Cajal is an honorable enemy attempting no more than the rectification of a border dispute whereas Brechdan is a fictional "villain" plotting the subjugation or extermination of mankind. Flandry's other indisputable "villain," the Chereionite Aycharaych, cynically manipulates populations and individuals for what would have been a worthy end, the preservation of his racial heritage, if his means had been less devious, destructive and demonic.
Thus, Anderson excels both at "heroes and villains" narratives and at rounded novels presenting both sides of a conflict. However, Ian Fleming, Stieg Larsson, SM Stirling and Dornford Yates routinely present vastly viler villains. In Yates' Gale Warning, at the end of Chapter X (of XV), two of our heroes finally behold for the first time, through binoculars, across a valley, their long sought quarry:
"Barabbas...robber-chief...a great, big bull of a man, all dressed in white."
-Dornford Yates, Gale Warning (London, 1939), CHAPTER X, p. 210.
The drive and force that make this "Barabbas" a lawless puppet-master are visible across the valley. Maybe we should be relieved that Anderson did not turn his considerable creative talents to describing individuals as evil as Fleming's Rosa Klebb, Larsson's Zala, Stirling's Ignatieff or Yates' several equivalents?
(For some information about Yates' two main "heroes," see Mansel And Chandos.)
Addendum, later the same evening, then the following morning: See also The Structure Of A Series: Dornford Yates and The Structure Of A Series: Dornford Yates II. (Yates matches Anderson for series complexity.)
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
It's true Poul Anderson seldom creates villains as truly EVIL as Stirling's Count Ignatieff or William Walker. More often, he shows us basically decent people simply doing what was their duty to their own sides.
You are making me regret how I've never read any of Dornford Yates books! (Smiles)
Sean
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