We all have those people we love to hate. Every story has a hero and a protagonist, and to be a good story, both must be well written.  Here we have collected some of our favorites.  They are complex and conniving, they are new and classic, they are male, female, inhuman and abstract.  They are Villains. 1) Levana The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer A bit new to the literary Villain scene is Levana from The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer.  Evil moon queen out to rule Earth and make all Earthens her personal slaves. Oh, and she has mind powers and can make people do whatever she wants them to. 2) Captain Hook Peter Pan by JM Barrie In his many depictions Captain Hook, from Peter Pan by JM Barrie, is always creepy.  (but props to the ‘stach) His eyes can turn red and his tears are poison. Here are some quotes before we discuss this anymore: “I suppose it’s like the ticking crocodile, isn’t it? Time is chasing after all of us.” “Some day,’ said Smee, ‘the clock will run down, and then he’ll get you.’ Hook wetted his dry lips, ‘Aye,’ he said, ‘that’s the fear that haunts me.” This Villain from our childhoods was searching for eternal youth. “Really?” you ask “I thought he was just a mean man wanting hurt Peter and fly.” Let me explain, Peter=eternal youth and Hook (James Hook, named after James M. Barrie) is the adult being chase by time, literally and symbolically. But that’s another post for another day. 3) The Circle Gallagher Girl by Ally Carter This one isn’t so much a villain as much as an entire secret organization of villains. They have a nasty agenda that involves the Gallagher Girls, but Gallagher Girls don’t go down without a fight. 4) Jadis Chronicles of Narnia by C.s. Lewis The White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, is cold and cruel.  (pun intended)  Not only is she a terrible tyrant, she commands an entire army of wicked mythical creatures.  Ugh. 5) Sauron Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien Sauron is another that isn’t an actual person.  Sauron was creatred by J.R.R. Tolkien as a character/force symbolizing evil, and the devil is a perfect example of evil. This character has a plot and no sense of humanity. He is pure evil and hatred with no readers rooting for him & with everyone fearing him. 6) Sheriff of Nottingham (Our preference as the best evil portrayal: BBC TV show) Big Ego and greedy nemesis of Robin Hood. Low-down, dirty, rotten, no-good, snake-in-the-grass… 7) Mr. Wickham Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen AKA: LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE. Don’t think he really makes our villain qualifications, but he is mean and one of Pride and Prejudice antagonist. I think the only people who like him are Kitty and Mrs Bennett.

Joke found on Tumblr: Wick-ham, Wick (Wicked, Evil) + Ham (a delicious piece of meat)= An evil delicious piece of meat. 8) President Snow Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins This demented, evil tyrant gives you the heebie-jeebies.  Makes kids fight each other, and smells like blood and roses because he has ulcers in his mouth from drinking poison. gross.  However, we love the actor, Donald Sutherland! 9) Pitch Black/Boogeyman/Nightmare King The Guardians Series by William Joyce He comes with his own sinister army of Nightmares.   He hides under your bed and lurks in the corners of your mind. 10) The Creature Frankenstein by Mary Shelley Public Service Announcement: The green guy with screws in his head is NOT named Frankenstein. He didn’t have a name (poor guy) and was only referred to as “Creature”. Frankenstein was the name of the mad scientist who created him and abandoned him. With that said…who was the true villain of the story?? 10.1) Steelheart Brandon Sanderson’s Steelheart, is a fantastically complex character.  Aside from his frightening ability to turn anything, or anyone, to steel in the bling of an eye, he is afraid of nothing except his secret weakness Other sites that have Villain list: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/3560987/50-greatest-villains-in-literature.html http://www.stylist.co.uk/books/top-30-villains-in-literature Who are your favorite Villains??