LESSER EVILS GIVEAWAY!
THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!
**In the interest of tidiness, I’m going to condense all the updates.**
- We’ve broken 240; hooray! Talk about a jump!
- Watch for the second cutscene later this week. The first (as promised for hitting 120 is HERE.
- The contest runs until December 1st. If you haven’t entered yet there’s still time. Can we get to 500?
- At 500 entries, the last prize unlocks: a new short story for all of you!
Current Prizes:
- One person will win signed copies of Brimstone Angels, Lesser Evils, the second Waterdeep Omnibus (featuring The God Catcher), and a copy of Realms of the Dead, featuring the first appearance of Tam “the Shepherd” Zawad, among other great stories. PLUS a copy of the Sundering poster given out at GenCon. (I will be happy to sign this too, or send it to you clean.)
- TWO people will get a copy of Brimstone Angels AND a copy of Lesser Evils
- Five additional people will win a copy of either Brimstone Angels or Lesser Evils.
- AND…I will release another cut scene from Lesser Evils!
In 45 days, my next book Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils comes out. Here are some answers to questions about that!
Purty
What’s it about?
I hate this question. I’m not good at answering it.
You should probably get good at answering it. You’re kind of responsible for talking up your books.
You’re right. Blergh: Okay, Lesser Evils picks up shortly after Brimstone Angels. If you haven’t read Brimstone Angels, I highly recommend you do. Your experience will be much enriched and what I say next won’t constitute a spoiler…
So in Lesser Evils, Farideh tries to find a way to get Lorcan out of the Hells, finding the art of rituals and a super creepy villain in the process. Lorcan tries to figure out what his sister’s up to. Brin tries to sort out where he stands between Cormyr and the life he thinks he’d rather have. And Tam “The Shepherd” Zawad gets sent out on a mission with a new Harper recruit, Dahl Peredur, that leads them all into a very complicated situation involving multiple baddies. Including the Harpers’ old foes, the Zhentarim!
And Havi, of course, continues to be adorably aggressive.
So is it good?
Look, you really can’t ask an author that question. I think it is. But fortunately, you don’t have to take my word for it. Here are some early reviews (as well as a link to the sample chapter up on Wizards.com)
I still have to wait 45 days though. Why are you even bringing this up?
I’m glad you asked!
I’ve decided to have a contest—my first ever giveaway!—in honor of the release. Want to get in on it? Here’s what you need to do:
- Make a comment on this post. You are going to have to leave an email address to do this, but that’s good, because if you win, I will have to have a way to contact you!
- In your comment, call out your favorite fictional evil organization. It MUST be fictional, but you can draw from books, movies, comics, or TV. Feel free to include links—we all love being introduced to new stories.
- From the pool of comments, I will randomly select a winner who will get a signed copy of Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils.
- BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE! If at least 30 people enter, I will give the winner copies of Brimstone Angels and Lesser Evils. I will also draw TWO more winners, who will each get a copy of Lesser Evils or Brimstone Angels (your choice).
- AND HOLD THE PHONE! If at least 60 people enter, I will give the winner copies of Brimstone Angels and Lesser Evils and the second Waterdeep Omnibus, containing The God Catcher as well as City of the Dead by Rosemary Jones and Circle of Skulls by James P. Davis. Plus THREE winners of Lesser Evils or Brimstone Angels.
- If we get to 120…I will think of something, because I will be really surprised if that happens. (Go ahead. Surprise me!)
I will draw names and notify winners December 1st, so if you don’t win, you’ll still have time to get your copy. 🙂 Only one entry per person. May the odds be ever in your favor, etc.,etc.
I’m panicking! I can’t think of a good evil organization! Everyone is going to judge me!
Nope. I promise. My fans are all kind (at least on this blog). Just go with your gut.
I don’t know any fictional evil organizations. Maybe focus on the good guys?
That’s okay, Granma, you really can’t enter anyway, since we’re related. (And the focus on the bad guys is thematic. Not instructive.)
I already have copies of those books.
1. Are they signed? These will be signed.
2. Do you celebrate any winter gift-giving holidays? You can gift these! They are perfect for Secret Santa gifts. (You can also gift the old copy. I won’t tell.)
Why do you do this question-answer thing? It seems weird for this topic.
Mostly because it’s easy and I am busy. But also because it is easy and I am lazy.
Get commenting!
Cobra who else 🙂
The Black Council!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0451457811/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1350770965&sr=8-1&pi=SL75
Order of the Blackened Denarians from the Dresden Files.
SPECTRE!
I’m going with the Equalists from Legend of Korra. Their agenda is understandable, but their methods are just harsh enough keep you rooting for the protagonist.
Good luck to everyone who enters, and thanks to Erin for putting on the contest.
Well, I do love me some Cobra, but I’m going to go with a more recent favorite:The Hammers of God from Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid Chronicles. Not sure they are evil, exactly, more like misguided extremist demon hunters. But they definitely have an antagonist role in the books AND they have guys with long ninja beards. And that is seriously awesome. Whole series is great.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Iron_Druid_Chronicles
OMG signed copies!
Shoes!…wait no. FDA!…thats not fictional.
Umm umm…DAMNIT! im too hard of a realms nerd!
All I can think of is the Red Wizards or the Zhentarim…but you know those!
Other people said cobra…cobra is cool. The Sith!…nah too easy. OH how about the Daleks (Is a race also considered an organization?) How about THE LEGION OF DOOM! or Hydra! …Team Rocket? Im lame!…I want books. I love you? T.T
While technically not an evil organization, I would say the Mi-Go from The Whisperer in the Darkness by HP Lovecraft are my favorite.
So many good choices.. I am going to have to go with the Borg from star trek. They assimilate and enslave all other races in the entire universe. I couldn’t think of anything more evil than that
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borg_(Star_Trek)
The Fratellis from the classic movie The Goonies. What’s better than a greedy old lady and her dysfunctional family trying to beat a rag tag group of kids to a legendary pirate treasure!
What happens when someone dosen’t have a favorite evil organization:)……..ok,just for the sake of the competition I will go with The Black Ajah.
I have to say the Asmodi or the Cult of Asmodeous. For the most part they’re new but quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Not too mention, I watched them grow from Paul S Kemp giving Asmodeous his divinity back. RA Salvatore giving the cult its first breaths. Finally, reading you give it a devilish life.
I’ll put in a second for the Order of the Blackened Dinarians. There is just something so completely evil about them…
I’m old school on villains, and since comic books were my first love…the Secret Society of Super-Villains!
I would have to say Cult of the Dragon. Forgotten Realms adventures are better for them.
I would have to say Cult of the Dragon. The Forgotten Realms adventures were practically founded on their awfulness.
The Band of the Hawk (Apostle version) Berserk manga.
I feel obligated to choose from a series I have a tattoo from!
I am going to go with the WOTC Book Club. Oh wait..we really aren’t that evil. Ok I will go with the Black Council from the Dresden Files.
The Mayor of Sunnydale from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Jenna Jane Mulbridge and her cohorts at the Salisbury Estate/Asylum from Mike Carey’s ‘Felix Castor’ novels. JJ is the lead horror-of-a-human-being who has imprisoned a throng of supernatural creatures in the name of science and study that is nothing more than a thinly veiled front for her experimentation on ghosts/possessed/monsters. She genuinely thinks she is performing a service to the community, but we see her through Felix Castor’s eyes as essentially the reincarnation of Heinrich Himmler in the form of Martha Stewart. She and her staff are not my choice because they are funny, quirky, enviable, or respectable villains. They are abhorred from the word go and every time a chapter begins with them you squirm a little in your seat and relish the thought of their extermination in the most horrific ways possible. Mike Carey knows who to make you hate, and from a novelists perspective, this is pure satisfaction in evil.
Hmmmmm how about….the Decepticons?
The aliens from X-Com. They really creeped me out!
The Forsaken from Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time. Mean , evil , powerful , and flawed .
Reading the first Brimstone as I write this. It’s pretty good so far.
For evil, I sort of have to go with the Evil League of Evil, because, well, it’s right there in the name, plus it has Dead Bowie and Fake Thomas Jefferson, and of course the leader, Bad Horse.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_League_of_Evil
I might also mention The Auditors from Discworld. They often come across as evil, but they’re more or less the embodiment of lawful neutral, with a very “anti messy things” charter… and life is often very messy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auditors_of_Reality
Tough choice… Today, I’m going to choose the Shin-Ra Corporation from Final Fantasy VII.
I’m going to go with Section 31 from Star Trek DS9. The best evil is the one that thinks it is doing good. 🙂
Can’t wait to read the new book!
The Church of Shar.
I am not sure that I have a favorite, but the Elder Things in Lovecraft’s universe. Though Xenomorphs (Alien franchise) are rather terrifying as well.
KAOS, from Get Smart.
Number 30? Sweet!
And the Night Masks, obviously. 🙂
Cheers
Favorite? wow, that’s a tough one. I’d probably go with the Decepticons 🙂 In the Forgotten Realms my favorite evil organization is the Harpers! jk.
The empire from the original star wars trilogy
The Priestesses of Lloth for sure.
Absolutely glad that brimstone angels is continuing with all the changes going on with WotC.
Been on a Young Justice/Red Hood kick, so I’d have to say the League of Shadows as one of the most evil organizations.
I guarantee I’m the only one who’ll bring this one up.
The Circle of Nine from Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain.
http://legacyofkain.wikia.com/wiki/Circle_of_Nine Apologies for the poor quality of the wiki, the games are actually very good. If you haven’t played, go do so- the games are on the playstation store. Buy them now!
But no, a cabal of powerful sorcerers who pull the strings of the world from behind the scenes, slowly descending into a madness caused by their own hubris as they abuse their powers, independently dragging the world down with them.
Favorite evil, that indeed is hard. Not much of an evil fan, just play evil from time to time.
