Moustache Twirlers

Thursday July 26, 2007

From Booking Through Thursday.

Who’s the worst fictional villain you can think of? As in, the one you hate the most, find the most evil, are happiest to see defeated? Not the cardboard, two-dimensional variety, but the most deliciously-written, most entertaining, best villain? Not necessarily the most “evil,” so much as the best-conceived on the part of the author…oh, you know what I mean!

Of all the books I’ve read recently, my favourite literary villain has got to be Steerpike from the Gormenghast trilogy. He’s certainly evil, but he’s also deliciously conceived as you can really see his mind ticking over as he hatches his plots and schemes to get what he wants. When he meets his downfall you’ve been with him for a long time, over the course of two lengthy novels, and his passing creates a mixture of jubilation and regret.

The most evil villain I’ve recently encountered is Chigurh from Cormac McCarthy’s No Country For Old Men; devoid of any moustache twirling charm, but a captivating character nevertheless. He inhabits a world where the villain has certainly left the pantomime stage behind…

I need to read Gormenghast at some point. The best villians always make you happy they have been destroyed, but a little sad too as they were a pleasure to read.

Rhinoa    26 July, 09:31 AM   

I have not read the Gormenghast books, but certainly agree with the comments from watching the series they made. Steerpike is an amazingly created character.

Daisy Cat    26 July, 06:10 PM   

Thinking about this a bit more over the course of the day, I’d also like to add Bill Sykes from Oliver Twist, a great old school boo hiss! villain, and Lovelace from Clarissa – one of the wickedest men you could hope to find on the printed page.

Stephen    26 July, 06:38 PM   

I still haven’t read No Country for Old Men, but I’m so bringing it on the plane with me when I go on vacation next week!

Now, I’m heading off to look up Clarissa!

stephanie    26 July, 06:51 PM   

Bill Sykes is a great choice! I haven’t read the other two books you cited.

Carrie K    26 July, 07:01 PM   

I haven’t read any of the books you mentioned although No Country for Old Men is on my TBR. And I totally agree with other commenters about Bill Sikes. Unredeemable!

Cassie    26 July, 07:13 PM   

Thanks for commenting. I’ve been thinking about this a bit more – promise I’ll shut up after this – and Conrad’s The Secret Agent sprung to mind. Ossipon – leaping off the train at the end – what a villain – what a bastard!

Stephen    26 July, 08:19 PM   

I haven’t read either of those, but both certainly sound villainous.

I just scanned through the comments and saw Bill Sykes mentioned — he was definitely menacing.

Barbara H.    26 July, 10:50 PM   

I never read any of the books you mention, but maybe I should read them :)

Happy Booking Through Thursday!

Julia    26 July, 11:54 PM   

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