History PunchClockVillain / Literature

* Most of the henchmen of Hellion's Henchmen from ''Literature/SuperMinion''. Some believe in the organization (which does a lot of good, for all that they are technically criminals) and a few are interested in climbing the ranks and becoming full supervillains, but for most of them it's just an occasionally-scary job that pays well. Because of Fortress City's bizarre law code, henchmen are legally protected, and Hellion offers good healthcare and legal services.

** Also the original incarnation of the Cable Street Particulars. In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', they're a branch of the police accountable to no one where the stories about what goes on behind those doors are usually pretty accurate. Eventually, Vimes (alias John Keel) barges into their headquarters and demands of a man "WHAT DOES DADDY DO AT WORK ALL DAY, MISTER?" In spite of the man's protests that he's only a clerk, Vimes is still inclined to hold him accountable for the horrors perpetrated.

** Also the original incarnation of the Cable Street Particulars. In ''Literature/NightWatchDiscworld'', they're a branch of the police accountable to no one where the stories about what goes on behind those doors are usually pretty accurate. Eventually, Vimes (alias John Keel) barges into their headquarters and demands of a man "WHAT DOES DADDY DO AT WORK ALL DAY, MISTER?" In spite of the man's protests that he's only a clerk, Vimes is still inclined to hold him accountable for the horrors perpetrated.

** Sandor Clegane is an example of an originally innocent and still rather kind-hearted individual who was molded into a villain out of continuous sheer abuse from a young age, specifically to serve his lord as TheBrute -- he both hates it and hates himself for also loving it on some levels. [[spoiler: He might have gotten some redemption by shunning his Hound persona and (purportedly) becoming a grave-digger.]]

** As seen in the main page quote, the torturers of the Omnian Quisition in ''Literature/SmallGods''. In the torture pits of the Omnian Inquisition, among the implements of painful death are the odd holiday nick-knacks, etchings, and mugs saying "World's Best Dad". As a matter of fact, the head of the Exquisition (the people who come in after the Inquisition have done their stuff) approves of Punch Clock Villains, because it proves that what they do to people is ''right''.

** As seen in the main page quote, the torturers of the Omnian Quisition in ''Discworld/SmallGods''. In the torture pits of the Omnian Inquisition, among the implements of painful death are the odd holiday nick-knacks, etchings, and mugs saying "World's Best Dad". As a matter of fact, the head of the Exquisition (the people who come in after the Inquisition have done their stuff) approves of Punch Clock Villains, because it proves that what they do to people is ''right''.
** Also the original incarnation of the Cable Street Particulars. In ''Discworld/NightWatch'', they're a branch of the police accountable to no one where the stories about what goes on behind those doors are usually pretty accurate. Eventually, Vimes (alias John Keel) barges into their headquarters and demands of a man "WHAT DOES DADDY DO AT WORK ALL DAY, MISTER?" In spite of the man's protests that he's only a clerk, Vimes is still inclined to hold him accountable for the horrors perpetrated.

** In ''Discworld/MakingMoney'', the villain has a "cleaner" on payroll for him who spends the book killing everyone who unknowingly assisted his boss in his scheme [[spoiler:to become Lord Vetinari]]. When not killing, the assassin seems a normal enough guy and has an interest in [[BadassBookworm reading for pleasure]]. The villain's other employee finds this ''more'' worrying; if the guy was TheBrute, he'd at least be understandable.

** Count Bela de Magpyr from ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'', sure he's a neck biting vampire, but in the words of his Igor "only adventurouth femaleth over the age of theventeen and looking good in a nightie" is who he goes for, and it's soon revealed that he has quite a camaraderie with the townsfolk, and actually likes phoenixes, who themselves hate evil. He makes a point of filling his lair with anti-vampire weapons that make it convenient to kill him temporarily, which he treats like a long nap and gets cranky if he's resurrected too soon. This was largely PragmaticVillainy; he knows that if he's enough of a nuisance the villagers would start fighting back seriously he wouldn't stand a chance, as his successor learns the hard way.

