First, in your estimation, what constitutes the physical, psychological, and emotional attributes of the Alpha Male? The Beta Male?
Second, who is the most Alpha Male, in your taste and estimation; and in which novel do we find him? The best example of the Beta Male?
Third, do you prefer an Alpha or a Beta in a historical romance? In a contemporary? In a paranormal/sci-fi?
Fourth, (and feel free to ignore it as it's kinda personal) do you prefer an Alpha or a Beta in YOUR life? And which do you actually HAVE in your life?
My responses: The Alpha Male is best characterized by the phrase "little tin-pot dictator w/delusions of godhood". The fun and the challenge is knocking him off his self-assembled pedestal of superiority and allowing him to wallow in the TRUE strengths of a man.....power to protect, power to love, power to heal the heart/spirit. The Beta Male never got up on that pedestal, so he's a step ahead of the Alpha. Unfortunately, the Beta is unlikely to have many of the "bad boy" characteristics that cause most women to pant heavily and grow moist in certain regions.
The mostest Alphaest Male has gotta be Challen LySanTer from Johanna Lindsey's "Warrior's Woman". I don't remember any Beta Males. (Can we say Alpha-obsessed female?)
I'll take an Alpha over a Beta in any space-time continuum.
Uuuhhh, I think ya already KNOW the answer to "Fourth", except that, no, as a celibate there are NO males in my life whose Alphaness or Betaness have any impact on the relationship.
1. He goes for what he wants and is relentless in the getting. He holds his ground, even when he's totally wrong, because it's his and noone will ever take anything that is his!
2.a. The best alpha male I have ever read is Adam Black from The Immortal Highlander. I grabbed the book before I realised that it's a contemporary, but Oh My Gawd I have never seen a hero like him. (big puddle of drool here)
2.b. Bertrice Small's Hellion has a hero who is as close to a beta male as I like to get, and in the end he turns out to have some pretty alpha traits.
3. No contest. I want an alpha!
4. I can't handle beta males. I'm very alpha myself and I require an alpha man. Fortunately hubby is very alpha himself. Makes for alot of fun.
As for your answer to 4.....I think you could say you have the ultimate alpha in your life......
I just got to get in on this one. I've read waaaaaay too many romances not to.
To me, the Alpha male is the warrior, the chieftain. He knows what he wants, he is "all knowing" (a legend in his own mind ) He is intelligent, aggressive, takes what he wants and doesn't give a damn what anybody else thinks. He is usually very stubborn. But besides these very male "macho" qualities, he usually has a vulnerable heart, and once he gives his heart to a woman, he is steadfastly true to her. But first, a woman must be brave enough to capture his heart and hold it.
I think the Beta male is more the silent yet passionate type. He's the guy next door, one of your closest friends, but you never thought of him in a romantic way (until now). He falls head over heals in love, and yet he cannot reveal his true feelings for she does not even realize he is a gem in the rough.
I do have to agree with both of you, Challen LySanTer and Adam Black are indeed prime examples of Alpha males. In fact, Warrior's Woman is one of my favourite Johanna Lindsey novels. But to give my own example, I would have to say Duncan MacKenzie from Devil in a Kilt by Sue-Ellen Welfonder and Donall the Bold from Knight in my Bed by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. (She tends to have Alpha heroes.) Both exhibit the classic Alpha male treats, Duncan perhaps more so.
I can also think of a couple of Beta male examples. Julian Hampton from The Romantic by Madeline Hunter is indeed a Beta male, and so is Sir Marmaduke Strongbow from Bride of the Beast by Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Julian is the cool, silent type, and the heroine's friend and confidant. Yet beneath his cool exterior is a man of great passion, for ever since they were children he has loved the heroine, but has never told her so. He is deeply romantic and it is only after a fiery kiss that she comes to realize there is more to Julian than meets the eye. Sir Marmaduke Strongbow is a man of great wisdom and great sorrow, and yet he possesses a truly gentle and romantic heart. The moment he espies the heroine, he wants to become her knight in shining amour, to slay every one of her "dragons" until she gives into the love and passion rising between them. Though these two heroes are Beta males, they do have some Alpha may attributes. (If they didn't they wouldn't be much of heroes.)
I think that the Beta male makes much more for a romantic hero. Sure we love Alpha males: Men who know what they want, sweep us off our feet, carry us away and f our brains out before laying their hearts on the line. Where as Beta's are romantic from the start, falling deeply in love with the woman before she even realizes what her own heart is saying.
As to what kind of hero I want to see in romance? I do love Alpha males in any genre. I mean hey, Adam Black take me away!!! But I also do enjoy a good romantic Beta (as long as he has some Alpha thrown in) from time to time.
As for what kind of man I want in my life? Well, my father is an Alpha male (hands down) and I myself, like Jenn, am indeed an Alpha female and I have always been attracted to Alpha males. (Makes for a lot of head butting. LOL) But I have to admit, my father, though Alpha, does have a couple of Beta treats, he's very romantic at heart. I do look for that as well. So I'm looking for an Alpha with a sprinkle of Beta. Got some?
Ah well, maybe some day. Until then, I'll keep on reading.
I am a newbie to the forum....and I am SO excited to have found this website!!!!
Alpha: Strong..determined...aggressive...desires to pleasure me and knows how to
What constitute's a true Alpha to me is his protection that he offers and provides!!
Tall...rugged...and musclular!!!!!
I would have to say my very favorite author is Johanna Lyndsey,....but I just recently started to read Julie Garwood on the recommendation of a friend...
I can't choose one Alpha male...I have loved so many LOL
I'm new to the forum and saw this thread and couldn't resist.
I am an alpha male gal all the way. If I start a book with a beta male, I often get bored and don't finish it. The alpha male, to me, is the true hero. He is strong, powerful, talented. He knows what he wants and goes and gets it. He cares little about what other people think about him, yet he cares deeply about other's welfare and safety and what they think about his woman.
Challen Ly-san-ter has got to be one of the best examples of an Alpha. I find most of Lyndsay's men are alpha's. Another prime alpha I just drool over is Baran Arvid from Angela Knight's "Jane's Warlard".
If you are really into strong alpha males and don't mind contempory, the men in Sherrilyn Kenyon's "Dark-Hunter" series are perfect. My favoites have got to be Zarek (Dance with the Devil), Wulf (Kiss of the Night), Vane (Night Play) and Wren (Unleash the Night). These men are bad boys to the extreme with killer attitude.
In my life I, alas, have no man. But he would have to be alpha. I am very strong willed and tend to intimidate beta, sensitive men. I need a man who can stand up to me and be my own hero. Sigh....
Challen LySanTer
)
our brains out before laying their hearts on the line. Where as Beta's are romantic from the start, falling deeply in love with the woman before she even realizes what her own heart is saying.
