Beyond Jack Vance discussion

Well, there is a section for favorite Vancean heroes, so why not villains? (Arguably, a few characters like Cugel could be both hero and villain).

For out-and-out villainy I say Howard Alan Treesong from the final book in The Demon Princes. Insane, yet capable (at least at first). Sure he was taken out like a chump, but his back story, the excerpts of his writing, that whole scene with the high school reunion really made him a stand out to me.

After that, I would say though he barely appears, the adjectives used to describe Tamurello make him pretty good too. And King Kasimir in Lyonesse is a good more typical kind of villain for Vance, especially that part where it describes the 'morbid and dutiful love he makes with his wife.' [paraphrasing]

I would also add Iucounu the Laughing Magician as well, come to think of it.

Howard Alan Treesong defintely gets my vote. I'd even enjoy to share an outing with him...so long as it wasn't to dinner.

Planet of Adventure's Aila Woudiver and especially the complicated, fascinating Helsse, a Wankhman spy embedded in the Yao aristocracy.

Bad Ronald is my least favorite Vance book, but probably the most memorable villain.

Iucounu is my favorite villain.

Others:
The Face and his lunar revenge.
The guy who shows up at the end of Night Lamp.
The evil big haired lady from the Cadwal Chronicles.
Fiametta of the Thousand Flames from the Magnus Ridolph short story- maybe not a total villain, but pretty awesome.
The guy from Frietzke's Turn- one of my favorite short stories.
And maybe Rhialto the Marvelous.

mark wrote: "Planet of Adventure's Aila Woudiver and especially the complicated, fascinating Helsse, a Wankhman spy embedded in the Yao aristocracy."

Yes, Aila Woudiver is a pretty great villain. Very slippery, and more active than some other Vance villains, who, though vastly intriguing and complex, don't do very much to plague the hero. I like (and hate) Brother Umphred (I especially like how he's punished in the end). And King Casmir is a pretty active villain too, and also properly motivated.

I'd have to say the Anome at least in the first Durdane book, or perhaps Osso. I also like Liane the Wayfarer.

Ronald Wilby and it ain't even close. Of course the similarities to Howard Alan Treesong and Paul Gunther are obvious, but Ronald is in a class of his own. And how brilliantly does Vance get inside his head!