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I don't really agree Sidious Send a noteboard - 21/09/2009 05:02:10 AM
It is one of the worst failings of fantasy that it is peppered with villains who are suave, sensible and yet unspeakably evil.

It makes no sense to ask for a villain who has no blinders, no idiocies, no weaknesses yet makes the monumentally idiotic decision to support a deity who is out to destroy the world.

Ishamael, Graendal, Lanfear, Semirhage, Demandred, ec. might have been the foremost brains of their Age, but their obsession with themselves and their own opinions (which drove them to the Shadow) has got to have an effect on the way they act, which is going to have an effect on their success.

More, given that they are working in a civilization that is vastly different from the one they operated in, I don't see how much cooler one can expect them to be.

Jordan did the "unforgivable" mistake of making his villains realistic and more "everyday" rather than leaving them untouched as the awesome legends they were thought to be. I think that is one of the greatest strengths of the series.

As for measuring their success by their survivial in unfair physical contests... I can assure you that two moderately strong people could have killed Hitler without any difficulty. Especially if he were magically transported back to 1000 B.C. or something. Doesn't affect the fact that he is one of the most evil villains known to humanity. Doesn't change the fact that he was a self absorbed moron either.


There's a really good quote : "The successful criminal mind is always superior. It has to be, to avoid defeat."

