> I've said before that Musk must have read Surface Detail and assumed Veppers was some kind of 'tragic hero'. I just can't imagine how that would happen. As o

> I've said before that Musk must have read Surface Detail and assumed Veppers was some kind of 'tragic hero'. I just can't imagine how that would happen. As others mention, missing the point on villains _is_ a thing, but Veppers is almost comically villainous. Like, he all but indulges in Bond-villain-style "have I mentioned that I'm evil" monologuing. He's _awful_. (I actually think he's likely Banks' most objectionable antagonist.)