reply
  24. Arwen

    I really wish we could nominate Tolkien Characters if not from the Hobbit and The Lord Of Rings
    than things like
    Roverandom
    or
    Farmer Giles of Ham
    also this may random but who here likes the Rankin Bass Animated Hobbit movie

    Reply
    3. Wyn Estelle

      I love the Rankin Bass version! I grew up on it! (Also, I like it WAY better than the live-action trilogy, just sayin)

      Reply
  25. FlickeringJoy

    Okay. Seconding:
    Rupert Greeves from Ashtown Burials; Beana, Eanrin and Imreldara from Goldstone Wood; Merlin and Enoch from Dragons in our Midst/ Oracles of Fire, and Fenworth from Dragon Keeper Chronicles

    Reply
  28. Alias Ember

    I second Dumbledore and Mrs. Weaver.
    I also nominate:
    Helmer from the Green Ember series
    Athelas from The City Between Series
    Puddleglum from The Chronicles of Narnia

    Reply
    3. Jen

      I second Helmer and Puddleglum! (I know I’ve seconded them elsewhere, but if it was here too, sorry! My email has drowned amid all the votes and I’ve lost track of who I’ve voted for…XD)

      Reply
    6. Gracelyn

      YES YES YES SECONDING PUDDLEGLUM! (wait, did I already second him? Oh, I think it must’ve been for a different category.)

      Honestly, I’ll second Athelas just for the name.

      Reply
  31. Addyson M. Huneke

    I second:
    Irene’s grandmother (Princess and the Goblin)
    Halt (Ranger’s Apprentice)
    Rayad (Ilyon)
    Sam (Ilyon)
    Paladin (Dragonkeeper Chronicles)
    Fenworth (Dragonkeeper Chronicles)
    Lord Alistair (Blades of Acktar)
    Puddleglum (Narnia)
    Coriakin (Narnia)
    Ramandu (Narnia)

    I nominate:
    Timothy (Ilyon Chronicles)

    Reply
  32. Tracey Dyck

    All righty, here we go! *cracks knuckles*

    I second…

    Aethelbald
    Brom
    Dumbledore
    Beana
    Halt
    Cosimo Livingston
    Yestin Bo-Arthio
    Paladin
    Grimwarden
    Merlin (DioM/OoF and general Merlin from legends)
    Wizard Fenworth
    Captain Valithor
    Imraldera
    Father Enoch
    Puddleglum
    Ramandu

    And I nominate:
    – Wolf (The Great Library series by Rachel Caine… I *think* it counts as fantasy)
    – Tabor Jan (Auralia Thread series by Jeffrey Overstreet)
    – Abraham (Oracles of Fire series by Bryan Davis)

    Reply
  33. Morgan Huneke

    I second:

    Halt from Ranger’s Apprentice
    Rayad from Ilyon Chronicles
    Fenworth from Dragonkeeper
    Lord Alistair from Acktar
    Puddleglum from Narnia
    Coriakin from Narnia
    Ramandu from Narnia
    Timothy from Ilyon
    Paladin from DragonKeeper

    I think I’d consider The Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins fantasy…if it counts, I nominate Ripred and Vikus.

    Reply
  34. Katie

    I second granite from rizkaland
    Halt from rangers apprentice
    Merlin in general
    Puddleglum from narnia
    Athelas from the city between by wr gingell
    (And I may come back and nominate/second more characters as I think of them)

    Reply
  35. Maya Joelle

    I second Coriakin, Ramandu, Oromis, Tabor Jan, and Abraham (the one from Oracles of Fire).

    I nominate… oh goodness, I can’t remember his name… *goes and checks copy of book* Scharr ben Fray from the Auralia Thread. Not always the wisest, but definitely deserves a nomination. And I can’t believe I forgot his name.

    Reply
    1. Tracey Dyck

      Oh, I second Scharr ben Fray too!!! That’s who I MEANT to nominate, not Tabor Jan. o.O (DJ, sorry about that!)

      Reply
  39. Hazel Dontell

    I also nominate Father from the Torch Keepers by Hosanna Emily, and Emiyr from the same book. Definitely two of my favorite characters!

    Reply
  41. GracieA

    I second:
    Puddleglum, Coriakin, & Ramandu (from Narnia–especially love Puddleglum)
    Aethelbald, Beana, & Imraldara (from Goldstone Wood–hard to choose a favorite here!)
    Laisren (just read Dark King’s Curse–such a fun yet wise counselor)

    Reply
  42. Rebekah Stargazer

    A little late to the party, but here goes!

    I second:

    Aethelbald
    Dumbledore
    Irene’s Grandmother
    Beana
    Halt
    Cosimo
    Rayad
    Merlin
    Rendar
    Imraldera
    Timothy

    Reply

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