In some ways was going to offer those alien bugs from “Starship Troopers” especially the brain bug. Hey mankind being by bugs does sound Evil.
Looking forward to reading the first one soon.
I don’t know if this qualifies as an ‘evil’ organization, but it is definitely unlawful ( they are technically vigilantes, but then again, so are most supers). – the group of ‘social assassins’ that practice Sinanju in the [i]Destroyer[/i] series of novels.
If I had to pick a solo villain, then Dexter (from the TV series of the same name). Pretty much the same theme – murdering for ‘good’. I greatly dislike ‘B&W’ cardboard cut-out villains. No villain worth his salt should consider himself one.
I can’t willingly decide on my favourite evil organisation [I often root for the bad guys.] And I would’ve said the Imperial Empire, as Red Walker mentioned above, which was very nearly my choice at that moment, but I’ll go with a group that hasn’t been mentioned so far:-
The Irken Empire from “Invader Zim.”
…
BTW, my favourite Realms evil organisation, remains the Zhentarim.
Wow, difficult question as there are quite a lot of really “good” evil organisations… Usually I first think of groups related to the Forgotten Realms, but my overall vote for the best evil organisation goes to the BENE GESSERIT from the Dune novels.
Ok yes, there may be organisations who are more consciously evil, but this one beats everyone in terms of indifference towards ethical questions.
In the Realms I would say Jagun Ghen, because it reminds me of the “Evil” entities of The Evil Dead Trilogy…but less funny and more scary.
Difficult choice. Alot of great organizations to choose from. As a big fan of the Eberron setting, I think I’ll go with The Dreaming Dark:
http://www.amazon.com/The-City-Towers-Eberron-Dreaming/dp/0786935847
http://eberronunlimited.wikidot.com/the-dreaming-dark
I would have to say The Twisted Rune from Forgotten Realms. Pulling the strings. from behind the scenes, of many folks over a wide area.
Picking one is too hard: Weeping Angels from Doctor Who (organization might be a loose definition). DON’T BLINK!
The Umbrella Corporation. 😀
Gonna agree with those who picked the Black Council from the Dresden Files. ^^
Now if it was a question about individuals, I’d likely pick
Dark ChekovBester from Babylon 5.Just want to say that I loved Brimstone Angels and I am looking forward to Lesser Evils. As to the topic at hand, as a fan of villains in general, it is tough to choose one group above the others. For me it would probably be a toss up between Cobra* and the Empire (or possibly the Sith, though the Empire is essentially the culmination of the Sith plan so maybe there is no difference) from Star Wars. I’ve been reading a lot of SW books lately so I would probably go with the Empire.
*I mean Cobra from the comics, not the cartoon. The one that used bullets and had a noticeable body count, not the one that used lasers that never hit anything and everyone bailing out with a parachute.
In the Realms, for me it’s probably the Shades. The Zhents and Red Wizards are tied for second.
The Decepticons … or do they count as a race rather then an organisation? If so, I guess I’ll just go with the Zentharim.
I’m excited for Lesser Evils, and that Wizards has given you the opportunity to write one of the Sundering books. Those other authors are leaders in Forgotten Realms so it is a testament to your ability that you are given a place with them.
This is arguably not an evil organization, but I have to go with the mercenary band Bregan D’aerthe. They are strictly opportunistic, but comprised mostly of drow paints them as evil leaning. Since they will do anything to further their goals I guess that could be seen as evil too.
Bregan D’aerthe is my favorite evil fictional organization. Jarleaxle is one of my favorite characters and I hope there is a long history to Bregan D’aerthe!
I give it a try with a creation out of my own mind with elements from the Forgotten Realms.
The Celestial Fiend
This organisation is based in a inn with the same name which is also a brothel, earning their income through theft, slavery, prostitution, assassinations, drugs and information selling.
They tend to keep a low profile but among the criminal underwold they do have gained some respect for being efficent and ruthless.
The name mainly comes from the fact that the group is run by a Succubus who uses her magic to hide her fiendish nature to appear in an almost celestial beauty in public, fooling the common folk and those not being part of the group to believe that she may have celestial blood in her ancestry, who happens to own a place where one can forget the hardship of the world for the right coin. The illegial affairs of the group are of course unknown to the common folk and most only see the establishment as a place to distract the mind and taste the more forbidden fruits life may offer.
To those familiar with the reputation of the group it is known that their base of operation is somewhere beneath the public front, of course nobody who is not part of this “family” has ever been there and those who may were never seen again.
The variety in offered services is catered by atleast 30 well trained agents of whom were all trained by retired assassins from the Moonsea and the Lake of Steam.
These 30 agents are supported and educated in the doctrines of Bane by a priest of the Black Hand who was sent to the Celestial Fiend to establish a base of operation for the Church of Bane along side the succbus who pledged her allegiance to the God of Tyranny for hope of greater power than with the struggles the rest of the fiends may endure in their hirarchy, teaching those willing how to call on the aid of fiendish methods.
Rumor has recently surfaced that they added a necromancer to their ranks who apparently trains a few of those agents in the arts of raising the dead aswell.
The main goal is to strenghten the influence of Bane within the region and lay the groundwork for larger operations that will ensure the domination of trade and politics.
Clashes with other organisations over influence and territory in the underworld have caused the group to infiltrate some of them to either turn them to their own cause or elimination, to that end they established ties with members of the Zhentarim who are not happy with the fact that the Church of Cyric is not trying to improve things for them and who have heard of better times in the past when the Black Network was run by banites.
Aside the usual fighting among the criminal underworld the Celestial Fiend opposes those who seek to reduce the spreading of their ambitions, especially the ever bothering Harpers, law enforcement when it can´t be bribed and the machinations of the Shades.
I’m going to have to go for the Forgotten Realms’ Zhentarim.
I’d love to say the servants of The Shadow or Mort Kemnon from The Gamers movies, but they’re not really organizations and more like lots of cronies working for a big bad.
Oh, it just hit me: the Harkonnens (with backing from The Padishah Emperor) from Dune.
Vogons, because we don’t need another intergalactic highway!
Ms, Evans I really enjoyed your book and Im very interested in the sequel.
Im not gonna be innovative for the sake of innovation so throw me in the zhentarim fan club please.
Really what more can you ask? Wide wolrd organisation with so many facets its so easy to insert onto anything. Down to earth objectives such as easy access to wealth, military power, political influence or just plain old good world domination.
Spies, marchants, soldiers, wizards and religious fanatics come easily to zhentarim each for his/her own agenda and many times conflicting with each other.
Political blackmail, merchant traffic that can lead from controlling taxes to downright starvation of a small city, assasinations etc.
Zhentarim can borrow from mafia concepts and tactics, mercenary armies, religious sects like tectons and religious militaristic organisations like templars knights (including the slang the king of france used to bring them down) and practices, military fondamentalists and civil oppression of fear, elitist isolated assasin monasteries and so much more. And the greatest part is, you can still call them zhentarim.
Couple that with a mysterious scheming leader like manshoon,, exotic alliances like the enigmatic beholder pact and you really cant lose.
Great organisations need achievements as much as failures. Tip the balance too much on one side or the other and you are doing a disservice to its concept I think.
Zhentarim frankly have both in the realms, even if the scale sometimes tips more to the thwarting part for my tastes.
Accomplishments Zhentarim have that are really memorable to me. Taking over the city of zhentil keep reducing the former council to puppets or sudden disappearances.
Using their vast resources to make the black road through the great anouroch desert to enhance their merchantile influence in western realms, military power in Lorkh and political influence in the gray vale.
Taking advantage of a very serious threat for their own agenda. Im thinking of the citadel of the raven event mostly. Here we have dalesmen, moonsea folks and zhents trying to fight the orc and ogre hordes to protect their homes and relatives. With their combined effort they reinforced the citadel to make it battle ready and decided to make a stand there. Zhentarim staged the assault, hired mercenaries non affiliated with them and presented them as zhentarim to fool the others, convinced the others to order the charge and then just closed the gates and find their fates on a losing battle.
Needless to say I love zhentarim. Excuse my grammar and spelling mistakes. English is not my native language 🙂
It has to be Twisted Rune for me, there’s just so many mysteries surrounding them
first of all I am really glad about an upcoming paperback release of Lesser Evils. I am just reading the paper back of the first Brimstone Angels and just don’t like ebooks.
My favorite evil organization is the Church of Cyric. It’s like a hydra, you root out one cult cell and 2 new spring up from the stragglers that were not in the day you busted the rest of the cell.
And since all of the many cells have their own different and often contradiction plots, no one ever knows just what the crazy cyricists are up to.
An enemy to drive you as insane as they are themselves (and then maybe YOU will start the next cell of the Church of Cyric that you fought all your live before)
Favorite fictional evil organization . . . hrm.
I’m going to go with the Covenant (from the Halo series of video games and associated fiction). They’re deadly, but also kind of goofy, they make good enemies and come in several pretty colors.
Best of luck with the upcoming release of your new book, Erin!
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Can’t wait for the new book to come out and continue the adventure! As for the contest that is a tough one to just name one! Though given my recent reading choices, I’d say the Lannisters of Westeros. So much cloak and dagger intrigue from them! If that doesn’t count then I’ll also say The Templars from the Assassin’s Creed “world”. I’ve just always loved the spin that they makers of those games put on history.
I must admit, I’m new to you as an author. (Hooray for the blessings of twitter!) Luck has it, your book fall right into a genre I call “oh-my-gosh-I-can’t-get-enough-give-me-more.” 🙂 In fact, I have already searched Amazon! What would I do without my Kindle?
Thank you for this contest!
My favorite fictional evil organization would have to be the Dominion from DS9.
I would have to say the Templar Order from the Assassin Creed games. Trying to mind control people, take away free will though force, just make the “perfect world”. Pretty bad guys in my head.
