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.
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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Fan of Lanfear
Fan of Lanfear
TGS Prologue - your thoughts (part 2) *spoilers*
16/09/2009 04:55:21 AM
- 3263 Views
Where can i find it at? Can someone give me a link? *NM*
18/09/2009 02:21:10 AM
- 213 Views
mobipocket.com
18/09/2009 02:53:13 AM
- 662 Views
Thanks, It was interesting especially the last part of the prologue *NM*
20/09/2009 02:42:28 AM
- 264 Views
A pointless survey - take your guess at who wrote what of the Prologue
18/09/2009 01:30:24 PM
- 563 Views
Re: A pointless survey - take your guess at who wrote what of the Prologue
18/09/2009 07:08:43 PM
- 437 Views
The prologue gives us strong evidence that Graendal is weaker than Demi or Semi
18/09/2009 03:55:58 PM
- 641 Views
I'm a little surprised nobody is discussing this. I thought this would get more attention. *NM*
20/09/2009 09:17:57 PM
- 317 Views
Is it me or do the Forsaken seem more viscious?
18/09/2009 04:17:22 PM
- 631 Views
yep, leaner and meaner...except for mesaana-she's still twitchy after shadar haran *NM*
18/09/2009 05:09:29 PM
- 315 Views
Trollocs!
18/09/2009 05:35:12 PM
- 635 Views
Why not a gray man then?
18/09/2009 07:52:55 PM
- 649 Views
Because they wanted to destroy as much of the force as possible
19/09/2009 12:07:57 AM
- 521 Views
But there's no plausible deniability
19/09/2009 12:50:42 AM
- 566 Views
But even several grey men or slayer aren't going to get the deed done
19/09/2009 02:28:36 AM
- 590 Views
Who is Graendal going to wack?
18/09/2009 06:00:12 PM
- 596 Views
I think it could be Tam. *NM*
18/09/2009 06:05:12 PM
- 281 Views
Great idea.
18/09/2009 07:12:40 PM
- 554 Views
Its about time for Perrin to reunite with Rand he's got Faile back
18/09/2009 08:15:47 PM
- 533 Views
Re: Its about time for Perrin to reunite with Rand he's got Faile back
18/09/2009 10:41:12 PM
- 546 Views
Mesaana's statement gives us a big clue about Demandred's and Moridin's whereabouts
18/09/2009 09:11:49 PM
- 690 Views
My favorite quote: "Who will win? The child or the fool?" - Graendal
18/09/2009 09:48:55 PM
- 650 Views
but she didn't say 'the fool or the fool'
19/09/2009 02:07:20 PM
- 554 Views
Yes, because Cannoli has long valued the opinions of the Forsaken...
20/09/2009 06:10:58 AM
- 614 Views
Forsaken Chapter
18/09/2009 10:30:10 PM
- 615 Views
I agree that Graendal will die in this book.... her and A'rangar *NM*
19/09/2009 08:14:07 AM
- 258 Views
Various comments
19/09/2009 05:38:21 PM
- 635 Views
The Dying Man
19/09/2009 06:48:09 PM
- 577 Views
After a reread I think I know who sent the Trollocs
19/09/2009 08:28:08 PM
- 542 Views
Another reason why Moridin is not Taim
19/09/2009 08:41:03 PM
- 525 Views
This isn't evidence.
19/09/2009 08:51:54 PM
- 638 Views
It isn't evidence, but it is another perspective to add to the table
19/09/2009 09:11:15 PM
- 435 Views
Why is Moridin and not Demandred marshalling the Dark Forces in the Blight?
19/09/2009 10:35:06 PM
- 522 Views
I think there are many issues here
19/09/2009 10:51:13 PM
- 630 Views
The Malign Influence of the Forsaken
19/09/2009 11:08:00 PM
- 542 Views
I have doubts about that degree of conversion
19/09/2009 11:17:44 PM
- 479 Views
Re: Why is Moridin and not Demandred marshalling the Dark Forces in the Blight?
20/09/2009 09:44:06 AM
- 615 Views
Did Demandred make the connection between Moridin's phantom hand-pain and Semirhage's firebolt?
20/09/2009 12:11:32 PM
- 628 Views
I don't think that Demandred will be a key player at the end with Rand
20/09/2009 01:00:58 PM
- 585 Views
Some sweeping statements there...
20/09/2009 01:21:46 PM
- 576 Views
Not at all
20/09/2009 03:34:59 PM
- 599 Views
A lot of twisting my words there, and direct contradictions of your own points...
20/09/2009 04:19:57 PM
- 603 Views
Not really
20/09/2009 05:12:42 PM
- 671 Views
I couldn't have summarized it better myself...
20/09/2009 05:25:56 PM
- 494 Views
But...
20/09/2009 06:01:33 PM
- 594 Views
Possible...
20/09/2009 06:08:21 PM
- 507 Views
So that's your argument now?
20/09/2009 07:35:52 PM
- 426 Views
I think you took that the wrong way...
20/09/2009 08:53:28 PM
- 513 Views
Wow, then I think you're in for a surprise
20/09/2009 08:38:37 PM
- 489 Views
Just a general comment...
20/09/2009 09:13:51 PM
- 644 Views
Re: Just a general comment...
20/09/2009 09:59:51 PM
- 1454 Views
I reject the cult of the "cool" villain.
20/09/2009 11:24:40 PM
- 530 Views
I don't really agree
21/09/2009 05:02:10 AM
- 480 Views
But these aren't criminals...
21/09/2009 05:47:40 AM
- 410 Views