October Prompt: Are Villains and Anti-Heroes Necessary?

[Prof. Tarma Amelia Black]

October is a month of changes. Summer slides into fall and fall deepens with rich colors on the trees and grass disappears under the avalanche of fallen leaves. The thing about seasons is, in addition to marking the changes of the year, that they provide a contrast to each other (well, except where seasons are the exception and not the rule).

What about books, and stories? How would it be in our books if we didn't have the villain or antihero in the story providing a contrast to our hero/heroine? What would be different? For example, in the Harry Potter books, we have Lord Voldemort, a classic villain. Can you imagine the books without Voldemort? How would they be? Would they still be enthralling?

Then there are the books of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and specifically, Professor Moriarty. Sherlock Holmes confronts him in The Final Problem (and he is mentioned in other stories). Are the stories about Mr. Holmes as great without having that villain in them?

What book, or books, do you think of, where the Villain (or Anti-Hero) play a very important part in the story. Are they needed in the story or could it go along fine without them?

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There is no deadline as such for these prompts but if you’d like it to count towards your chance of earning the award for a specific year, we’ll need it by the end of that school year. If you’re comfortable sharing, then post below. If not, email your story to us via hol.bookclub @ gmail.com (without the spaces).

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