01:52 Telekinesis? Isn't that moving objects? I'd have thought of the mule more along the line of an active empath or telepath, reading and transmitting and changing thoughts and feelings. (Oh, and not galaxies, just the one in the Foundation series :)
You are very correct in my opinion. The definition of telekinesis is "the supposed ability to move objects at a distance by mental power or other nonphysical means". Tele, in ancient Greek is "far off" and kinesis is movement or motion. (All definitions I've listed were provided by Google and Miriam-Webster.)
I loved listening to the audiobook of Foundation with the old 1950s sounding voices saying lines like: "He's a Mule-man now!" and "This Mule is a madman!" It's amazing how that part of the Foundation books stands out regardless of the era it was published in. It works whatever year you were born in.
Great idea for the video - my additions to the list would be "Morning Light Mountain" from Peter F. Hamiltons Commonwealth Saga and Felix Jongleur (and perhaps also Dread) from Tad Wiliams Otherland Series.
Impressive list. A few more: Alien villain told from his perspective and very evil - Coeurl, Black Destroyer/The Voyage of The Space Beagle. Innelda Isher - Earth Empress, The Weapon Shops of Isher short story and novel. Mostly satiric and funny but sometimes seriously evil alien race villains - The Groaci from Laumer's large collection of Retief short stories and novels.
When sinister and depraved villains in science fiction gets brought up I immediately think of Quinn Dexter from The Nights Dawn trilogy. He was truly and evil character.
1:52 The word should be empathy, the Mule is an empath. Or telepathy, as used by the author. Sorry for nitpicking lol. You are, as always, awesome and captivating! :)
I would not have included HAL-9000 who does not know he is doing something wrong. Morning Light Mountain is another example of this and far more brutal.
Very interesting overview. However, I beg to differ regarding HAL9000: we have no evidence that his programming include our usual human emotions (except perhaps fear at the end, which may just be an imperative of self-preservation). Contradictory instructions he received at the last moment (in particular, that to keep the true objective of the mission from the en-route crew) lead to the outcome the creators haven't envisioned (in that respect you are right to consider it a warning about unintended consequences of advanced technology). Then again, one could argue that other villains probably had some such transformative event in their history. Clarke's approach in the sequel was that of treating HAL9000 as a mental patient, one that can be healed. HAL9000 may be _the_ antagonist in the part of the novel (and film), but there is no malice in its actions. Warning, yes. But villain? I don't think so.
Hal is not a villain he's a victim. He's a intelligent being incapable of falsehoods who's asked to lie and through withholding information complete the mission on his own.
I disagree with the analysis of HAL, IMHO he is not a villain, just a computer programmed with contradicting orders given by his programmers i.e. humans.
Getting in early, always a good start to the day when Darrel uploads.
Thanks, Darrel. You write outstanding scripts and deliver them beautifully. I'm really glad I found your channel.
01:52 Telekinesis? Isn't that moving objects? I'd have thought of the mule more along the line of an active empath or telepath, reading and transmitting and changing thoughts and feelings. (Oh, and not galaxies, just the one in the Foundation series :)
You are very correct in my opinion. The definition of telekinesis is "the supposed ability to move objects at a distance by mental power or other nonphysical means". Tele, in ancient Greek is "far off" and kinesis is movement or motion. (All definitions I've listed were provided by Google and Miriam-Webster.)
Amazing analysis and presentation! Thank you for your presence on UA-cam.
It’s a pity we lost Iain M Banks when we did as the Algebraist’s Archimandrite Luciferous was a great villain that deserved further exposure.
Archie was an utter bastard, I agree, but an Iain M. Banks ‘villain’ that I found more sinister and scary was the Iln in Matter. Does that count?
Excellent list! I'd have to make room somewhere on my list for Randall Flagg, assuming we can call The Stand Sci-Fi.
Great list! Roucchio's Cielcin are brutal. Awesome antagonist. A language and culture doesn't have a word for peace. Really cool idea to build on
I can't believe you left out AM from I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.
That Thing is also extremly evil O.O
Nice compilation sir. It was easy to tell your descriptions were your own, as in the way you described them was in your own words. Righteous!
I loved listening to the audiobook of Foundation with the old 1950s sounding voices saying lines like:
"He's a Mule-man now!" and "This Mule is a madman!"
It's amazing how that part of the Foundation books stands out regardless of the era it was published in. It works whatever year you were born in.
Do you know which version that was? I'm assuming that there is more than one
Brilliant list. Cheers
Great choices!
Loved this video. What an insight! Cheers.
In Hollywood it is said that the hero is only as good as the villain.
HAL 9000. What happens when fictional computer programmers ignore Asimov's laws of robotics....
@xcyoteex why?
I have no mouth, yet I must scream. Harlan Ellison. 🎉
The most disturbing SF I’ve ever read. Then again anyone who’d sent a dead animal to their publisher 3rd class mail as revenge ….
It says a lot about Iain Banks that the scariest person he could imagine was someone who's filthy rich!
Great idea for the video - my additions to the list would be "Morning Light Mountain" from Peter F. Hamiltons Commonwealth Saga and Felix Jongleur (and perhaps also Dread) from Tad Wiliams Otherland Series.
I appreciate you starting with “The Mule”. When I saw the title I was curious if he was sinister enough.
Gaky from Cage of Souls deserves an honorable mention
Impressive list. A few more: Alien villain told from his perspective and very evil - Coeurl, Black Destroyer/The Voyage of The Space Beagle. Innelda Isher - Earth Empress, The Weapon Shops of Isher short story and novel. Mostly satiric and funny but sometimes seriously evil alien race villains - The Groaci from Laumer's large collection of Retief short stories and novels.
Funny, the first villain that came to mind was the Mule. And then you mentioned him.
When sinister and depraved villains in science fiction gets brought up I immediately think of Quinn Dexter from The Nights Dawn trilogy. He was truly and evil character.
1:52 The word should be empathy, the Mule is an empath. Or telepathy, as used by the author. Sorry for nitpicking lol. You are, as always, awesome and captivating! :)
For me, I think AM from I have no mouth and I must scream fits this list to a tee!
Great video 👍,just one small correction, mule wasn't telekinetist at all, but had tremendous telepathic power
Everyone on this list, bar HAL, are double plus ungood!
What about AM
Maybe he hasn't read it. Or maybe he has simply forgotten.
Alex Delarge a young distopian version of the judge from blood meridian
The nanites in.
The Goliath Stone.
I would not have included HAL-9000 who does not know he is doing something wrong.
Morning Light Mountain is another example of this and far more brutal.
Very interesting overview. However, I beg to differ regarding HAL9000: we have no evidence that his programming include our usual human emotions (except perhaps fear at the end, which may just be an imperative of self-preservation). Contradictory instructions he received at the last moment (in particular, that to keep the true objective of the mission from the en-route crew) lead to the outcome the creators haven't envisioned (in that respect you are right to consider it a warning about unintended consequences of advanced technology). Then again, one could argue that other villains probably had some such transformative event in their history. Clarke's approach in the sequel was that of treating HAL9000 as a mental patient, one that can be healed.
HAL9000 may be _the_ antagonist in the part of the novel (and film), but there is no malice in its actions. Warning, yes. But villain? I don't think so.
❤ ❤ ❤
I guess The Shrike doesn't count since it's technically not sinister 😃
Hal is not a villain he's a victim. He's a intelligent being incapable of falsehoods who's asked to lie and through withholding information complete the mission on his own.
I disagree with the analysis of HAL, IMHO he is not a villain, just a computer programmed with contradicting orders given by his programmers i.e. humans.