What makes stories satisfying to me

[newtypeshadow]

A few weeks ago, iriththedreamer and I had a conversation about a fantasy trilogy she'd read all the way through, that I'd put down after book two because I feared only bad things would happen. Even now, thinking about those books makes me feel a bit empty--like I invested a lot of myself in the characters, and a lot of time in the reading, and none of it was

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[satanthe42nd]

I'm very much the opposite, I suppose. I root for the villains, and I love it when the heroes ultimately fail in their quest, ex: 'The International'. granted, it means I get somewhat confused when the protagonist is a villain (rare though that may be).

I guess I'm extra cynical.

[newtypeshadow]

Wow. Is it all villains, or a subset?

Like...particularly compelling villains? I have to admit that despite loving comic book heroes, I do love Lex Luthor more than Superman, and The Joker is right up there with Batman for me. Also, I hear the book Arslan by M.J. Engh makes you want to root for the villain despite his evil deeds. It's a sci-fi classic.

Or...perhaps bureaucracy or The Man as villain? (Flight of the Concord wut?)

What do you think makes it so satisfying for you when the villains win and heroes fail? *curious*

[satanthe42nd]

almost all villains, but particularly any villain in a story where the hero is the 'stands for truth, justice, and the status quo' type.

it gets more murky with anti-heroes (like V, or Spider Jerusalem), but with normal do-gooder type heroes, their general goal is usually to either maintain or restore the established order against a force that desires (usually destructive, because that makes the distinction easier) change.

and then there is 'Soon I Will Be Invincible', half of which follows Doctor Impossible as he tries to conquer the world. that's the good half of the book, right there. of course, in that case you are meant to root for him.

what it really comes down to, I think, is that change is so much more interesting, in almost any medium than sameness. and I have a short attention span.

[newtypeshadow]

almost all villains, but particularly any villain in a story where the hero is the 'stands for truth, justice, and the status quo' type.

That makes me curious about exceptions now. I think it's because many plots I see have The Establishment as the bad guy--a corrupt government or company that someone is trying to expose, and thus bring to justice--which will naturally change the system for the better. In those cases, the villains are fighting for the status quo, and the heroes for change. Is this where the cynicism factors in?

As for V and Spider Jerusalem...♥♥♥!!! (I still need to read the rest of Transmetropolitan--don't tell kerobaros. XP)

I've never heard of Soon I Will Be Invincible. What happens in the bad half of the book?

[satanthe42nd]

amazon link here. the other half of the book isn't bad, really, but it did not hook me like the Dr. Impossible chapters did. basically the chapters of the book alternate between Dr. Impossible and his scheme(s), and a new superheroine coming to terms with her new identity as a hero, the events unfolding around Dr. Impossible, and the internal politics of the supergroup she is part of. it's still a good book, and I do recommend it