An alternative to the glorification of violence within the action genre

I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. Mahatma Gandhi

When I wrote Bridge of Souls I wanted to create a story that would provide an alternative to the existing format within much of the modern action genre, of violence for amusement or spectacle.  Since the Bridge of Souls story is an action adventure there would, by necessity, be some violence but I carefully planned the plot so that the protagonists clearly only use violence as a final resort.

For example, if you examine the behaviour of Tavish Stewart in the beginning of the story, he is bound within what is often termed "the rule of law".  His responses to extreme violence are measured and appropriate to the threat facing him and those around him.

As the story progresses, and the actions against him become more and more extraordinary, his responses change, but his behaviour is always in proportion to the threat facing him and more often the threat facing the society in which we live.

As that society disintegrates Stewart continues to show a set of internal values and morals that exist independently of the rules of law that are imposed by society.   Unlike his antagonists, Stewart will not harm or kill another being unless he is forced to act to neutralise the threat they pose to him, his friends or the greater humanity.

The other characteristic of Stewart, and his friends, is that their primary weapons are always their intelligence, resourcefulness and sheer will to overcome whatever faces them.   If Stewart carries a gun or knife in some section of the story it is because he has borrowed it for some specific threat, not because he owns or likes weapons.

Stewart happens to be extraordinarily talented with guns, knives, swords and unarmed combat but he does not seek to use those skills to dominate others or for the pleasure of causing harm.   In fact, in a few key places in the plot, I deliberately showed that, if given a choice, Stewart will show mercy to an opponent who has attacked him. 

I hope that, like me, you prefer a more intelligent and measured kind of action adventure.  I believe there is already too much glorification of violence in fiction and the media.  I hope that, in some way, Bridge of Souls provides a counterbalance to this trend.   Providing a hero who is intelligent, just and measured in how he responds to threats against him and humanity.


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