Unforgettable...that's what they are... I'm speaking of those certain protagonists of books, movies and television that get into your system and never quite get out again.

In the process of being a romance author and erotica blogger, I hear a lot from fans about both their favorite men among my characters and in general. It's amazing which of these fellows just keep turning up again and again. I have my theories as to the elements that make for unforgettable heroes, but I'm hoping in the next few weeks to hear from readers and perhaps draw some new conclusions. In the meantime, I'd like to share with you three of my own classic examples and what I see as their appeal.

From books, I'm going to have to choose Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. For two centuries this guy has been winning hearts, and that has to count for something. I remember the first time I read this book, circa 1979, being absolutely obsessed. Darcy was compelling enough in the first half of the story, when he seemed to be arrogant and incomprehensible. But when he turned out to be your classic white knight type hero after all, that was just the chocolate buttercream on the rum cake for me.

In the earliest days of the romance novel, Jane Austen hit upon what would be a classic heroic formula: Create a man who is aloof and mysterious but also attractive, and have him turn out in the end to be pretty much perfect in every way. He functions as a sexy puzzle to be solved, and the prize for solving him is a happily-ever-after ending.

The formula is irresistible to majority of females, and that's why you find each new generation of us falling in love again with Mr. Darcy. I daresay if you did a survey of most popular fictional heroes, he would definitely fall in the top three if not win it all.

My choice for movie hero is not quite such a popular one, but then, I'm sure we all experience falling for someone whose appeal to us doesn't necessarily make sense to our peers. (A friend of mine is head over heels for Steve Buscemi.) My oldest crush, dating back to grade school, is Klaatu in the original 1951 version of "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The "police officer from space" was played by Michael Rennie with elegance, grace, and an amazing balance of sang froid and personal warmth.

Klaatu for me was thrilling in his vast superiority, like a superhero only with verisimilitude. He had a unique and captivating role in that he wanted to save the earth, even if it required his own life, but his higher priority was to save the universe. In other words, he had the cold indifference of pure justice, but also the tenderheartedness of a savior. In that I think he may be the closest to a personification of the Judeo-Christian God that can be found in science fiction. At any rate, it was all too much for me not to love.

My final example of an unforgettable hero is both current and popular…and a villain! He is the incomparable Ben Linus of television's "Lost," portrayed by Michael Emerson. No post on my Erotica with Soul blog has gotten more attention and comments than the one entitled "Tell Me Why I Love Ben Linus." Ben exemplifies one of the most classic and powerful archetypes of sexy heroes, the anti-hero.

I think when women are drawn to a man in spite of all logic, that just makes the emotion more powerful...probably because it feels out of one's control. Logic certainly tells you that the bug-eyed, constantly beaten-up, conniving, lying, completely untrustworthy Benjamin should be the last guy you'd feel attracted to. And yet an amazing number of women are. Ben is powerful, and that always works for chicks. He is also vulnerable, broken, and in clear need of love (especially in his 12-year-old incarnation), and is there anything more irresistible to our maternal instincts?

So in the attractive villain we have that potent combination of desirability and repugnance that seems so confusing and exciting. When a character like this is well done, he will definitely get under your skin and refuse to be extricated.

So, readers, reflect upon your longest-term infatuations with characters of literature, big and small screens. Who is that guy who has haunted you for years? Let me know in a comment here, or email me at dianalaurence@wi.rr.com. If you're on Facebook, you can friend me at http://www.facebook.com/people/Diana-Laurence/1170956108; I will be raising the question to my Facebook friends too. If you're on Twitter, you can follow me at http://twitter.com/dianalaurence, and I'll pose the issue there as well. I'll be back next month, hopefully with some interesting responses and reflections!

Diana Laurence is the author of the Soulful Sex anthologies of erotic romance fiction, and the vampire romance Bloodchained (www.bloodchained.com). Diana's works are published by Living Beyond Reality Press (www.livingbeyondreality.com.) Visit her at www.dianalaurence.com or enjoy her blog at www.eroticawithsoul.blogspot.com.