The book proposal

 

For some years, in some form, I have been thinking of writing this novel, or a novel along these lines.

I will not publish it serially here, even if I do write it. This place is too episodic, and works better as a pop in, pop out sort of place. Plus my track record with previous serial projects here is... not great.

But I did wake up this morning with an idea of how to start this book for the first time. 

So I did start it, as a short pre-chapter. And since, being an introduction it needs no introduction (even if this is one!), I decided I would share it here.

It is untitled.

He was the greatest mass murderer in history.

By greatest I don’t mean he killed the most people, far from it. I doubt he managed to kill more than a couple hundred.

He was just really good at it.

To this day he is widely considered the most evil person to have ever lived, though there are dissenters. He was monstrous, ruthless, relentless, brutal, terrifying, methodical, and brilliant.

But he might have saved the world.


There is a quote from The Lord of the Rings that I have had all too frequent cause to reflect on over these past several years:

Frodo says “It's a pity Bilbo didn't kill Gollum when he had the chance.”

And Gandalf replies: “Pity? It's pity that stayed Bilbo's hand. Many that live deserve death. Some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them, Frodo? Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. Even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

I wonder if he read this before he started killing people. But instead of focusing on “Do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment.” He chose to focus on 

“Many that live deserve death.”




Bob Dylan said “To live outside the law you must be honest.”

I alone have talked with the man that murdered 200 people and obsessively occupied the thoughts, fears, and efforts of the rich and powerful for years. Perhaps he was evil. Perhaps he was unwise, and certainly he could not see all ends.



But I do believe he was honest.