Posted by Peter H on August 23, 2001 at 19:10:31 from 213.122.41.21:
In Reply to: Re: Resemblances - adult baddies posted by andy bolger on August 23, 2001 at 18:49:31:
I certainly agree. The burglars in SA are the one unconvincing element in the book. On the other hand, the G.A. is a brilliant construct, but the finest 'villain' (because he isn't a villain at all) is Squashy Hat. To build such antipathy on a mere misunderstanding was a master-stroke. It means that there are no heavy moral 'lessons' to be highlighted, and it makes for complete unpredictability. With the burglars, we know they will be caught.
I could go on . . . In fact I wrote an article for Mixed Moss on 'AR's Villains' some years ago, but decided not to submit it. That was the time when Roger W edited MM, and he never acknowledged anything he received. Nuff said.