Trying to name someone who is the most or best at anything is hard—and harder still to resist ranking. That’s especially the case given the upcoming TIME book that takes a look at the 100 most influential people who never lived. With the top 100 already chosen, how could we not try to decide who’s Number 1?
We, of course, have our own ideas. We selected 13 fictional and folkloric figures who we think have most shaped our world—and we make our case for them right here.
Vote Now: The Most Memorable Fictional Characters of All Time