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| *, at eviloverlord.com (Copyrighted, but not created by Mr. Anspach) | *, at eviloverlord.com (Copyrighted, but not created by Mr. Anspach) | ||
| * A short film based on the list above created by members of the ]. | * A short film based on the list above created by members of the ]. | ||
| * random selections from the list, hosted by Teresa Nielsen Hayden | |||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 00:15, 28 May 2007
The Evil Overlord List, also known as If I Were An Evil Overlord, is one of several popular lists of planned actions for a competent Evil Overlord to avoid the well-known blunders committed by Evil Overlords in popular fictional works. The lists were compiled by science fiction fans over a number of years, and copies of the list that can be found on the Internet vary in number and order of entries.
History
The most famous specific lists, both referred to as the Evil Overlord List, were developed concurrently. Both were published to the web in the early 1990s. The original, if lesser-known list was compiled in 1990 by members of the now-defunct FidoNet Science Fiction and Fandom (SFFAN) email echo. The FidoNet list originated with a 1988 Saturday Night Live skit featuring Bond Villains touting a book "What Not To Do When You Capture James Bond". The FidoNet list arose out of discussions regarding what sort of advice might be in that book.
The later-produced yet more famous version of the list was compiled in 1994 by Peter Anspach (hence it is occasionally titled "Peter's Evil Overlord List") based on informal discussions at conventions and on online bulletin boards in the early 1990s, and has subsequently become one of the best-known parodies of bad SFF writing, frequently referenced online (such as by User Friendly). It was originally The Top 100 Things I'd Do If I Ever Became An Evil Overlord, but grew over 100 entries.
Despite predating the Anspach list's existence, the FidoNet list was published later, and thus never gained the wide notoriety of the former list.
Both Peter Anspach and Jack Butler (the compiler and publisher of the FidoNet list) acknowledge the other list's existence. Both also state that their two lists have been so cross-pollinated over the years as to become effectively identical.
The Evil Overlord List has led to spinoffs, including lists for stock characters including (but not limited to) heroes, henchmen, sidekicks, the Evil Overlord's Accountant, and Starfleet captains.
Usage
In Australia, a minor literary scandal erupted in 1997 when it emerged that award-winning author Helen Darville plagiarised this list for her regular column in Brisbane's Courier-Mail newspaper, which led to her being fired.
Teresa Nielsen Hayden, noted author and lecturer, uses an expanded version of the list in her lectures on writing science fiction. She recommends selecting five random cliches from the list, and using them, or their reverse ("Say you've drawn A-34, 'I will not turn into a snake. It never helps.' You can have a character turn into a snake and find it doesn't help, or do it and find it very useful indeed") as the basis for a plot.
From 2001-2002, the alt.eo Alt.* hierarchy newsgroup was dedicated to discussing and adding to the list.
In 2007, issue #6 of Marvel Comics' Heroes for Hire featured a Doombot which had been reprogrammed with the contents of the list.
Examples
Examples of entries from the list include:
- 7: When I've captured my adversary and he says, "Look, before you kill me, will you at least tell me what this is all about?" I'll say, "No." and shoot him. Actually, on second thought I'll shoot him then say "No."
- 12: One of my advisers will be an average five-year-old child. Any flaws in my plan that he is able to spot will be corrected before implementation.
- 29: I shall wear bright and cheery colors, to throw my enemies into confusion.
- 37: If an enemy I have just killed has a younger sibling or offspring anywhere, I will find them and have them killed immediately, instead of waiting for them to grow up harboring feelings of vengeance towards me in my old age.
- 56: My Legions of Terror will be trained in basic marksmanship. Any who cannot learn to hit a man-sized target at 10 meters will be used for target practice.
- 75: I will instruct my Legions of Terror to attack the hero in masses, instead of standing around waiting while members break off and attack one or two at a time.
- 89: All bumbling conjurers, clumsy squires, no-talent bards, and cowardly thieves in the land will be preemptively executed; all annoying and/or humorously clever robots and androids will be destroyed; The hero will certainly give up and abandon his quest if he has no handy source of comic relief.
- 220: Whatever my one vulnerability is, I will fake a different one. For example, ordering all mirrors removed from the palace, screaming and flinching whenever someone accidentally holds up a mirror, etc. In the climax when the hero whips out a mirror and thrusts it at my face, my reaction will be "Hmm...I think I need a shave."
Notes
- Peter Anspach, "Peter's Evil Overlord List" (accessed September 26, 2006)
- "Stupid Plot Tricks - The Evil Overlord Devises a Plot". Retrieved 2006-12-14.
- David Greason, "The Review - TZADIK," Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, (accessed September 26, 2006). See also The Australian, "Editor dumps Darville," Ed: 1, Pg. 3, 5th February 1997.
- "The Evil Overlord Devises a Plot" Excerpted from Teresa Nielsen Hayden lecture on Stupid Plotting Tricks
- "Official Alt.eo FAQ v0.1.2", 08 December, 2002
External links
- The Original FidoNet Evil Overlord List at Jack Butler's website.
- Peter Anspach's Version Of The Evil Overlord List, at eviloverlord.com (Copyrighted, but not created by Mr. Anspach)
- Evil Overlord A short film based on the list above created by members of the Imperial College Science Fiction Society.