My favorite evil group would have to be the Forsaken from the Wheel of Time.
The Servants of Lolth… In 30+ years of DM’ing the Forgotten Realms my favorite foil against players has been the Drow of the Underdark. With the success of the tales of Drizz’t Do’Urden, my players begged for a Drow campaign. I sent them into Undermountain and they did not see daylight again for over 4 years of gaming, finally coming out in the ruins of Netheril. During this time they were hounded by Lolth’s elite assassin’s and Priestess’s of unfathomable cruelty. To my players Lolth was the consumate epitomy of the term chaotic evil in the Realms.
The Akatsuki from Naruto Shippuden!
My favorite “evil” organization is most definitely Began D’aerthe from Forgotten Realms. I love how they are indiscriminately “evil” and are out to serve their own interests. And who doesn’t love their leader, albeit currently en absentia, Jarlaxle!
The Legion of Doom from Justice League. Because “Meanwhile at the Legion of Doom….”
Very fun contest Erin. I haven’t read all the replies yet, but I’ll get to it 🙂
I would have to go with the illuminati…. Er, wait, you said fictional ! O.o
In all seriousness, one of my favorite fictional evil organizations would have to be F.E.A.R. From the darkwing duck cartoon series. 🙂
I would have to say my favorite “organization” would have to be Marvel Comics Hellfire Club. Evil, stylish, powerbrokering machinations at it’s best (worst?).
I would have to say one of my favorites is The Fluttering Horde from The Venture Bros, and their Black Guard. They look really neat and you can use them for anything.
Personally.. I have always liked the big evil organizations.. but the ones that have been run in a rather haphazard manner. When it comes to that kinda group only one springs to mind, and that is the Zhentarim. Or possibly Cult of the Dragon. Really think that they are a hoot as well!
Evil? Who worse then the “Evil Empire” from Star Wars. I mean what organization builds a space station the size of a moon to blow up planets? Serious megalomania if you ask me?
Favorite evil organzization: The “Syndicate” — largely because of their uber -operative — the Cigarette Smoking Man from The X-Files. http://x-files.wikia.com/wiki/Syndicate
The Red Wizards of Thay are my favorite, love the in fighting, as well as their ability to quickly unify for short periods before going back to betraying each other.., plus their occasional willingness no to help good as long as they gain something out of it.
Wow. I really enjoyed Brimstone Angels and cannot wait to read this book Erin!
Favorite evil organization? Well, Faerûn certainly has some contenders and Lord knows I spend enough time reading about them, but I don’t want to be too predictable here… How about Skynet from the Terminator films? It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead. }:-)
Looking forward to your next book.
I’ve come around to Tieflings since meeting you at GenCon and reading Brimstone Angels.
My entry for evil organization would be the Death Eaters of Harry Potter Lore.
They are just soooo evil.
I kinda feel like this contest is a ploy by The Guild of Calamitous Intent to get some free pub.
The Zhentarim are one of the ultimate and truly EVIL organizations. I know quite a few have posted them, but classic is classic.
Favorite evil organization? Can I say publicists? Wait, they’re not fictional. Hmm… Evil’s pretty subjective. The Harpers could be certainly be considered evil if they hamper the efforts of what someone else considers to be ‘a good thing’.
But if it has to be typically evil, then I’ll just choose The Brotherhood of Evil Henchmen from the comic series Nodwick.
I told Pete about your contest, Erin. He said, “Oh that’s easy. The evil league from Dr. Horrible. With the horse.” I said, “Oh, right.” He had to look up the name to be certain so here it is from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog: The Evil League of Evil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr._Horrible's_Sing-Along_Blog
But my favorite evil organization is the Dalkes from Doctor Who. http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Dalek
Not entirely sure this counts as my “favourite”, but it’s certainly one of my earliest and most memorable experiences with an “evil” (though I suppose they might not have even been that) organization — in the Forgotten Realms, no less!
At some point playing through Baldur’s Gate for the first time (I must have been all of 7 or 8 at the time) I managed to kill a member of the Flaming Fist (and got some awesome plate mail in reward), so naturally I was persona non grata with the rest of them. Which meant that, half the times I tried to travel to another area of the map, I’d be interrupted with cries of “I serve the Flaming Fist!” and an encounter that invariably led to my party dying, and me restarting at the autosave hoping that I’d be allowed to just travel in peace for once.
The Dominator, the Lady, and the Ten Who Were Taken, from Glen Cook’s Black Company books.
I have to admit that it was never much of a favorite evil organisation for me throughout RAS’ Neverwinter Saga, but after reading Brimstone Angels, I’m particular to the Ashmadai.
The ruthlessness of their order as depicted by you is beyond compare.
Erin, keep up the great work and I can’t wait for the sequel! You’re now sharing a top 3 fantasy authors position for me with Paul Kemp and Elaine Cunningham. I really can’t wait to see more from you and your elegant pen.
You know I had been back and forth since this contest came out, over the past decade I’ve expanded my reading list quite well, however it all comes down to what it was that drew me into fantasy.
Starwars, there is something about the Order of the Sith that has always garnered my attention. Half of it is the powers drawn from the dark side of the force the other half is the raw emotion that the sith itself represents. In fact the quote below will be one of my next tattoos.
“Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory.
Through victory, my chains are broken.”
Can’t wait for the next book, re-reading Brimstone Angels now like I always do before the release of the next book.
I look forward to your email, and hope that I can get this whole set signed by you…
Dare to dream
Brian
I read the first book a while ago and I am looking forward to see how the story progresses and the Characters develop!
As for my favorite organization, hands down the Technocore from Dan Simmons Hyperion Cantos
I have one favorite group of evil-doers that I like to use (a lot).
They are, however, not strictly an organization. In fact, they seem to have a fairly consistent lack of organizational thought, at least in the ‘let’s get together an reach a mutual goal without backstabbing each-other every step of the way’ attitude.
I am talking about drow (the D&D kind).
I really neat to add drow in the contest, but since they may disqualify, I’ll need to narrow it down a bit.
So my choice: The Cult of Kiriansalee (in the Forgotten Realms).
Not a surprise for those who know me. I have tried to get Kiri back up and running ever since she got axed (you know, way back, in the Lady Penitent series).
The yathrinshee are vengeful to a flaw, thoroughly evil, cool with the undead and, above all, not Lolthites. They are mad as a hatter but in a ‘I really know what I am doing’ kind of way.
In the LFR story arc, I almost managed to get them returned (as the Sschlindryn Heresy). Didn’t work though (stupid heroes).
Still, I have hopes that we will see Kiriansalee returned (in 5th or 6th ed), and with her her evil troop of crazy undead-or-undead-wannabee priestesses.
And, since I like a challenge and the chance of being drawn is extremely unlikely anyway… If I get drawn, I’ll write a short story (using my limited author skills) on the cult or one of its members. Because, well, someone should.
[…] trying to think of a good evil organization, keep in mind 1) I’m really not judging your answers; go with your gut and 2) “organization” is kind of loose. To my mind kingdoms count, generally allied people […]
As a child of the eighties, I would say my favorite fictional evil organization would be the evil warriors of Masters of the Universe. Keldor of the House of Miro, a.k.a. Skeletor, led quite the crew of marauders. Trap Jaw, Clawful, Whiplash and Screech were my favorite action figures growing up!
Best wishes on your upcoming book!
I think I have to go with Wolfram & Hart, the evil law firm from the Angel TV series. They combine the right amount of scariness and silliness, and most of their memebers have pretty legit motivations.
I know i’m forgetting about many evil doers right now, but i would jump and say the Reapers, from Mass effect series games @@ (not truly an organsiation, but close in a way :p full of fanatics >_<
http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Reaper
Spoiliers !!
Aside from the fact they're immortal big mean machines, i liked their twisted sens of duty, they reached the conclusions to protect creaturs from extinction, was to kill them once they reach a certain degree of intelligence where they may destory themselves with technologies (kill the smart ons (harvest), and let the less ones live, till they're smart too (evolution) the repeat the ..cycle 😛
Ah they can manipulate/twist/play with people's mind (convert/dominate them kind of in a subtile way, the longer you stay close to them, even fighting them, the more liekly the stronger their influence becomes) to start servin g them, ofc they can also turn any race into a monster-like creatures serving them (so for each one they turn, they get 2 steps ahead: +1 agent for them, and one less for the enemy …
Oh, and the first time one of them appeared, it was disguising itself as a ship (looks like one) under contro of some traitor, while it was the ship actually in control and the traitor serving it 😛
Yeah, i know too long .. but i encourage anyone who didn't try the game to do so @@ great story !!
The Zhentarim, filled sometimes with internal battles for power and loyalty. It is composed of Commoners, Assassins, Rogues, Fighter, Black Guard, Clerics, and Wizards. It operates secretly or openly depending on locations or goals which are many. It’s Black Network is full of spies who can operate in common society with the occasional message or meeting to inform leader through out the chain of interesting activity within an area which might prove valued to the Organization. It has supported, absorbed, and killed off many other powerful organizations (good evil or neutral) through out the Realms either for Coin, Gods, or Survival.
Gonna have to go with the nicknamed “Black Council” from The Dresden Files. 15 novels in and they’re still a mysterious force that continues to stump the protagonist.
While it may be lame to pick an organization from my own world, obviously I have strong feelings about the villains of Eberron. As such, I’ll go with the Dreaming Dark. I love the conspiracy that’s lingering in your dreams; you can’t get away from them, as every night you are drawn into their domain. Of course, in their lights, they aren’t evil; they are doing what they have to do in order to protect their current reality, and if that means enslaving humanity, well, we do the same thing to OUR livestock.
In D&D it totally has to be the Zhents, they’re not just a punching bag for the good guys to whack at, they actually carry out plans, have successes as well as setbacks and are just overall full of the sort of flavour and character that makes you hate them and yet still admire them a little.
