Dr. Fiction: Interviews with Villains - Invisible Man

Dr. Fiction interviews the Invisible Man from H. G. Well's story, and discusses the unique psychological advantages of a villain whom no one can see.

Question: Why do you think unseen villains are effective in creating a sense of horror and suspense?

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DR. FICTION
Welcome to the Dr. Fiction Show, where we are about to begin the final interview with a representative from one of the ten schools of villainy. Today’s guest is the Invisible Man, as introduced in H. G. Well’s chilling sci-fi story The Invisible Man.

(pause)

DR. FICTION
Invisible Man?

INVISIBLE MAN
I am here.

DR. FICTION
(jumping) Oh! Where?

INVISIBLE MAN
In the chair facing you. It’s all right. I am used to it.

DR. FICTION
I see... That is, I don't, but that's the point, isn't it? Can you tell us your story, Invisible Man?

INVISIBLE MAN
As Mr. Wells so faithfully recorded, I was a student of optics who accidentally discovered a formula that made me invisible. Naturally, that presented a whole host of difficulties, all of which resulted in a town-wide chase. Even former friends turned against me. I did what any decent villain would do when hunted: I promised vengeance on a massive scale. Unfortunately, I was unable to keep my promise. The townspeople--and my former friends--saw to that.

DR. FICTION
Does it ever get tiresome? Startling people, I mean? Always being overlooked?

INVISIBLE MAN
Startling civilians gets boring, but startling other villains never grows old. I startled Gollum so badly he fell into the Fires of Mount Doom. I only meant to ask him if he would consider putting on a shirt, for decency’s sake, but Gollum is such a twitchy creature that my unexpected comment threw him over the edge. This devastated Tolkien, who was hoping to write a second trilogy in which Middle Earth had to join forces against Frodo the Dark Lord.

DR. FICTION
I’m sorry to hear that. Invisible Man, last year, the Unseen Villains were voted by popular vote as “Master Villains.” Can you tell me why you think that is?

INVISIBLE MAN
First of all, we freak out all the other villains, which gives us seniority automatically.

DR. FICTION
I would imagine!

INVISIBLE MAN
Most importantly, we find that the unseen villain exercises a unique horror upon the mind. People fear what they cannot see.

DR. FICTION
Can you give us an example of this “unique horror” of the unseen?

INVISIBLE MAN
The alien in Signs was scary until he actually showed himself. We told him not to, but he insisted and, in the end, he just looked like another big-headed, bug-eyed freak, like any other alien. On the other hand, my colleague, Mr. Brown, demonstrates the invisibility concept admirably in The Secret Adversary. He is, essentially, a cameleon. While not actually invisible or absent, Mr. Brown is frightening in that no one knows who he is. Is he one of the suspects? Is he one of the detectives? Is he a side character, such as a butler or janitor? You don’t know.

DR. FICTION
In other words, imagination is sometimes more powerful than the actuality.

INVISIBLE MAN
Exactly. That moment when a hero whirls to see his enemy—and finds no one there—oh! It is exquisite horror.

DR. FICTION
So the villains of your university are more intent on creating an emotional response of terror or uncertainty in their victims than in directly interacting with them?

INVISIBLE MAN
Yes. It is more about the psychology of suspense than about action or direct confrontation.

DR. FICTION
It seems to be a very intellectual approach to villainy.

(ORC runs across the set chasing the light technician and bellowing: “Man flesh!”)

INVISIBLE MAN
Well…ahem…not all villains have the IQ of an ameoba.

DR. FICTION
How true it is! Invisible Man, I appreciate your time. Thank you to all of the representatives of the ten schools of villainy. Without you to stir things up, the world would be a much duller place! Folks, join us in the future for interviews with more professionals from the world of fiction!