How to Succeed in Evil is not a self-help page for the maladjusted. It it is the story of Edwin Windsor, Evil Efficiency Consultant. He's like Arthur Anderson for Supervillians.
To R3u: Yes he did. On a previous hole. I’m not familiar enough with golf to know whether the same ball is used for every hole or if balls can switch between holes.
My original idea was that Edwin played to lose. This was literally the only way that he could get back at Excelsior (the courts really can’t do anything), and that was only being very literal with the agreement. And, let’s face it, Excelsior is incompetent when it comes to golf. Even with Excelsior cheating wildly, cheating himself was the only way Edwin could lose. Of course, I could also be guessing wildly and still be off by several yards, but hey.
I do not expect the next chapter to be the last. At least I hope not. Now that I am sufficiently addicted, the withdrawal would be much to painful…
I think there is a whole other play with Excelsior becoming more evil. Remember that Edwin started out as a well-dressed evil efficiency consultant, and declared he was not a henchman. (First Original Episode). So maybe he has remembered that being evil was not what he set out to do- rather, to be more in control of the otherwise uncontrollable forces in his life- namely the heroes and villians. In this, Edwin is us, and the heroes and villains are sort of our expensive dreams and more expensive nightmares that we experience through our lives- they change us, and they impact us in obvious, and not so obvious ways- wether we try to control them or not. All in our attempt at making sense of the life we have been given on this rotating ball in space, the 3rd planet from the sun.
Gus is the throwback to the way it was, when you could trust your government with the loftier problems, cynical ever since he realized that since the bomb- they didn’t know anything after all. The political hacks, and politicians we give power to, pretend to handle our problems while they fleece us- all the while still giving a pass to the problems they really can’t control.
Agnes is the prim and proper one who cannot believe what this world has come to. It’s not in the dealing with the problems that interests her, just the remembrance of simpler times, when propriety meant something, and tradition and shame kept order more than the iron fist ever could.
Topper, oh Topper, how we love thee, what could we say? He is the Id, the thing that should keep his mouth shut but speaks without thinking. He is the epitome of impulse. Either in a childlike way, or sometimes, in a very undisciplined way (but I repeat myself), but always an enjoyable one.
Excelsior- is about to go rogue. The downward emotional pressure exerted by Gus for his benefit was the only thing keeping his boundless energy in check. With Gus gone and Edwin’s stern rebuke fresh in his mind (Who is your controller?) he must prove to himself he is in control of his destiny now, and revenge though sweet, is the slippery slope to evil that ones higher than heroes have warned us about in the Good Book. If Edwin cannot take Gus’ place, the world may never be a safe place again.
I do not think all this will play out in just one more episode. And I believe, far better than I, Patrick has other plans for the rest of the novel we know nothing about. I cannot wait- but unfortunately- I must… until tomorrow? the next day?
Mark Watson
Lisle, IL
EECA – Evil Efficiency Consultant Addict
I think Patrick deleted the post or recording or w/e, but I remember him saying something about 77 chapters, (maybe it was 67, I dont recall). So hopefully there is a bit more succeed left in this book.
Well played, Mr. McLean! I love it! “Edwin” is a genius.
I loved Topper trying to celebrate.
And I can’t wait to see the next (last?) chapter in “How to Succeed in Evil”. If it goes half like I expect it to, it should be truly epic.
I think you called that one well.
Do you think Edwin cheated in order to lose? That ball at the end seemed odd.
Didn’t Topper switch out Edwin’s ball earlier in the match?
To R3u: Yes he did. On a previous hole. I’m not familiar enough with golf to know whether the same ball is used for every hole or if balls can switch between holes.
I think so, yeah.
My original idea was that Edwin played to lose. This was literally the only way that he could get back at Excelsior (the courts really can’t do anything), and that was only being very literal with the agreement. And, let’s face it, Excelsior is incompetent when it comes to golf. Even with Excelsior cheating wildly, cheating himself was the only way Edwin could lose. Of course, I could also be guessing wildly and still be off by several yards, but hey.
Oh well, I’m still pretty sure the Chromoglodon is going to kill Excelsior.
And just what is our man up to?
I do not expect the next chapter to be the last. At least I hope not. Now that I am sufficiently addicted, the withdrawal would be much to painful…
I think there is a whole other play with Excelsior becoming more evil. Remember that Edwin started out as a well-dressed evil efficiency consultant, and declared he was not a henchman. (First Original Episode). So maybe he has remembered that being evil was not what he set out to do- rather, to be more in control of the otherwise uncontrollable forces in his life- namely the heroes and villians. In this, Edwin is us, and the heroes and villains are sort of our expensive dreams and more expensive nightmares that we experience through our lives- they change us, and they impact us in obvious, and not so obvious ways- wether we try to control them or not. All in our attempt at making sense of the life we have been given on this rotating ball in space, the 3rd planet from the sun.
Gus is the throwback to the way it was, when you could trust your government with the loftier problems, cynical ever since he realized that since the bomb- they didn’t know anything after all. The political hacks, and politicians we give power to, pretend to handle our problems while they fleece us- all the while still giving a pass to the problems they really can’t control.
Agnes is the prim and proper one who cannot believe what this world has come to. It’s not in the dealing with the problems that interests her, just the remembrance of simpler times, when propriety meant something, and tradition and shame kept order more than the iron fist ever could.
Topper, oh Topper, how we love thee, what could we say? He is the Id, the thing that should keep his mouth shut but speaks without thinking. He is the epitome of impulse. Either in a childlike way, or sometimes, in a very undisciplined way (but I repeat myself), but always an enjoyable one.
Excelsior- is about to go rogue. The downward emotional pressure exerted by Gus for his benefit was the only thing keeping his boundless energy in check. With Gus gone and Edwin’s stern rebuke fresh in his mind (Who is your controller?) he must prove to himself he is in control of his destiny now, and revenge though sweet, is the slippery slope to evil that ones higher than heroes have warned us about in the Good Book. If Edwin cannot take Gus’ place, the world may never be a safe place again.
I do not think all this will play out in just one more episode. And I believe, far better than I, Patrick has other plans for the rest of the novel we know nothing about. I cannot wait- but unfortunately- I must… until tomorrow? the next day?
Mark Watson
Lisle, IL
EECA – Evil Efficiency Consultant Addict
Ah, but there’s always the next book, too
Ah, I can’t wait.
I think Patrick deleted the post or recording or w/e, but I remember him saying something about 77 chapters, (maybe it was 67, I dont recall). So hopefully there is a bit more succeed left in this book.
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How often do you write your blogs? I enjoy them a lot