Overall though, Cerberus from Mass Effect. They start out as hard liners but with a sort of good aim, the betterment of humanity, yet as time goes on their methods become more and more unpalatable until, in their attempts to save humanity they cross the line and lose the very thing they were seeking to protect, becoming a tool of the enemy.
If I have to choose an Evil Organization, it simply has to be The Red Brotherhood of Hyboria fame. I have a soft spot for organizations that last on and on despite any effort to eliminate them! Pirates are just good fun as villains…because they freely take anyone it would seem, it becomes very easy to place “good guys” inside such an organization in either writing of stories or for an RPG game.
I have to go with the Sorcerer Kings from the Dark Sun D&D campaign setting! Each one is such a different personality and has created a city-state with such different culture. And though they oppose one another due to greed and creed, they are all similarly despotic, twisted, and evil. In the end they will come together to destroy any force of good that should threaten their rule. Endless possibilities for fun!
Really liked Brimstone Angels. Looking forward to the next book . My favorite fictional evil organization has to be Cobra That’s right G I Joes arch nemesis. That’s what evil was to a end /post war America
To avoid an appearance of bias, a non-D&D favorite:
The Seven Blessings from The SALLY LOCKHART series by Philip Pullman. Check It OuT!
Skinjobs…though not evil played the perfect antagonists in Blade Runner…Anniversary addition just came out…..Wake up!….Time to Die!
I vote for the Reapers from the Mass effect games. Sentient machines looking to eradicate all life makes for a great motivational fight 🙂
has to be zhentarim like others have said! can you really top them!! Its the final countdown!! 25 days!! woooooooooohoooooo!! My favorite twins are back!!
Others will cover the FR organizations, which frees me up to go further afield… all the way to The Spanish Inquisition, as portrayed in Monty Python’s Flying Circus. You will stay in the Comfy Chair until lunch time, with only a cup of coffee at eleven.
It loses a lot of impact without the sights and sounds, as any fan of Monty Python can attest, but this page offers a bit of transcript.
Thanks for posting this! This crazy quilt of evildoers shall be bookmarked and revisited often for chortling purposes.
Well, hello, Erin.
Order of the Blackened Denarius from “Dresden Files” series by Jim Butcher is my favorite evil organization. It is composed from, as I remember (didn’t reread it for 2 years) from fallen angels entirely which are bond with human hosts. There are thirty denariuses and each host is possessed by angel because of these denariuses.
Well, all angels are charismatic characters and it is very interesting to watch, em, “encounter” Harry Dresden (main character) vs fallen female angel in his head.
If you haven’t read this series I highly recommend it. 🙂 There are 13 books in series and unlike other long-time-series-authors Jim Butcher becomes better and better in next books.
Thanx for contest, Erin.)
The , because sometimes your food just doesn’t agree with you…lol
Great contest! If we are going with Realmsian organizations, I have to go with the Cult of the Dragon.
From another world, I need to go with the Knights of Takhisis from Dragonlance.
Tough one. Non-Realms I will go with SPECTRE (Special Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion)
Thanks for the contest…and may we hit 500.
I hope this counts, but my favorite all time is not so much an organization, but the person them self, Deimos high priest of Skartaris, from the original production of Mike Grell’s “The Warlord” comic. Volume One Issues 1-133.
http://www.mikegrell.com/thewarlord/articles/ww_deimos.html
One of the top Evil organizations in my opinion has to be the Foot Clan from TMNT can’t beat the shredder
While not technically declared an organization, Sherlock’s nemesis Moriarty holds his own, I think, in maintaining vast amounts of power with the wide network of contacts, subordinates, and thugs.
Also, I have Brimstone Angels but have yet to read it… alas for the ever piling stack of books I must read. If I win then my priorities are shuffled to accommodate – as deserving as you holding this contest for us fans. 😀
Thanks for running this!!
Best evil organization would have to be the Demons of the Void from the Shannara series. They are full of twisted dark characters bent on nothing more than the suffering of others.
http://shannara.wikia.com/wiki/Demons
My favorite fictional evil organization is The Guild of Calamitous Intent. I find it hilarious that the show Venture Bros. turned being evil into a business 🙂
[…] Forgotten Realms fans, if you’re looking for some free fiction, head on over to author Erin M. Evan’s website to check out here Lesser Evils giveaway. Just leave a comment and you could win a free copy of Brimstone Angels, Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils, or the Waterdeep Omnibus. Click here to enter. […]
My favorite evil organization is Chaos Space Marines from warhammer 40K particulary The Iron Warriors.
“Iron Within, Iron Without.”
My favorite evil organization is probably the “new race” created and led by Victor Helios (Victor Frankenstein) in Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein series.
This is a tough one for me… its a tie between The Cult of the Dragon and the Red Wizards of Thay.
I have a thing for liches 😛
It was a sad day for me when Sammaster died in the Rogue Dragons series, I’ve since made Szass Tam the main protagonist for FR campaigns I DM… but Sammaster remains as a vestige for binders (warlocks)
#115 – I am sure we’ll hit 120 replies.
Being more of a sci-fi guy I have to vote for the Shadow from Babylon 5.
However, I think ‘evil organization’ is never a fair label. I’ve always said that one’s actions can rarely be measured at being evil or good simply because it is always a question of perspective.
I’ve been in deep thoughts for hours now trying to pinpoint my all-time favorite evil organization… do you go marvel, video games, books, movies… it’s all too much for me… if I really REALLY had to choose to enter this… I’ll have to say: Shinra Inc., Sephiroth was a by-product of that company, President Shinra was a knob and destroyed Sector 7, his son was worse, The Turks were always a thorn in your side and the weapons of mass destruction Shinra produced, well nuff said.
My vote is the Galactic Empire as presented in the Star Wars Universe between 18 BBY – 4 BBY.
They have a near omnipotent Emporer with metaphysical powers rivaled only by his unrivaled intellect and ambition. They have an Imperial Emissary that is nearly undefeated in any physical confrontation or military engagement. They span the cutting edge Star Destroyers capital ships, create hundreds of thousands of clone soldiers, they hunt down and exterminate peaceful Jedi survivors and their sympathizers through a campaign of Purge, and they silently enslave other species and even entire worlds for their resources and to help them create planetoid-sized weapons of war capable of disintegrating entire planets.
No lich nor dragon can do this.
an organization that i think is evil just because they think what they are doing is for the better good. is Section 31 from the Star Trek Series. they think they are untouchable and that they will do whatever it takes to win.
Shadow Zodiac!!! http://www.vickipettersson.com/books/the-signs-of-the-zodiac/#
Resident Evil’s evil company the Umbrella Corporation. Simply because I like the zombie apocalypse idea. But I do LOVE the Forgotten Realms books and can’t wait to read another. Cheers.
Love the Forgotten Realms and all that write for them; my second favorite book series after the Bond series so I would have to go with SPECTRE as a good evil organization; but the Realms have many evil ones but the heroes, like Bond always rise to the occasion to win out in the end, keep up the great writing. Like SPECTRE, an evil organization needs an ULTIMATE EVIL VILLIAN, PLAN TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND A MASTER WEAPON…….HAHAHA!
The knights of Takhisis, Dragonlance. I choose these knights because of their reflection into the reality of national service today. This is not an organization bent solely on widespread death and destruction, but conversion and subversion. By seeking to turn every man to the will of their god, and bend his will to align with their own.
These knights use competition, religion, and leverage to determine power within their ranks. As most people in reality know, these are driving forces to power in society today. And these knights wear the dark virtues of men as their honor.
And me? Est solarus oth mithas.
Favorite evil organization would be KAOS from Get Smart. Good luck on your books!
Im going to have to agree with some of the previous comments…Looking for something over the top the Galactic Empire takes the cake…Born from the good and accepted by all…
If your looking for something MORE ominous go with the Borg from Star Trek. The Borg is something terrifying to EVERY race or civilization…And easily vilified and hated is the stripping away of everything that is whatever you were before…Its like “The Nothing” from Never-ending story
As a big fan of ALL Forgotten Realms books…Good luck and hope your inspired to write many more.
Lord Soth – when he was in Ravenloft, truly badass.
I think the Axis of Anarchy from The Guild is one of my favorite evil organizations.
Trying to go outside of the Forgotten realms.. The Therns from Barsoom
Since it has to be fictional I guess I can’t use the US gov’t then…
I would say the aliens from to the origianl TV show “V” are one of my favorite evil organizations. Watching that as a little kid made me feel like looking around every corner for an alien.
The best worst evil organization in my mind is the Drow of Menzoberranzan, specifically the House Baenre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Baenre
I put a lot of faith in many things, but I do believe in family, and the Drow Houses pervert what I respect as a good unit into these groups of murdering, backstabbing, social-rung obsessed criminals.
I always liked Drizzt battle to get away from his family and be free to choose his own path.
One of my favorites would have to be the ” the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition” From Larry Correia’s Monster Hunter series. What a fun contest!
I would have to say the Lesser Society from J R Ward is one of my favorite. She really makes a twisted villan
While there are tons of organizations in fiction spanning globes, continents and even galaxies I prefer the more personal foils.
My favorite is Gerald Tarrant in C.S. Friedman’s “Coldfire Trilogy.” This character is both a villain with reaching organization and a reluctant ally to the protagonist when circumstances demand it. The development of that relationship spans the entire trilogy and strikes at the core of what humanity is.
There are others, but everyone needs a good counterpart. A true challenge is much more thrilling than a pushover or incompetent.