I think it's so pertinent. The Forsaken are obviously flawed, but RJ has made them so lame they can't get anything right. The score is about 500-0 to the Light, which is very one-sided if you ask me. I have doubts that the Shadow will affect the Light significantly in the last three books. Graendal has been sent to devastate Rand emotionally - as an experiment let's see if this can be achieved to any reasonable degree.
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TGS Prologue - your thoughts (part 2) *spoilers* Sidious - 16/09/2009 04:55:21 AM 3268 Views
Where can i find it at? Can someone give me a link? *NM* Blaine - 18/09/2009 02:21:10 AM 215 Views
mobipocket.com NaClH2O - 18/09/2009 02:53:13 AM 668 Views
Thanks, It was interesting especially the last part of the prologue *NM* Blaine - 20/09/2009 02:42:28 AM 265 Views
Yep, to be truthful I really didn't see that coming. *NM* NaClH2O - 20/09/2009 03:03:12 AM 213 Views
A pointless survey - take your guess at who wrote what of the Prologue ajfurst - 18/09/2009 01:30:24 PM 568 Views
As short as the prologue was Ryan - 18/09/2009 04:27:54 PM 576 Views
Re: A pointless survey - take your guess at who wrote what of the Prologue Seriana Sedai - 18/09/2009 07:08:43 PM 442 Views
How do you think this prologue compares to the previous ones? RandAllThor - 18/09/2009 01:52:59 PM 533 Views
Did only the audiobook ppl get the 2:30 of Harriet at the end? Lanfear - 18/09/2009 03:07:27 PM 566 Views
nope and now I hate you *NM* NaClH2O - 18/09/2009 04:59:48 PM 307 Views
The interview BlackAdder - 18/09/2009 09:40:23 PM 595 Views
The prologue gives us strong evidence that Graendal is weaker than Demi or Semi Lanfear - 18/09/2009 03:55:58 PM 647 Views
I'm a little surprised nobody is discussing this. I thought this would get more attention. *NM* Lanfear - 20/09/2009 09:17:57 PM 319 Views
Well, Lanfear... fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 11:33:22 PM 621 Views
Is it me or do the Forsaken seem more viscious? Ryan - 18/09/2009 04:17:22 PM 636 Views
yep, leaner and meaner...except for mesaana-she's still twitchy after shadar haran *NM* NaClH2O - 18/09/2009 05:09:29 PM 316 Views
You blame her? *NM* Ryan - 18/09/2009 08:05:46 PM 254 Views
Not at all, I'd be more than "twitchy" if that happened to me NaClH2O - 19/09/2009 12:00:57 AM 519 Views
I get the feeling they want to jump ship Sidious - 19/09/2009 02:13:51 PM 588 Views
Trollocs! NaClH2O - 18/09/2009 05:35:12 PM 640 Views
Why not a gray man then? Rurouni_Kenshin - 18/09/2009 07:52:55 PM 654 Views
I'm going to guess it was Demandred Ryan - 18/09/2009 08:12:19 PM 591 Views
What Cache is in Ebou Dar? NaClH2O - 19/09/2009 12:05:05 AM 618 Views
Because they wanted to destroy as much of the force as possible NaClH2O - 19/09/2009 12:07:57 AM 523 Views
But there's no plausible deniability Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 12:50:42 AM 572 Views
But even several grey men or slayer aren't going to get the deed done NaClH2O - 19/09/2009 02:28:36 AM 595 Views
Why? Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 03:25:34 AM 509 Views
simple answer:scouts redhand - 19/09/2009 04:47:04 AM 529 Views
What day is it? Are the Suldam & Damane in the area? Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 05:32:54 PM 479 Views
Who is Graendal going to wack? NaClH2O - 18/09/2009 06:00:12 PM 600 Views
I think it could be Tam. *NM* MikeyMikeyMikey - 18/09/2009 06:05:12 PM 283 Views
Great idea. Seriana Sedai - 18/09/2009 07:12:40 PM 558 Views
Its about time for Perrin to reunite with Rand he's got Faile back Ryan - 18/09/2009 08:15:47 PM 538 Views
Re: Its about time for Perrin to reunite with Rand he's got Faile back PatAtt - 18/09/2009 10:41:12 PM 551 Views
No one. Terez - 23/09/2009 02:05:06 AM 471 Views
A possibility, but... NaClH2O - 23/09/2009 11:53:07 AM 519 Views
Well, yeah... Terez - 23/09/2009 04:02:47 PM 506 Views
Isn't it obvious...Semirhage sent the Trollocs Lanfear - 18/09/2009 06:38:15 PM 648 Views
Fades are smart enough though Rurouni_Kenshin - 18/09/2009 07:54:02 PM 493 Views
Mesaana's statement gives us a big clue about Demandred's and Moridin's whereabouts Lanfear - 18/09/2009 09:11:49 PM 694 Views
Or PatAtt - 18/09/2009 10:38:52 PM 673 Views
My first thought was Great Lord of Chaos - 19/09/2009 02:20:39 AM 545 Views
My favorite quote: "Who will win? The child or the fool?" - Graendal BlackAdder - 18/09/2009 09:48:55 PM 655 Views
*NM* AliasRY - 19/09/2009 04:20:29 AM 357 Views
but she didn't say 'the fool or the fool' Sidious - 19/09/2009 02:07:20 PM 560 Views
Yes, because Cannoli has long valued the opinions of the Forsaken... Cannoli - 20/09/2009 06:10:58 AM 619 Views
Lol *NM* Sidious - 20/09/2009 08:26:53 AM 489 Views
Forsaken Chapter Shannow - 18/09/2009 10:30:10 PM 621 Views
I agree that Graendal will die in this book.... her and A'rangar *NM* Matrimony Cauthon - 19/09/2009 08:14:07 AM 259 Views
Re: Forsaken Chapter AgentOrange - 19/09/2009 09:53:31 AM 647 Views
Wrong... Shannow - 19/09/2009 01:41:25 PM 675 Views
I think we'll have to agree to disagree. BlackAdder - 19/09/2009 09:22:38 PM 694 Views
