the point, however, is how far down the road we’d travel with the guy. Everyone feels X emotion at a given time in four score and seven years; but not everyone will kill for it or perform Y for it. I suppose evil is not in the emotion but in the degree to which it’s carried out. (I’m not certain I’m sticking w/ that last statement. I might have to think on it awhile…)

one last thought: the antagonist *does* have to be identifiable and bad. i’m thinking about one book in particular where i actually liked the antag & ended up hoping he might win in a way. although a couple of his actions were despicable, i sorta glossed over them. his motivations were clear & understandable and he was delightfully personable and uber smart.

Hmmm…i have been giving all of this a great deal more thought that i intended to. my latest theory: there must be a moral dilemma, something the heart and soul must ache over. (all great novels contains this, yes?) Otherwise, the protag is two-dimensional and static. I think the rule must be something like this: the author dipped in awesomesauce just can’t bash you over the head with it.

AND the moral dilemma should be universal in nature, something that all humans everywhere (& aliens too, of course) can identify with and dither over. like shakespeare, it should span time and continent. (thus, carbon footprints are OUT)