I’ve been reading the forgotten realms books since I was a kid and love everything about them! My favorite evil gang from a fantasy standpoint is tied betwixt the Lannister’s from the Game of Thrones series and the Hoards of Crenshinibon, the evil shard from the Icewind Dale trilogy… but by far, the most wretched hive of scum and villiany in the universe would be the Emperor and the Sith from Star Wars…..as an aside, this prize package, should it make it’s way to me, will be anawesome present for my good pal James Worley, who has done the awesome service of turning my eyes and brain to some of the best fiction I have every read!
My favorite evil organization is from R.A. Salvatores Drizzt books The Neverwinter series. The Thayan cult who follows Szass Tam.
I’m going to go with the Crimson King and his minions, which mostly appear in Stephen Kings “The Dark Tower” series, but makes quite a few appearance in his other books. Kind of the backburner devil in most of what he has written, but always there kinda lurking on the edge, and never really seen.
The umbrella corporation from Resident Evil. Gotta love the twisted bastards
The Circle from The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare very much akin to what the pure bloods in the Harry Potter series wanted to do… eradicate the mixed races, lesser races & anyone that gets in their way. Very prejudice group. Made me cranky to read about them.
The Empire, it has to be the most classic evil organization out there
I would have to go with the D’Hara Empire from Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind. I primarily base this off just the Mord-Sith alone, but also Darken Rahl was quit ruthless and evil in his own right.
Best evil organization? Fictional?
How could you NOT think Team Rocket of the Pokémon universe?
Throughout the better part of the past 2 decades, Team Rocket has been plaguing the weekly adventures of Ash Ketchum and company as he travels about the various regions of the Pokémon world in the TV series. Team Rocket is owned/run by one Giovanni, a sinister man with plans to capture the world’s best pokémon and use them in his plot for world domination.
Can’t wait!
An oldie but goodie has to be KAOS from ‘Get Smart’. I’d love to win, all my R. A. Salvatore books come from the library, thank God they have had them all so far. On number 16, ‘The Two Swords’ and can’t tell you how glad I am there are so many more to enjoy.
Greatest fictional evil groups… hmmm…. growing up it was Skeletor and his minions, Mumra and his (im not so sure they had names other they going by the leader’s), COBRA from G.I.Joe, the Beloved of Chemosh from the Margaret Weis’ Dark Disciple trilogy, and the so-called “highborn elves” from the ElfQuest comics 😀
The Lessers from J.R Wards Book
The Thousand Sons from warhammer 40k, most of their forces are just ashes animated within suits, thats what i call badass
It has to be Bregan D’aerthe, since it is a hidden organization to do evil as long as the price is right. They will even go visit the spider queen, as long as the pouch bulges with coins!
The organization itself just cannot be complete without Jarlaxle leading his pack of profit crazed mercenaries.
Being a Die-Hard Forgotten Realms Fan I would have to say The Zhentarim, also known as the Black Network. Fzoul and Bane Rock as Foul Demons 🙂
Bregan D’aerthe all the way. 🙂
I think I’ll have to go with The Umbrella Corporation. It just seems like Wesker’s soul desire is to screw up everything and i really like that for some reason.
Love the Forgotten Realms setting and my library contains several books set there. I’ve lost count of how many D&D campaigns I’ve played, set all over the Realms.
The first evil organization that popped into my head was SPECTRE and I have absolutely no idea why.
Thanks for the writing and I hope to at the very least, go find and read a copy of “Brimstone Angels”.
Whilst not an organisation , i’d say House Bolton of the Dreadfort in A Song of Ice and Fire Series. I was going to say the Lannisters but for me the Boltons are worse. Roose quietly cold and calculating and his son Ramsey the embodiment of evil.
I have always been a fan of “The Cult of the Dragon”, any group that attempts to raise long dead Dragons to Dracolich status is okay in my book!
Yes i cant wait till this comes out. HUGE fan. As far as evil goes no one beats the Drow from the FR series. They are pure choas and evil. (with a few exceptions 😉 )
Drow,forgotten realms,,you need not say more,I’ve been all in since day one
My favorite evil organization? Team Rocket (from Pokemon). They made me laugh in the show and they never gave up in the games, no matter how many times I foiled their plans.
The Auditors of Terry Pratchett’s discworld series. It takes a particular kind of evil to not only hate all living things, but to hate them simply because they make your job more complicated.
My Favorite Evil Organization is the HellFire Club from the Uncanny X-Men. They unleashed the Dark Phoenix as their Black Queen. The new Hellfire with the kids is just wrong.
The Evil League of Evil! Bad Horse is really bad…
The Order of the Blackened Denarius from the Dresden Files.
“The Ten Who Were Taken” in Glen Cook’s Black Company series.
I want it so bad.
I still have to say Cobra is my favorite organization
I would have to say the Nighthawks from Raymond E. Feist many series. They are an organization of dark elves that wish to bring back the dragon lords who they consider to be their gods.
This is such a tough question! My mind wanders across so many different ideas, it is hard to pick only one. Umbrella corp would have been my first choice, but in the interest of adding to the discussion, the Capital government from The Hunger Games is cruel and about as evil as you get.
I’ve seen some good ones in the comments, but the first one that came to my mind was KAOS from Get Smart.
Daleks!
I really like Umbrella Corporation from Resident Evil games and movies.
I’m a fan of all forgotten realms books. Especially mr. Salvador. But to quote my favorite evil organization.( exterminate! Exterminate!) the daleks! From doctor who. Those giant man killing salt shakers are some kinda nasty.;) I love to read the books of fantasy, and love to be introduced to new author’s. I figured this would be a cool way to find one:)
North Cenral Positronics, a division of Sombra Corporation from the Dark Tower series is pretty awesome. I kind of like that the creations of NCP are not necessarily evil but have slowly decayed and descended into insanity…
Favorite evil group would have to be the Evil League of Evil. No question about it.
The Guild of Calamitous Intent!
http://venturefans.org/vbwiki/The_Guild_of_Calamitous_Intent
Wow alot of good answers thus far. My first thought was KAOS from Get Smart, lol, http://youtu.be/_gRzm5pnlPMmy, 2nd was the House Baenre from the Forgotten Realms, and the Empire is always a good choice http://youtu.be/z5oDh7o3a00, but my FAVORITE of all time has to be from later in the Star Wars universe, they used NO mechanics, every weapon, ship, house, etc. was a living organism, and they defaced themselves as a status symbol (beginning to sound like our society lol), I give you the most evil group ever, the Yuuzhan Vong http://youtu.be/sJZwvb8WpYY
my favorite evil organisation? hmm thats a tough one as i do love my villans and there organisations. i guess id have to go with The Dragon High lords from dragon lance as they were my first evil organisation in books.
I’ve been on a Conan kick lately so I’m going with Thulsa Doom’s Snake Cult from the movie Conan the Barbarian while it’s a departure from Thulsa Doom’s character in the Robert E. Howard books, it is a classic example of the kind of the kinds of organizations Conan topples throughout literature. That and James Earl Jones is awesome as Thulsa Doom. 🙂
I’d have to say the Sith from Starwar’s would take the cake for me.
Hmmm . . . yes, a good question, and definitely interesting as there a certainly many classic evil organisations throughout fiction; mine, however, has to be the Hunters, headed by Jack, from Lord of the Flies, as it truly defines the oligarchical assent that can take place when malice and desperation rule, which, as is often the case, the reasons why an evil organisation becomes evil in the first place.
Sticking with The Axe Gang, the reoccuring Kung Fu baddies across multiple movies. And they can dance.
This seems like the perfect way to get back into not only D&D, but FR in particular. Sign me up.
in a few of the comics i use to read, some of spider man’s enemies ganged up on him for a while. including carnage, arachnophobia, and a few other badies. they had a group going based of the want for mas mayhem and to kill spider man. i don’t think they ever got to name their group due to fighting each other and spider man a lot.
Oh man. Where to begin?! First a shout out to the Forgotten Realms. Some of my favorite books take place in Faerun. As for evil organizations, a lot of good ones have been posted but I think Ill got witht the Forsaken from Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” as the worst…….and/or The Alliance from “Firefly”. Oh and the Templars from “Assassin’s Creed”. There are just so many I love to hate! >_<
My favorite evil organization was always the Zhentarum, because it was filled with great characters with insidious motives. Really looking forward to this read, keep up the food work!
My favorite evil organization is Templars from Assassin’s Creed.
The “Plated Folk” From Alan Dean Foster’s Spellsinger novels!
My favorite evil organization is the Zhentarim.
I would say that my favourite evil “organization” would be The Sith (from SW). I play SW:TOR and I must say, playing as a sith Inquisitor is just sooo fun. I love the humor and the sarcastic comments etc 😉
Love the F.R. ‘verse! My favorite fictional evil organization is The Inquisition (because NO ONE expects the inquisition!) which mixes comics with my beloved Monty Python. It’s a win on multiple levels!
Check it out: http://marvel.com/universe/Inquisition
Thanks for the chance. Let’s not forget the Mord Sith from Terry Goodkind’s series. Those women are not to be upset.lol.
The Priests of the Temples of Syrinx from the Rush song “2112”…I know they are not from books,movies,comics or tv, but the lyrics to this beautiful song are poetry to me…and there are none more evil than the priests…
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/r/rush/2112_20119899.html
Menzoberranzan specifically House Baenre.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Baenre
As much as I hated them while reading the books, I could not get enough of the family. I loved Yvonnel, Gromph and Quenthel. I love Jarlaxle, I love how his alliance holds to whomever suits him best at that time. When on the surface and he was involved with Bregan D’aerthe and Artemis Entreri, Artemis and Jarlaxle were my favorite “bad guy” duo! Still are to this day!
Zhentariam……from the Forgotten Realms…
My favorite evil organization is the Evil League of Evil from Dr. horribles Singalong Blog.
This book is going to be awesome. today is my birthday.
The Sith
There are many great fictional organizations out there and it’s difficult to choose only one, but if I must I would say the Parshendi in Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive.
