Many figures have had a hand in molding our culture and even our lives are not even real. “The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived: How Characters of Fiction, Myth, Legends, Television, and Movies Have Shaped Our Society, Changed Our Behavior, and Set the Course of History” (Harper Paperbacks, $13.95) examines their real-world impact.

Inspired by a heated philosophical give-and-take they had one day in a bookstore, the authors set out to create their own testament to the power of fantasy. So Allan Lazar, Dan Karlan and Jeremy Salter went about gathering characters placing their choices in social, historical and cultural context, figuring out who is based on a real person and who is pure invention. It kicks off with a look at the Greek and Roman myths that still shape our view of moral issues.

“The influence of these characters is still with us. The fact that Prometheus brought fire to earth and defied the other gods is really an important lesson in defiance.”

Sometimes the line between fact and fiction gets blurred. For example, Harriet Beecher Stowe based her hero on a real slave and her book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” certainly contributed to the start of the Civil War. Stereotypes like Jim Crow and Mammy (#81) are still shaping America’s racial discourse.

The trio initially had 500 suggestions that they eventually pared down to its current selection. The list includes Ebenezer Scrooge (#16), Hamlet (#5), The American Cowboy (#19), Cinderella (#26), G.I. Joe (#48), Atticus Finch (#57), Hercules (#76), Big Brother (#2), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (#44), and J.R. Ewing (#63). Not included on the list, but noted in the book, are Bugs Bunny, Lolita, Mother Goose, Dirty Harry and Winnie the Pooh. The authors calculated The Marlboro Man as the number one fictional character.

“The Marlboro man is number one for number of very specific reasons. He comes too us from the world of commerce, which is central to our lives in the 21st Century. He attractive. He’s seductive. And on the negative side he’s selling cigarettes. Not only is he selling them, but also it’s the most successful advertising campaign in history. This is a cautionary character. What we’re trying to get across here is buyer beware: don’t smoke.”

These imaginary names and tales have contributed something tangible to our lives and times noted Lazar.

“The influence of these characters has two facets: the number of people affected and the depth of impact,” said Lazar. “Many characters have been popular favorites of our culture, but popular doesn’t always translate into influential.”