Villains (A Tag)

Hello, it's Joel! Here on Inkweb I am (finally) going to respond to a tag! Here's the link to Rayne Speryll's blog:

www.writinginrivendell.blogspot.com

Anyway, this tag is especially fun because it asks me to talk about my writing. And what do I love more than talking about writing? Well, actually writing is fun too, but not as much fun if you never share with other people.

All right, the following is seven questions about my favorite villain of my current book or series.




1. Who is the favorite or main villain of the book/series you are writing, and how would you describe his or her character?

Dang it, villains. I'm not especially good with coming up with villains, but you happen to be in luck, as I have been crafting a new story recently, and have been focusing on villains. My current favorite villain is Andrew West, from my my Camp NaNoWriMo novel The Broken Thief. He is an intergalactic thief-for-hire, much like my protagonist, and is working for the main villain.

2. What special powers, if any, does this villain have?

Andrew West does not have special powers, only great skill and expertise in the art of acquiring certain objects which are best left where they belong. He's a high-tech intergalactic thief. He can steal anything from a computer virus to newly developed warheads.

3. What was your inspiration for the character?

My inspiration for the character was my protagonist, Jack Perry. Andrew West is intentionally very similar to him. Both he and Jack are skilled professional thieves; both have fearsome reputations for stopping at nothing to achieve their goals; they both even happen to have the same starship, for crying out loud. I am setting up a parallel to Jack who will be present throughout the series in various ways. The fact that Jack is so similar to Andrew will make Jack's dissimilarities to him shine through, while exposing the true darkness of his inner being.

4. Of all the villains in your book/series, what distinguishes your villain from the others?

Andrew West doesn't have much of a stake in what's happening. He's only there for the money, and will do what he's told as long as he knows he can make it out alive. And since he's really just a hired mercenary, he's not the main target and can escape if the good guys take down the main villain. But he's also an infuriating reminder to Jack of the dark side of himself, and in that way he is unique to Jack. 

Andrew West is a mirror for Jack, reflecting the darkness within him, and this mirror may even, over the course of the series, bring out the darkness in Jack's current actions, not just within his soul.

5. Even though he/she is on the side of evil, what traits about your villain do you admire?

I admire his cleverness. He is always finding creative ways to succeed, and that is a quality that I definitely want more of.

6. What lessons can be learned from the character's story?

I guess the lesson to be learned from Andrew West's story is the lesson that can be learned from Jack: the choices that we make in life define us and shape us. We must be careful to choose wisely.

7. If you had the opportunity to meet your villain, would you do so?

Absolutely. I created him, I'd love to meet him. And he wouldn't necessarily kill me unless he was ordered to or I was getting in the way of his current operation.

-JW

Well, there goes that tag. I really like that one. Anyway, see you soon! I know I haven't been posting much, but I'll try harder!