Surprised they haven’t got any love yet, so I’m going to go with The Red Wizards of Thay.
The Romulan Empire is one of my favorites. They hated everyone just because they could.
The necrons from Warhammer 40k. Wipe out all life down to the last microbe. Second is the the Dark Brotherhood from the Elder Scrolls. Everything they do is fun to play and deliciously evil. Also read the book of vile darkness on the nature of evil. Cruel malevolent and never kind.
I would have to say the Drow or umbrella corporation.
My favorite evil organization is the “Chtorr” from David Gerrold’s “The War Against the Chtorr” Books.
SPECTRE from the James Bond books and movies.
looking forward to the 2nd book the in series 🙂
for me I still love me some Zhentarim and Fzoul Chembryl.
Haven’t read the first book (will now). Has anyone read Terry Goodkind? The Imperial Order is an epic evil organization.
! Would love to join them.
Evil is well organized in the Nine Circles of Hell of Dante’s Inferno.
Matron Baenre and the Drow of Menzoberranzen.
I have always really enjoyed the Zentarim from the Forgotten Realms. I also enjoy the Hand from Marvel comics. They are Ninja clan that dabbles in demonic summoning and other crazy stuff to get their way… I have read many FR books but none yet by this author. I would love the oppertunity though!
Evil…hmm, I would think it would be Lloth the spider queen.
When I read that we have to post our favorite fictional evil organization and KAOS from watching Get Smart reruns popped into my head so I’ll stick with them in all their goofiness. 🙂
COBRA! (Especially Baroness.)
Realms-specific bonus: The Xanathar thieves guild has always been a favorite.
Huh, my favourite evil organisation? I’ve always supported the evil guys, so it’s really, really hard to decide. I guess my absolute faves at the moment is the Consult from the The Prince of Nothing – series by R. Scott Bakker. Skin-spies and great black magic power, combined with intelligence, cruel but wise… that’s how evil should be imo.
Definitely the god Torak and his followers, the Angaraks, from David Edding’s “Belgariad” series.
The Nyphron Church in the Riyria Revelations 🙂
Describing their evil-ness would constitute in a major spoiler for those who haven’t read these books 😉
Hmmm…I’m gonna go with Jagang and the Imperial Order from Terry Goodkind’s Sword of truth series.
Being a huge Robert Jordan fan I would have to say the Black Ajah.
The Brotherhood of Evil Mutants! I mean really, who else has the word “evil” in their name, right? Unless, of course, you mean Dr. Evil, but then he’s just one guy. He has a PhD in EVIL!
the shadowdance trilogy by David Dalglish
Bregan D’aerthe … of course!
Sinistario from the Armpit of Evil by Joe Mirabello
My current favorite would have to be the Repears from the Mass Effect universe. As much as I love Jarlaxle and generally chaotic organizations with no true allegiance, none of them scream out ‘villain’ to me. On the other hand, what the Reapers represent and stand for as a group and race is a step above the average bad guy. They are the antithesis of all life and existence with a twist (I won’t go into more just to avoid spoilers). Although the ending of the series was a little lackluster, the execution of what they are and why they systematically destroy all life was amazing.
My favourite evil organization is probably Wolfram & Hart from the Angel/Buffyverse.
http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Wolfram_%26_Hart
dresden files winter court
S.P.E.C.T.R.E. (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion). I’ve always been a James Bond fan, and I really think SPECTRE is a great evil organization.
Shadow Thieves in Baldur’s Gate
Its been said, but have to go with Umbrella from Resident Evil. They will do anything for profit, regardless of the damage it can cause. And they even have their own employees killed when done working on projects to cover loose ends.
if i have to pick a evil orginization i would have to pick the brotherhood of evil mutants, always been a huge marvel fan next to your work. cant wait for the book to come out.
I think I’ll go with the foot clan (or purple dragon) from TMNT
I have to say the drow from r.a. salvatore’s books. Especially the baenre. Also loved artemis entreri when he was more evil then in the newer books.
Church of Lolth!
My favorite evil organization has to be the followers of Thoth-Amon, which is of course in Conan lore.
Planet Psychlo in Battlefield Earth by L. Ron Hubbard
I‘ve always been a fan of Bregan D‘Aerthe, the complete lack of allegiance and the fact everything they do is for their own benefit is what I believe to be most evil.
I would have to say my favorite underhanded organization would be the evil drow of Bregan D’aerthe. Jarlaxle is, by far, the classiest figurehead.
Personally my favorite evil organization has to be The Lannisters minus Tyrion of course from the Song of Ice and Fire series.
The Bregan D’aerthe seems decent here.
jarlaxle’s bregan d’arthe is the most intresting (and fun) evil organization.
I have kids, so I’m partial to L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N* from Phineas and Ferb. But prior to that I’d have to go with the Nazgul from LOTR.
*League Of Villainous Evildoers Maniacally United For Frightening Investments in Naughtiness
The Inquisition of the Church of God Awaiting under the leadership of Vicar Zhaspyr Clyntahn. They don’t even realize how evil and corrupt they’ve become in pursuit of their directive, or that they were manipulated into becoming the terrors that they are from the beginning. The Safehold series by David Weber.
THE DROW OF MENZO….BY FAR!
I like the Shade Enclave in Paul S Kemp’s Twilight War.
My favourite evil organisation is Zhentarim
Other than the Realms I have always enjoyed the evil of the warp from Warhammer 40k
How about those crazy Matriarchal girls from the Order of Lloth? :p They pretty much control an entire race with their shenanigans.
vaughan.e@gmail.com
I would have to say the Shadovar from FR http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Shadovar something about being infused with darkness just screams evil to me, or Phyrexia from MTG http://wiki.mtgsalvation.com/article/phyrexia
Hmm, sounds like a new series to read 🙂
Doh, read all the rules BEFORE posting… The Empire, or is it the Rebels… All depends on your point of view I guess.
I have always liked the Selvetargtlin. Selvetarm’s worshippers who would see him act as a true god in his own right instead of toadying to Lloth. They ceased to exist after Selvetarm was slain by the mortal Cavatina Xarann, a Darksong Knight of Eilistraee, wielding the Crescent Blade.
Hi Erin 🙂
Loved The God Catcher 🙂
Fictional evil organisation? Hmmm… Forgotten Realms-wise, I’d go for the Zhentarim. I’ve used them loads of times in my own campaigns.
Non-Forgotten Realms-wise, I’d go for SD-6 and The Alliance of Twelve in the TV series, Alias. Sometimes they’d seem to be the good guys, then they would obviously be the bad guys, then maybe they were the good guys after all… but no, they’re the bad guys, hehe!
I quite like Team Rocket from the Pokemon cartoons. I hope I’m not the only one that remembers them. 🙂
Bregan D’aerthe. Powerful, cool, flexible, varied, independent.
I’m gonna have to go with Aizen and the Espada from the Bleach manga!
http://iblos3om.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/espada2.jpg
Ive been reading your work since The Cleric Quintet…Keep up the GREAT work !!!!
I would have to say Lloth and the drow. It’s always exciting to read about their cunning, evil ways in so many different series (Legend of Drizzt, Starlight and Shadows, War of the Spider Queen, Lady Penitent, Empyrean Odyssey, etc). There are SO many books that explore the Forgotten Realms and we just can’t get enough! Our goal is to own them all…a task that hasn’t been easy (some of the older books are hard to find!). 244 and counting!!!
This sounds cool will check it out. I liked the old legion of doom from the jla.
My fav evil org would have to be the Drow. Evilness through and through!!
I think “The Hand” is a pretty evil organization.. And they’ve got lots of ninjas and stuff.
http://i.annihil.us/u/prod/marvel//universe3zx/images/e/ed/Hand.jpg
This is a tough one. Favorite organization would have to be the “Sith”. Favorite evil person/people would have to be “Flag” and “The Man in Black” from Stephen King’s “The Eyes of the Dragon” and “The Dark Tower” series.
In fiction, “Evil” is often a relitive term. Based mainly on the opinions of those who disagree with there views. Many organizations who are viewed as vilanous are simply just on the opposing side of the main body of cherictors. Personaly I have a hard time putting that labble on anyone. One of my favorite stories of all time is Pullmans dark materials. The Magisterium is definately evil enough to be labeled so. However that doesnt realy answer your question. The only one that I can think of that is both evil and likeable is the ancient sith order from Darth Bane: Path of Destruction, A Novel of the Old Republic is a novel by Drew Karpyshyn . Its one of the coolest evil organizations.
Saw the Zhentarum up there, thats a good one but my top five would have the Decepticons. Or this Hooded Figure – http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0484.html
Most favourite evilorganisation,
I’d go with Breagan D’Arte, led by Jarlaxle, and I’ll place the original 2nd edition DnD Zulkirs of Thay an great 2nd place.
I love great, subtle villains as protaggonists, there are way to few of those in
( dutch) fantasy literature
Gosh, I’m going to have to go with Igthorn and his ogre cronies. (Gummi Bears circa 1985)
And something a little more grown up, The Lannisters. (Song of Ice and Fire – George R. R. Martin.)
Hands down it has to be the Umbrella Corporation from the Resident Evil series.What other group has destroyed the world so completely? Most evil groups in storylines are defeated by the hero. All Alice can ever do stall them for a minute. Plus she doesn’t come onto play until after the end of civilization. Basically the Umbrella Corporation has already won. And to the Umbrella Corporation the human race is obsolete even though the leadership of the corporation is human. Talk about twisted.
By far the greatest evil organization…..Xanatos and his company in the 90s ‘Gargolyes’ cartoon.
When you have the ‘Xanatos Gambit’ named after you, you know you’re hardcore.
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/XanatosGambit
I have 2 favorite evil or sinister Organizations. Weyland Industries and the Umbrella Corporation.
