The first full-length study of its type highlighting over 150 fictional villains, many famous through their film and TV adaptations including The Daleks and Cruella De Vil, as well as crime fiction favourites. Using essays to highlight different types of villains and focusing on some of the more famous such as Moriarty and Greengrass, popular crime fiction writer and former Chariman of the CWA, Russell James celebrates the role of the fictional villains. Illustrations will include original film posters and first edition covers from classic crime fiction and other genres and media. This is the companion book to Russell's Great British Detectives. AUTHOR Russell James is Contributing Editor to the Harcourt Encyclopaedia of Crime Fiction and is a former Chairman of the CWA (Crime Writers' Association), as well as having his own highly active website (www.russelljames.co.uk). The popular author has used his intimate knowledge of crime fiction to create a brilliant and detailed study of the Great British Fictional Villains encompassing not just world famous names such as Moriarty but once popular classic characters who will be rediscovered by today's generation of readers through this must-buy dictionary of crime fiction and other genres SELLING POINTS * Dictionary-style study of the Great British fictional villains, companion book to Great British Detectives * 150+ biographies of British fictional villains, including their authors and best-known books * Explores the role fictional villains in different in genres, including crime, children's novels and sci-fi TV and films * Essays on different aspects of fictional villains including The Role of the Nemesis, Why Moriarty, The Criminal Detective and Femme Fatales ILLUSTRATIONS 150 colour photos *