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How to Succeed in Evil
 
 

How to Succeed in Evil [Kindle Edition]

Patrick E. McLean
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Product Description

(Editor's Note: 3rd edition, professionally edited, updated 1/7/2012)

How to Succeed in Evil is the story of Edwin Windsor, Evil Efficiency Consultant. He tries to help supervillains be more villainous. Or at least more profitable and sensible about the business side of Evil.

Along with his very proper and English secretary Agnes and his hench-lawyer Topper, he struggles to make the world of superpowered people make sense. But this is very difficult because, while Edwin’s advice is excellent, all of his clients are too egomaniacal to listen. There is, it must be said, a bit of comedy in this work.

Edwin struggles with a cast of characters including, Dr. Loeb, a trust fund child who desperately wants to be an Evil Genius, but has none of the talent. Dr. Loeb’s hideous mother, Iphagenia – who’s evil scheme is to foment a second Southern Rebellion, beginning with Lower Alabama. And the Cromogoldon, a brute with forehead villainous low and quite possibly the strongest creature on the planet.

Inevitably, Edwin’s unique clientele lead him into direct conflict with the greatest superhero of them all, Excelsior. And so, the quiet, restrained intellectual is pitted against heroic force.

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 436 KB
  • Print Length: 259 pages
  • Publisher: good words (right order); 3 edition (25 Jun 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B00589W1DM
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #51,968 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
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Patrick E. McLean
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is a finely crafted, funny and highly quotable body of writing. Edwin Windsor is a unique and iconic character that I found myself admiring and the schemes and advice he dispenses are well thought out and surprising. This book is an excellent take on the heroes and villains theme from a fresh economist view and worth your time to read or, even better, listen to the original podcast. I actually used some of the wisdom in this book when I tried to negotiate a pay-rise at work. I succeeded.
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Refreshingly Original 22 Aug 2011
By Glenn
Format:Kindle Edition
I followed the early chapters of How To Succeed In Evil in its former incarnation as a podcast series, and was hooked from the first installment. Having read the whole thing, I can tell you that the rest did not disappoint. Brimming with anarchic wit, this book is a refreshingly original antidote to the reams of identikit superhero stories that have marched relentlessly across our pages and screens over the last few years. The well-paced, artfully crafted prose draws you into a world of extraordinary characters - from the cool, calculating protagonist Edwin to his manic henchman Topper and the misguided evil mastermind Dr Loeb. If, like me, you've always preferred your arch-villains to tight-wearing goody-goodies like Superman and Captain America, then this is the book for you. In his own, inimitable style, McLean weaves a rich tale that truly allows his bad guys to shine, and that'll keep you guessing (and chortling) to the last page. Highly recommended.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:  61 reviews
39 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Great concept, feels unfinished 29 Aug 2011
By Brooks Talley - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
The premise is irresistible: a consultant for supervillains. Add some great characters, some hilarious would-be villains, a fast-and-loose style where literally anything can happen next, and some wonderful action sequences, and you've got a book that should be a classic light read even if it isn't great literature.

Unfortunately, the whole thing feels like a first or second draft. Copy editing errors abound -- I suspect someone flipped a coin to decide between "its" and "it's" every time, and there are some really strange wrong-word errors. But there are also bigger structural issues, such as a bit-part character suddenly turning into the emotional lynchpin and life-long companion of the protagonist. And then there's the ending, in which the characters all seem to arbitrarily act differently than they ever had.

How to Succeed in Evil is a fun read, and for the price, I definitely recommend it. It's a fun beach or airplane book. However, it could have been much, much better with professional editing and another revision.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Very tongue in cheek 7 Aug 2011
By A Guy - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Everyone's familiar with a popular super-villain issue: why, with their super-intelligence, strength, telepathy, whatever, would they ever do something illegal that's less profitable than legal (if morally suspect) use of their talents and resources? That's Edwin's question, and ultimately his quest - get these villains acting rationally rather than stereotypically. McLean's novel is a tongue in cheek investigation of the heroes and villains' motivations. It's laugh out loud funny (both setting and dialogue), and the overall plot of Edwin's run in (as supposed evil-mastermind) with Excelsior (a Superman type hero) furthers the overall message while being entertaining in and of itself. Semi-frequent typos in the initial release have since been fixed; the effect of this admirable effort on the author's part, combined with the hilarious story, result in an easy "5 Stars". Recommended to anyone who reads superhero fantasies, as well as anyone looking for a fun, funny way to spend a few hours.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Refreshingly original 29 Jun 2011
By Glenn - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
I followed the early chapters of How To Succeed In Evil in its former incarnation as a podcast series, and was hooked from the first installment. Having read the whole thing, I can tell you that the rest did not disappoint. Brimming with anarchic wit, this book is a refreshingly original antidote to the reams of identikit superhero stories that have marched relentlessly across our pages and screens over the last few years. The well-paced, artfully crafted prose draws you into a world of extraordinary characters - from the cool, calculating protagonist Edwin to his manic henchman Topper and the misguided evil mastermind Dr Loeb. If, like me, you've always preferred your arch-villains to tight-wearing goody-goodies like Superman and Captain America, then this is the book for you. In his own, inimitable style, McLean weaves a rich tale that truly allows his bad guys to shine, and that'll keep you guessing (and chortling) to the last page. Highly recommended.
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Popular Highlights

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&quote;
There is not enough money in the world to truly command and control a populace. All you can reasonably hope to do, is create a situation where it is easier for people to do what you want, than it is for them to do what you dont. Then, none will oppose or seek to thwart your aim. It  will appear to them that you are merely helping them do what they want. In the end, there is no defense against cooperation. &quote;
Highlighted by 33 Kindle users
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Marijuana steeped conversations concerning questions of wave formation often take on mystical dimensions. Oceanographers and meteorologists can get even farther out there. They smoke math. &quote;
Highlighted by 31 Kindle users
&quote;
No matter how smart you may be. No matter how much money you have at your disposal. No matter strength of arms or argument, you simply cannot force people to do a thing. &quote;
Highlighted by 22 Kindle users

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