The side-kick in fantasy fiction

[tree_and_leaf]

China Meville has some interesting things to say about fantasy fiction in general, and the role of the sidekick in particular. Mind you, I'm neither convinced that Hufflepuff is just a bunch of sidekicks and the future butler class, or that, if you want to portray your new story as excitingly different because the sidekick becomes the hero, mentioning Frodo and Sam is really sensible.

http://books.guardian.co.uk/departments/childrenandteens/story/0,,2062056,00.html

It must also be added that his revolutionary new dystopia where the unwanted bits of London go sounds curiously reminiscent of Gaiman....