By Lisa Black
As an experimental time-saver, I asked ChatGTP to write me a 500 word blog on ‘the five favorite villains from books.’ I didn’t specify whose favorites or give any other instructions. Minus its flowery prose and possibly speciesist comment on how ‘true evil is not always found in the monsters that lurk in the shadows, but in the hearts of men,’ this is what it came up with (partly abridged for length):
#1 Professor James Moriarty – “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” by Arthur Conan Doyle: The arch-nemesis of the brilliant detective Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty is the epitome of intellectual villainy. Calculating, ruthless, and utterly devoid of conscience, Moriarty is a master of manipulation and deception. He represents the dark side of intellect, a reminder that brilliance unchecked by morality can lead to unimaginable destruction.

A solid choice. Any great hero wants a serious challenge, and one who just might be smarter than you and without your ethical constraints is a challenge indeed.
#2 The White Witch – “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis: Jadis, the White Witch, is a chilling embodiment of icy cruelty and absolute power. Yet, what makes the White Witch so compelling is her vulnerability. Beneath her facade of strength lies a deep-seated fear of losing control, driving her to ever greater acts of tyranny in a desperate bid to maintain her grip on power.

Hmm. Yes, watching her manipulate a young child strikes anyone as cold beyond measure. But is that a hint of misogyny in my buddy Chat when it brings up her control-freak tendency (because aren’t women always trying to change everyone around them)? It didn’t see any ‘vulnerability’ in Moriarty. Still, a fun choice, for the icicle that prods our heart every time she walks across the page. I would choose Big Brother (regardless if an individual or a committee) as the epitome of manipulation and control. Even Winston crawled willingly back to BB’s vast bosom.
#3 Captain Ahab – Moby-Dick by Herman Melville: Captain Ahab is a figure of tragic obsession, consumed by his relentless pursuit of the eponymous white whale. His single-mindedness and descent into madness make him a formidable adversary, a force of nature driven by forces beyond reason or morality.

Also a good pick. It would be hard to find a more terrifying situation than being in an isolated setting, like the middle of a freezing ocean, doing an already tough job like sticking spears in something approximately one thousand times larger than you are, and realizing that the guy who’s in charge has irrevocably lost his mind. See also Hal the computer from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
#4 Miss Havisham – Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: Miss Havisham is a haunting specter of thwarted love and bitter resentment. Yet, beneath her cold exterior lies a woman consumed by regret and longing, a tragic figure whose own suffering becomes a weapon against others.

An insightful choice. Who would be frightened of an elderly, slightly dotty spinster? She’s a warning to us all not to turn our backs on the underestimated. Or the help—there’s also Mrs. Danvers, doing her best to send two people who never did a thing to her down in flames. Even colder choices are the outwardly normal Nina in Her by Harriet Lane, or Cathy Ames in Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
#5 Sauron – The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: Sauron is the dark lord whose malevolent influence looms over Middle-earth, seeking to bend all free peoples to his will. A master of deception and manipulation, Sauron corrupts the hearts of men and elves, turning them against one another in his quest for domination.

I’m too much of a LOTR fan to argue with this one, but, as Chat itself pointed out, Sauron is a very distant force rather than a flesh and blood human (or witch). This makes him a little too amorphous to hate. Maybe Pennywise from It, who at least settled down to earth for some one-on-one when it suited him.
Villains are a matter of personal taste, of course, just like heroes. Chat and I have agreed to disagree.
What about you, dear Readers? Who’s on your list of the best/favorite/scariest villains of literature?

Lisa Black is the New York Times bestselling author of 16 suspense novels, including works that have been translated into six languages, optioned for film, and shortlisted for the inaugural Sue Grafton Memorial Award. She is also a Certified Latent Print Examiner and a Certified Crime Scene Analyst, beginning her forensics career at the Coroner’s office in Cleveland Ohio and then the police department in Cape Coral, Florida. She has spoken to readers and writers at numerous conferences, been a consultant on CourtTV and was a Guest of Honor at 2021 Killer Nashville.
Wow! Chat made some different choices. Moriarty makes sense, but I can think of a few others in my books that should have made this list. I ran lists on “notable villains in mystery novels,” then “thriller novels,” and “mystery/thriller books,” and Chat GPT came up with different picks. Moriarty populated both “mystery” lists, as did Mrs. Danvers from Rebecca and Amy Dunne from Gone Girl. On the mystery list, Moriarty took top billing. On the thriller list, it was Hannibal Lector. On the thriller list, Norman Bates from Psycho hit #1, followed by Annie Wilkes from Misery in close second. What are the odds the list would change every time it was run? Great experiement.
Yeah I thought it was fun. I don’t think I’ll be using AI to write my stuff, though. It’s too prose-y.
I’ve never used the whole Chat thing — even though I’m sure it’s amazing. However, I’m afraid that AI could turn out to be the worst villain of all (though I pray it won’t be!!!) Thanks for a super interesting post!!!
OK, love all these choices, but I’m calling out Miss H as potentially a misogynistic choice. She’s a cautionary tale for sure. But villainous or not would produce a great literary discussion!
You can’t help but feel sorry for someone who’s heart was broken. Up to a point, anyway–see The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson!