A few years ago, a sci fi fan[1] took the top 100 mistakes villains inevitably make in fiction and flipped them on their head. The Evil Overlord List was the result.
So, if you decide to take over the world—or write a villain—here are a few pearls of wisdom from the Evil Overlord:
- Shooting is not too good for my enemies.
- The artifact which is the source of my power will not be kept on the Mountain of Despair beyond the River of Fire guarded by the Dragons of Eternity. It will be in my safe-deposit box. The same applies to the object which is my one weakness.
- After I kidnap the beautiful princess, we will be married immediately in a quiet civil ceremony, not a lavish spectacle in three weeks' time during which the final phase of my plan will be carried out.
- I will be secure in my superiority. Therefore, I will feel no need to prove it by leaving clues in the form of riddles or leaving my weaker enemies alive to show they pose no threat.
- I will never build a sentient computer smarter than I am.
- I will not interrogate my enemies in the inner sanctum -- a small hotel well outside my borders will work just as well.
- The hero is not entitled to a last kiss, a last cigarette, or any other form of last request.
You get the idea. Can you think of any more cliches? What about dumb things the hero or heroine does that inevitably land him or her in the villains clutches?
[1] The Evil Overlord List is Copyright 1996-1997 by Peter Anspach.