I’m going to have to go with the Sith from Star Wars.. You didn’t specify fantasy, though they do pull strongly on fantasy roots and bridge the two genres
Think I have to go with Megatron and the Decepticons, followed by Shredder and his Footclan from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
I have to go old school to Ian Fleming’s SPECTRE!
does the International Fleet (from Ender’s game) count as an evil organization?
I’m going to have to go with The Forsaken, or The Chosen, from the wheel of time series. Simply because of the irony of how they could have easily defeated al’Thor had they simply came at him two at a time, but couldn’t trust each other enough. Evil implodes into itself, something that was made clear the first time to me in The Stand. The Citizens in Las Vegas under Randall Flag/The Walking Dude being a close second for me for the complete opposite reason.
The Netherese Empire and The Shades! Also includes some of my favorite “good guy” characters. Paul Kemp’s “Erevis Cale” novels, R.A. Salvatore’s “Neverwinter Saga” with Artemis Entreri as my favorite “good guy”, and Troy Denning’s “Return of the Archwizards”.
Loved Brimstone Angels and I can’t wait for the next installment!
KAOS from Get Smart is one of my favorite evil organizations, mostly because Get Smart is one of my favorite shows!
My favorite group of villains are the Zhentarium. Some of my favorite Forgotten Realms books feature these guys.
I would have to say the Red Wizards or the Dark Dwarves
for me the best evil organization has to come from R.A. Salvatores latest books from the Drizzt series. its hard to pick which of the two evil organizations is better. i mean on one side we have the evil plane walkers that have some of the most wicked magic conceivable. while on the other side we have necromancers that destroy entire cities to create their dread rings which they draw their strength from and continuosly produce some of the worst undead creatures possible. i guess my point is that the real evil mastermind is mister Salvatore himself
I would have to say the Technocracy which was part of the WhiteWolf universe. There were a lot of shades of grey involving all kinds of factions, but I found it fittingly terrifying when they were the bad guys.
My favorite consortium of Villains was the original run of Thunderbolts, from Marvel Comics. They were villains who changed their identities and pretended to be a new group of heroes. In a twist, they were so good at pretending to be heroes that half of them wanted to really be genuine heroes. The series, in its prime, straddled the grey zone between black and white.
I would have to say, although not strictly evil, the Vogons from The Hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy. If we’re talking about “kill-everything-hate-everything” type of organization I’d have to go with the Drow as so many others. Especially how the political structure of Menzoberranzan promotes evil behaviour.
Forgotten realms is by far the best series of books/games I have ever had the pleasure to enjoy. Looking forward to Neverwinter!
I would have to say my favorite evil organization is the fire nation from Avatar the last airbender. i just love how wicked Azula was in the series and how evil/emo Prince Zuko was.
I would have to go with Hydra from Marvel comics. This organization included some of the most evil characters in the whole Marvel universe including Red Skull, Baron Zemo, Grim Reaper, Kingpin…plus they are associated with the Nazi’s….how much more evil can you get?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HYDRA
KAOS from the original Get Smart tv series. Nuf said.
You can tell I’m going a bit fanboy here, but… The Space Pirates. A species so meticulously bent on technological domination, so single-minded in purpose… their only mistake was underestimating the Bounty Hunter and the technology of the Chozo.
And then, of course, there’s their leader and her faithful sidekick.
I believe my favorite evil organization is the Jaezred Chaulssin from the War of the Spider Queen series. I like the secret society feel they put out. And also the name sounds really cool. 😛
Favorite evil organization probably goes to Shinra and the Turks from Final Fantasy VII. Rufus was just too awesome and I thought that Shinra as a whole made a very intimidating enemy for Avalanche.
Have to say my favorite evil organization would have to be Bregan D’aerthe lead by the great Jarlaxle Baenre. He is evil in the most civil and business way possible, which makes it even worse because it isnt personal for him. Its all business.
I’ll have to say the best evil fictitious organization is bregan d’aerth. Jarlaxle is an excellent foil to drizzt as you never know his true motives. If I had to choose a second favorite I would go with the league of evil exes from Scott pilgrim just cause its fun.
The Borg are one of the best and most evil fictitious organization. I love your writing. Thanks for the contest..
Been a fan for a long time looking forward to so much more. Fave villans have to be the Hand ninja clan. No morals, no souls, all killing machines.
The Therns of Barsoom
the Sa’Kage from Brent Weeks Night Angel trilogy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brent_Weeks
The Galactic Empire under the command of Grand Admiral Thrawn from the Star Wars expanded universe. Through his use of limited resources and military genius, the Empire became an organization to be greatly feared again, after years of defeat from the Rebels. The Empire gained victory after victory against the Rebel hoards and reasserted their presence in the galaxy.
“The Silence” from Doctor who, one of, i have to say, the scariest evil organization i have ever seen, “silence will fall” meaning silence will cover the universe.
here is more info on them
http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/The_Silence
Wow, what a list of stuff that I haven’t read yet! I’m torn between two – the illithids are possibly the most monstrous race, not sure if that clarifies as an organization. If not, then I would go with the Murgos from David Edding’s Belgariad series – tons of human sacrifice!
Handsome Jack is the main antagonist in Borderlands 2. He has taken over the Hyperion corporation. Man is he bad
http://borderlands.wikia.com/wiki/Handsome_Jack
well i would have to go with the Fire Nation, from Avatar: the last air bender
Kaanyr Vhok and the Scourged Legion! If only they had gotten a chance!
Always been a big Street Fighter fan so I have to go with Shadaloo. Brain washing very dedicated and disciplined men and women with nigh unstoppable Pyscho Power, what’s not to like?
Magneto and the Brotherhood of Mutants
Has to be the Drow in Forgotten Realms. Favorite evil group AND favorite good guy being Drizzt.
Favorite organization? I’d have to say the Red Wizards of Thay. Keep up the good work btw.
My favorite organizations of all time. I only read about them in Forgotten Realms in 3.5 and yet to find them in written form. I love dark and secretive societies that lurk in shadows. The sheer shadows are allies and friends. They are comforting in the dark away from the harsh moon light of our rivals. We are the Nightbringers we live in the service of the Goddess Shar. We corrupt the rightious and the arrogant. Bringing those who seek revenge to highest form of the art.
We are the Nightbringers
Thank you very much for this contest
OK, going out on a limb: the Ghast Empire in Toby Frost’s Space Captain Smith trilogy. Genetically engineered insects without a sense of humour.
Since it can be from TV, I’ll go with the Daleks from Doctor Who. For books, even though technically they are just mercenaries, I like Bregan D’arthe.
This is hard, I want to the Cthulhu cult, but it is hard to like fish-creepy-fish-mutated-death to all “Iah Iah Cthulhu Fathgn” Something people. And nobody else has picked it as far as I am aware of! (Which is a bad awareness.)
Though going to the roots of myself I’d probably say: Millenium Earl and the Noah Family. (Which comes from a manga called: D.Gray man.) Though I am not sure if mangas fit into this. Oh well. 😛
It may not exactly be evil, but I loved the Formics from the Ender series.
Hellfire Club from Marvel Comics. Even better that it is loosely based on a real, historical group.
The Burning Legion, they are pretty much a giant horde of demons and other fallen
races. they have to be my favorite
http://www.wowwiki.com/Burning_Legion
Abolethic Sovereignty is my favorite Forgotten Realms Evil Organization. My all time favorite Evil Organization is likely the Hell Fire Club from Claremont’s run on X-Men. When I read that at 12 years old I just thought it was so clever and cool. Recently, I have been reading more about villains that are more misunderstood than actual world conquering evil genius scientist types, but I think the Villains in Alpha’s are pretty cool because they are so much more powerful & informed then the good guys.
I know this off the subject. I love reading the post of the favorite villains. I hope for some more evil and some creative writing about the organizations. This best contest ever Erin. Thanks again. Especially those who are posting.
[…] is the second cut scene, as promised. I sent an email to Nina this morning, fretting that this is too spoilery, but she doesn’t […]
Hmm, it’s a toss up between Wolfram & Hart (Angel) and the Evil League of Evil (Dr. Horrible).
My favourite would be a tie between the Zhentarim (Forgotten Realms) or the Nighthawks (assassins from Raymond E Fiest’s Riftwar books).
I’m going to have to go with the Centers for Disease Control from Mira Grant’s Newsflesh series (Feed, Deadline, & Blackout). Bending the Zombie infection to your own will has got to be evil of the best sort. The “for your own good” sort that goes so badly wrong…
I’m going to have to go with the classics…the Empire from Star Wars. The organization is just all around evil. Seriously, I wrote a philosophy paper on it in college.
The Forsaken from the Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time. They are so evil that they spend as much time trying to hide their identity from each other as they do from the semi-good guys.
Ravenloft Kargat
House Harkonnen from Frank Herbert’s Dune and subsequent books.
I always thought the Air Pirates from TaleSpin were cool. In concept anyway. The actual characters were incompetent fools.
My all time favourite evil organisation has got to be the Empire from Stat Wars. Vast legions of minions, horrendous superweapons and an megalomaniacal Emperor who cackles and to top it all of you have the ultimate badass Darth Vader. What more could you ask for.
Dr. Claw and Mad Industries. “I’ll get you next time Gadget!…Next time!!” *Mweowr!!!!!*
The Really Rottens (from Laff-A-Lympics)
C’mon man. You can’t beat the Eco Villains from Captain Planet! Those guys just wanted to lay waste to everything!
I wouldve said Rita Repulsa from Power Ranger’s, but thats not really an organization.
Well since it can be from anywhere, let me see Thrush from the Men from Uncle. I just the love kooky way these groups have to come up with this names, let alone design a logo and a great acronym for them. If I was thinking about the Realms I guess the Red Wizards, as they’ve always sounded like a huge threat, but I’ve had a soft spot for the Drow since reading the Salvatore books and Drizzt.