Huh Sidious - 19/09/2009 01:46:21 PM 755 Views
Re: Huh Shannow - 19/09/2009 02:21:43 PM 657 Views
Re: Huh Sidious - 19/09/2009 04:32:50 PM 677 Views
Fair enough... Shannow - 19/09/2009 05:08:33 PM 599 Views
Re: Forsaken Chapter BlackAdder - 19/09/2009 05:40:14 PM 530 Views
No, see my response to Agent Orange above. *NM* Shannow - 19/09/2009 06:07:14 PM 231 Views
Remove your blinders man... fionwe1987 - 19/09/2009 07:16:03 PM 668 Views
After third reread StinkerSkunk - 18/09/2009 10:58:12 PM 598 Views
Ituralde's plan ajfurst - 19/09/2009 02:04:58 PM 510 Views
Huh....hadn't thought about that AliasRY - 19/09/2009 03:07:06 PM 616 Views
This makes perfect sense The Dude - 22/09/2009 07:35:49 PM 517 Views
Various comments Etzel - 19/09/2009 05:38:21 PM 639 Views
The Dying Man Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 06:48:09 PM 581 Views
Yeah, I thought it was Dobraine as well Matrimony Cauthon - 19/09/2009 08:30:13 PM 596 Views
Dobraine seems unlikely... Etzel - 20/09/2009 11:30:45 AM 487 Views
Symbolism Rurouni_Kenshin - 20/09/2009 04:10:53 PM 467 Views
After a reread I think I know who sent the Trollocs Matrimony Cauthon - 19/09/2009 08:28:08 PM 547 Views
That is a really stupid idea Guava - 20/09/2009 01:20:09 AM 510 Views
Yeah Sidious - 20/09/2009 08:24:18 AM 508 Views
Another reason why Moridin is not Taim Matrimony Cauthon - 19/09/2009 08:41:03 PM 531 Views
This isn't evidence. Yvves - 19/09/2009 08:51:54 PM 644 Views
It isn't evidence, but it is another perspective to add to the table Matrimony Cauthon - 19/09/2009 09:11:15 PM 439 Views
Personally, I disagree. Digital_Eon - 20/09/2009 03:22:24 AM 541 Views
Do you think Moridin is struggling like Rand is? Sidious - 19/09/2009 10:24:45 PM 453 Views
Re: Do you think Moridin is struggling like Rand is? Heiko - 19/09/2009 11:29:36 PM 529 Views
Why is Moridin and not Demandred marshalling the Dark Forces in the Blight? Shannow - 19/09/2009 10:35:06 PM 527 Views
I think there are many issues here Sidious - 19/09/2009 10:51:13 PM 635 Views
The Malign Influence of the Forsaken Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 11:08:00 PM 547 Views
I have doubts about that degree of conversion Sidious - 19/09/2009 11:17:44 PM 484 Views
Its a stretch, but... Heiko - 19/09/2009 11:34:28 PM 439 Views
I thought about that Sidious - 20/09/2009 08:26:02 AM 481 Views
Levee en Masse Rurouni_Kenshin - 19/09/2009 10:51:54 PM 551 Views
Re: Why is Moridin and not Demandred marshalling the Dark Forces in the Blight? Curie - 20/09/2009 09:44:06 AM 619 Views
I think Demendred might take over though AgentOrange - 20/09/2009 05:10:08 PM 440 Views
Did Demandred make the connection between Moridin's phantom hand-pain and Semirhage's firebolt? Shannow - 20/09/2009 12:11:32 PM 632 Views
I don't think that Demandred will be a key player at the end with Rand Sidious - 20/09/2009 01:00:58 PM 590 Views
Some sweeping statements there... Shannow - 20/09/2009 01:21:46 PM 580 Views
Not at all Sidious - 20/09/2009 03:34:59 PM 603 Views
A lot of twisting my words there, and direct contradictions of your own points... Shannow - 20/09/2009 04:19:57 PM 611 Views
Not really Sidious - 20/09/2009 05:12:42 PM 674 Views
I couldn't have summarized it better myself... Shannow - 20/09/2009 05:25:56 PM 500 Views
But... fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 06:01:33 PM 601 Views
Possible... Shannow - 20/09/2009 06:08:21 PM 513 Views
So that's your argument now? fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 07:35:52 PM 431 Views
I think you took that the wrong way... Shannow - 20/09/2009 08:53:28 PM 517 Views
Its simply, really. Heiko - 20/09/2009 09:05:42 PM 529 Views
Hmmm... fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 11:10:04 PM 559 Views
Fair enough... Shannow - 20/09/2009 11:12:53 PM 428 Views
Sure. *NM* fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 11:25:50 PM 255 Views
Wow, then I think you're in for a surprise Sidious - 20/09/2009 08:38:37 PM 494 Views
Well Heiko - 20/09/2009 08:56:43 PM 573 Views
Re: Well Sidious - 20/09/2009 09:40:51 PM 650 Views
Re: Wow, then I think you're in for a surprise Rurouni_Kenshin - 20/09/2009 09:07:48 PM 486 Views
Just a general comment... Shannow - 20/09/2009 09:13:51 PM 650 Views
Re: Just a general comment... Sidious - 20/09/2009 09:59:51 PM 1459 Views
Re: Just a general comment... Shannow - 20/09/2009 10:19:14 PM 461 Views
Re: Just a general comment... Sidious - 21/09/2009 04:58:38 AM 416 Views
I reject the cult of the "cool" villain. fionwe1987 - 20/09/2009 11:24:40 PM 533 Views
I don't really agree Sidious - 21/09/2009 05:02:10 AM 484 Views
But these aren't criminals... fionwe1987 - 21/09/2009 05:47:40 AM 416 Views
No, just the most heinous criminals imaginable Sidious - 21/09/2009 12:43:19 PM 624 Views
Re: No, just the most heinous criminals imaginable fionwe1987 - 22/09/2009 10:49:58 PM 547 Views
Doubt it... Etzel - 20/09/2009 02:10:37 PM 596 Views
I tend to agree with you, this time. AgentOrange - 20/09/2009 05:05:35 PM 485 Views
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