Just out of curiosity, is there a book or a set of books where the villains win? The day is not saved, the hero fails, and the book ends on a very sour note? I'm just curious because there seems to be a lot of books where it's the other way around, so I want to know what this type of book looks like. Thanks for any suggestions.
It would be, but then there'd be a sequel where the new heroes defeat the bad guys! But yeah, it would be very depressing. Even I don't like reading much of that stuff. I've never watched The Watchmen before, to be honest. :/
*Watchmen It's a Marmite kinda film - you either love it or you hate it. I love it; it's one of my favourite films ever.
In the Warhammer 40000 universe the Chaos Space Marine Legions are the "villains". Many of the novels are told from their point of view and they often win a clash with the Emperor's forces.
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis kind of qualifies though it's more left open to interpretation than the clear cut "villain winning" theme you're looking for. I can't think of any books that I've personally read like that, actually. The closest thing that comes to mind at the moment is the first Saw film...that was horribly awesome the first time I saw it.
I watched American Psycho for the first time the other day. It was good, but I need to watch it again; I had no idea what sort of film it was going to be.
The book was over-the-top too graphic for me, even though the dark humor was apparent, so it's one I won't be reading again but the movie, I agree, was a good adaptation considering the material and I have no qualms with what was left out. The ambiguous ending while reading left me more satisfied than I think it would have had it been established for certain... As a novel, it's the closest thing I can think of but as to the OP, a clear hero vs. villain tale where evil triumphs (not an internal struggle, anti-hero or transformative hero to villain, or main protagonist death [thinking Hamlet, Medea, Antigone, The Awakening...]) I'm sure there are some books out there like that but nothing I've personally read or heard of.
I can't think of any books like this either. I don't remember the short story The Mist having the same as the movie, but I would highly recommend watching both The Mist and Arlington Road
I have a confession to make: I made this thread when I was in a really foul humor and looking back, I regret that. That said, I do appreciate your suggestions. I'll look into them if I have the time. Errm...Yeah, now I'm feeling bad that I made this thread. :[
Also, I had a quick look online, and Goblin Corps by Ari Marmell seems to follow the bad guys. No idea if it's any good, though!
The Conquest of the Americas by Spanish Conquistadors and European Colonists Ok, maybe that will get me flamed...
Read it or watch it. It's a good graphic novel and a good movie. How about "Seven." Not a book, but a damn good movie.
I am reading the Jeff Shaara books, and it flips between Union and Confederate point of views, so yah.
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. Though that book did the good thing of swapping the roles completely to make a sophisticated philosophical point.
Idk if you like fantasy at all but a friend recommended this trilogy to me and i was surprised at how entertaining it was as I usually can't stay with some fantasy books because a lot of them feel manufactured. (at least to me) Warning: Spoiler ahead Unclean, undead, unholy by Richard Lee Byers This trilogy would basically fit for what you asked for in the original post. I was actually invested in the story and was totally shocked when I got to the end. I still remember the feeling right now a couple years later lol.
I my memory is good, the villains win at the end of Bad Monkeys of Matt Ruff. But I am not 100% sure. Anyway I recommend you this book, it's a very original thriller. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bad_Monkeys
Just thought of a few more - sort of. They're "what if" books: Resurrection Day by Brendan Dubois (Concerning the Cuban missile crisis), The Plot Against America by Philip Roth (Lindbergh vs Roosevelt), and Fatherland by Robert Harris (What if Hitler had won?).
