Send us Fan Mail J.R.R Tolkien famously argued in his landmark essay “The Monsters and the Critics” that the monsters in a story aren't just obstacles; they are the externalization of the impossible odds that make a hero’s victory meaningful. Christopher Vogler in his book The Writer’s Journey said, "Every villain is the hero of his own story." And George R. R. Martin has said many times that the most compelling villains are those who believe they are doing a heroic act on Tuesday and somethi...