The absence of a villain

Dreran the Green · 06-03-2003, 09:36 PM

In most stories (at least most of the ones I have read) there is a character or creature that is always there trying to prevent the hero or heroine from accomplishing their task. Tolkien had his Dark Lords and treacherous wizards, what about everyone here? Do you like having villains in the books you read, or not? Do you always write a villain or two into your own? If so, what are they like? And must there always be an opposing force to the hero/heroine?
I have been writing a fantasy book for a while now. I am almost done, but yesterday I realized I never wrote in a villain, or any sort of enemy for my main characters. There are a lot of flashbacks where they battle with different enemys, but for the main part, in the present time the story is taking place, no one. I'm torn between two options: If I write in a villain or someone to fight my characters, It will change the story dramatically, and I don't know if I want that. But without one, I'm afraid the story is really just a long dragging on of events. Again, do you like villains in the books you read?

06-03-2003, 09:36 PM	#1
Dreran the Green Lady of Legends Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Missing. Reward if found. Posts: 1,083	The absence of a villain In most stories (at least most of the ones I have read) there is a character or creature that is always there trying to prevent the hero or heroine from accomplishing their task. Tolkien had his Dark Lords and treacherous wizards, what about everyone here? Do you like having villains in the books you read, or not? Do you always write a villain or two into your own? If so, what are they like? And must there always be an opposing force to the hero/heroine? I have been writing a fantasy book for a while now. I am almost done, but yesterday I realized I never wrote in a villain, or any sort of enemy for my main characters. There are a lot of flashbacks where they battle with different enemys, but for the main part, in the present time the story is taking place, no one. I'm torn between two options: If I write in a villain or someone to fight my characters, It will change the story dramatically, and I don't know if I want that. But without one, I'm afraid the story is really just a long dragging on of events. Again, do you like villains in the books you read? __________________ The end justifies the means, thought Aziraphale. And the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.* *This is not actually true. The road to Hell is paved with frozen door to door salesmen. On weekends many of the younger demons go ice-skating down it. ~Good Omens

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