Anyway i think you are brave to engage with the fans in this way, all the best. Hope you don’t mind sending stuff to the UK, if I get picked ;-).
First of all, my first language is Spanish, therefore please excuse any mistakes I might make. As to which is my favorite fictional evil organization, this may come as a surprise, but it would be an organization that cannot be classified as “evil” in absolute terms. I am an Eberron fan (and would love to read your novels to learn more about the Realms), and this may explain why I choose the King’s Dark Lanterns. Despite being entrusted with protecting the nation of Breland and its king, being the aforementioned nation the most democratic one in Khorvaire and one that welcomed refugees from a destroyed nation, the spies and agents of that organization behave in a ruthless manner, engaging in murder, theft, and worse, not caring about hurting those who are from other nations. This is a constant in Eberron, that handles the idea that “good intentions” may be sought through evil means by many, blurring the idea of alignments and making things as complicated as in real life, especially considering that Kant and other philosophers argue against justifying all means when seeking goals. Certainly, other groups in the world of Eberron operate in a similar manner, but the King’s dark lanterns are a poignant example because of the contradiction between its nations’ goals and the means they employ. I ignore whether the Harpers in the FR act in a like manner or not. Thanks for letting me participate!
I go back to Early AD&D and the Original (white) boxed set play days. Although, I have played all vesions sinceI still consider it the best (Playtesting 5 we will see if it can top AD&D 1) I still love the original AD7D scenario building to the Drow would love to see it again and htat would be my evil organization.
PS
(What happened to the hrdback special release of the original white boxed set it became AD&D???)
Not so much a organization, but a whole race. I would have to go with the Drow race, Drizzt and probably Zaknafein excluded. Huge fan of everything by Salvatore and the Legend of Drizzt series.
The Observers in Fringe. They’ve been present in every episode over the last 5 seasons of the show, mostly in the background – blink and you miss them. It wasn’t until season 5 that their nefarious plan was revealed: to change the past to enslave the human race and, even now, the actual true nature of their plan is a mystery. Observers are an iconic set of characters – they’re all bald, wear 1950s suits and hats and have a predaliction for spicy food. Their tone of speech and the fact that they can read minds and cause death by brain haemorrhages literally at will make them incredibly sinister and menacing…
My favorite fictional evil organization would have to be the Knights of Takhisis from Dragonlance. I love that there is an organization of Knights dedicated to an evil deity but still act and behave as knights should!
My evil organization: Monolith from the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. videogame saga. Not only are they brainwashed soldiers and stalkers from every nationality, but they also develop fanatical worship of the eponymous sentient structure which exists in the centre of the Zone. And the story behind their brainwashing is both creepy and tragic.
Citadel of Assassins. My new job has resulted in a 90% travel schedule and the last campaign I was forced to take a hiatus from was based in Damara and revolved around the Citadel of Assassins. The plotting, scheming and ruthlessness made the citadel one of the best fictional evil organizations Ive ever been introduced to.
For me it has to be the Empire from Star Wars. They were the original evil guys for me as I was growing up. Nameless, faceless, enemies who represented the uber-fascist oppressor state. All held together by a cloaked and disfigured emperor who had evil mystical powers.
There are many good choices for best evil group out there, but out of all the comments I saw there was one group very near and dear to my childhood that was missing:Team Rocket
[…] Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils. In fact maybe I can even win a copy of it, because Erin Evans has a contest to do just that going on right […]
I know it’s been said already but I’m going to have to go with the Umbrella Corporation from Resident Evil.
KAOS, because they had the single best Evil Agent ever in Siegfried. If he had gotten competent help I honestly think he could have taken over the whole world!
No one has mentioned Doofenshmirtz Evil, Incorporated.
The only evil “organization” with a platypus as a nemesis!
Evil organization? I’ll give a shout out to the Taken from Glen Cook’s The Black Company. Perhaps not an organization per se, but hey, they’re cool.
KAOS from Get Smart!
I’ll go with the ChaosNazi’s from Mieville’s Kraken
I would have to go with the Eldreth Veluuthra from the Forgotten Realms. I loved the twist that this elven group was very anti-human. It put a great spin in the campaign when the players encounter a group like this.
How would my agent contact you inquiring about my book in consideration for editing/publishing?
And if not you, how about contacting Wizards of the Coast?
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
After much thought, I have settled on the Umbrella Corporation from the Resident Evil series of video games and movies. It’s just a company that tried to do something magnificent and benefit human life by creating a product that rejuvenates dead skin, making people beautiful and young again. But we all know how that turned out. And then the things they did afterwards to cover up their mistakes…
Goliath Corporation for sure. Those guys are pure scum.
http://www.jasperfforde.com/goliath/index2.html
P.A.G.A.N. is probably the greatest ever.
Other favorites not mentioned: the Borg, arrancars (bleach), Noahs (d gray man), and the leviathans (supernatural… They really thought big picture)
I vote for the Reapers from the Mass Effect books 🙂
My all time favorite evil organization is the drow of Menzoberranzan. Not exactly an organization, but I love to hate their twisted evil plots and their power.
P.S. Love your books, especially Brimstone Angels:)
I’m going to have to say Team Rocket of pokemon fame. They give their employees such freedom! Although sometimes all they desire is a lone child’s pet, and continue with this project throughout the course of 10+ years.
Westlake’s Dortmunder gang. They’re the protagonists, but still a crime syndicate of sorts.
[…] In less than a week, Brimstone Angels: Lesser Evils comes out. I’m so excited (and nervous–but I’m almost always a little nervous)! If you haven’t checked out the contest yet, you have a few days left! […]
Mine would probably be a toss-up between the Galactic Empire from Star Wars or Cobra from G.I. Joe (the ’80s Marvel Comics version).
Favorite evil organization. Hrm, does the Vogon Constructor Fleet count? If not, I’ll go with the Ankh-Morpork Assassin’s Guild.
The Zhent’s!
I’d have to say the Forsaken of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time series. Their evil varies from person to person.
The Garlean Empire! 😛
Vurdmeisters from The Night Angels Trilogy
Some really great answers on here!
For me, I am going with The Umbrella Corporation. What can I say? I am a big fan of the T-virus!
I have to admit, the ‘Evil League of Evil’ from Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog was the first thing to come to mind.
My favorite would have to be the Sith from Starwars.
I had to think hard on this…I JUST LOVE EVIL ORGANIZATIONS! D&D introduces wickedness in not just evil but sometimes just grey. Zhents and the Black Network in FR and the Blood of Vol and the Order of the Emerald Claw in Eberron rank among my personal favorites. The Order of The Blackened Denarius from The Dresden Files is still fascinating me as I read through the series currently. In the LARP I play in (http://knightrealms.com/), the four dark gods torture the town of Travance, but it is Galamachis (god of death) who truely frightens me. Jamie Lannister I would give a nod to from Game of Thrones, although you can’t leave out many out as not having an evil side.
THRUSH…. yeah, I’m old.
First of all, loved the first book and I’m really looking forward to the 2nd one. Now for my favorite evil organization… hmm, that would be a a toss up between the the Legion of Doom and the Brotherhood of Evil. First, because the names are just too cool to overlook and secondly, and because DC Comics had some awesome baddies (especially in the LoD). But if I had to pick one, it would be Legion of Doom. It takes me back to my childhood days watching the cartoon on TV and reading about them in the comics I collected as a kid. 🙂
Wolfram & Hart – From Buffy the vampire slayer, but the Wolf/Ram/Hart (deer) has a good connection to fantasy in any universe.
sorry for the double post, but I wanted to make sure it was known that my pick was actually from the spinoff “Angel”, not buffy directly…same universe though.
I’d second a lot of entries that have already been made, especially Wolfram&Hart, but since I don’t just want to shout “ME TOO!” and leave it at that:
The Men in Grey (or The Grey Gentlemen) from Michael Ende’s children’s novel Momo.
They’re a great analogy for stress, consumerism and corporate exploitation. Pretty deep for a kids’ book.
PS: Hoping this is international by the way, since you didn’t say anything about restrictions.
Mine is the sith from star wars… I mean, it’s a classic!
My favorite organization is definately Bregan D’aerthe. I love Jarlaxle and his band, which always seems to have a plan for everything.
Cobra!
Never read the books but a friend who has the same sort of tastes in books as me suggested them. It’d be nice to win them instead of tracking them down to buy. I can’t think of my favorite fictional evil organization off the top of my head so I’m going to pull the one from the books my son and I are reading, Fowl Enterprises
The Wyld Hunt in Exalted by White Wolf – while not evil per se, since they’re more like the inquisition for the (evil) empire. Hunting down player characters without fail, not even letting them have time to enjoy their new powers. And if at first they don’t succeed in killing you, they keep sending more agents after you!
Loved the first book, can’t wait for the second! Here’s hoping you hit 500 before close of contest!
First, I’d like to say that I’ve just finished The God Catcher (I’m a little behind on my Forgotten Realms Novels, and I’m now eager to pick up Brimstone Angels!) and it was in my opinion by far the best in the second Waterdeep collection! I am singularly impressed that it was your first novel; I can only hope that my first, if it’s ever even published, will be anywhere near as good.
Second, my favorite villainous group: the Eldreth Veluuthra of Forgotten Realms. The fact that they are chronically underused has saved them from the villain degradation that the Zhents and Thayans have suffered, and I’m always interested in villains who firmly refuse to believe that what they’re doing is evil. They are, to their minds, protecting their homes and their people, both in decline, against an agressive, destructive, expansionist force, which just happens to be humans everywhere.
Cheers, and best of luck with the new release! Can’t wait to get my hands on it.
I’m going with Cobra, of G.I. Joe. Cobra Commander was crazy!
probably the Stanfield organization from The Wire. Very ruthless, with some of the scariest characters in the entire show (Chris, Snoop, Marlo himself).
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