* In ''Literature/TheDarkTower'' (the final book of Creator/StephenKing's ''Franchise/TheDarkTower'' series) it's revealed that many of the BigBad Crimson King's Minions were in actuality Punch Clock Villains, with the most prominent example being the [[ChurchgoingVillain decent, devoutly religious]] warden of the prison community where the "Breakers" -- psychics who work to "break" the beams that hold all existence together -- are held. He fully expects to go to Heaven once the job of destroying the Multiverse is complete, and to be well-received there.

* In ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'', Scout-as-narrator explains that children of lawyers often assume that whatever colleague their parent goes up against in court is a bad guy, only to be mystified by the sight of them acting like friends when court's not in session. By the time of Tom Robinson's trial, Scout and Jem have outgrown this, and they're familiar enough with the prosecutor, Mr. Gilmer, to recognize and appreciate the tricks he employs, all in the spirit of a fair trial. [[InnocentInaccurate Neither of them is quite old enough to realize]] until the guilty verdict that that's not what's going on this time, and for the case of a black man accused of raping a white woman, no one's bothered hitting any punch clock.

* Bronn in the ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' series, albeit he's a very pragmatic example. As a sellsword, he's most often hired to do quite to very thuggy work. But, he also gets paid to be bored silly or, upon occasion, [[PunchclockHero even to do something heroic]]. As long as he gets paid enough, there's only a small handful of things he won't do.

** The Hound Sandor Clegane is an example of an originally innocent and still rather kind-hearted individual who was molded into a villain out of continuous sheer abuse from a young age, specifically to serve his lord as TheBrute -- he both hates it and hates himself for also loving it on some levels. [[spoiler: He might have gotten some redemption by shunning his Hound persona and (purportedly) becoming a grave-digger.]]
** In ''The Winds of Winter" preview chapter "Mercy", one of the guards is openly disgusted by Rafford's attempt to have sex with an eleven year old girl, and suggesting they kill a dwarf on the off chance he's [[spoiler: Tyrion Lannister.]]

* Some of the ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'' novels which focus on people working for the Empire embrace this trope.
** ''Literature/{{Allegiance}}'' has five stormtroopers whose consciences eventually override their willingness to take orders, though admittedly they didn't have a choice about leaving.

** All the others keep telling the non- MadScientist s that they have a god-provided GreatBigBookOfEverything which includes every design they could possibly ever need and the means to repair anything. [[spoiler: Turns out that their current tech level is as far as the book goes, and there's no workable tech to repair what is already dying.]] when she finally finds this out she very nearly [[GoMadFromTheRevelation gets a permanent home on the funny farm]].

** The Mandalorians are an odd case of this to the Empire. Sure, they contract with the Sith as hired guns, but it's a StealthInsult. Their true motive is to test their might against the ''best'' - the "best" in their eyes are the Republic and the Jedi, who they will praise to the hills as being {{WorthyOpponent}}s and honorable fighters. The Sith and the Empire? Meh. They're good for a paycheck, and ''slightly'' better about honoring contracts than the Hutts.

* Bronn in the ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' series, albeit he's a very pragmatic example. As a sellsword, he's most often hired to do quite to very thuggy work. But, he usually gets paid to be bored silly or, upon occasion, [[PunchclockHero even to do something heroic]].

* Bronn in the ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' series, albeit he's a very pragmatic example.

** There are a great number of Freys that are not particularly proud in [[spoiler: their role at the Red Wedding,]] but still carry out their household duties.
** The Hound Sandor Clegane is an example of an innocent and rather kind-hearted individual that was moldered as a villain out of continuous sheer abuse. [[spoiler: He might have gotten some redemption by shunning his Hound persona and (purportedly) becoming a grave-digger.]]

** The Orcs are a subversion. At first, they sound for all the world like grousing Tommies straight out of Creator/RudyardKipling, grumbling about the lack of entertainment and decent food... until you realize they tend to alleviate both by torturing a captive to death and eating him.

** As did Randall and a passing customer in ''Film/{{Clerks}}'', considering the deaths of civilian contractors on the half-built second Death Star. Although it's played with, as the passing customer -- with reference to a friend of his who took up a contract on a house owned by a high-profile mobster that the customer himself warily passed on and got gunned down in a drive-by shooting as a result -- notes that on some level even the contractors and non-military staff had to be aware of what they were getting into, even if they chose not to acknowledge it; it ''is'' essentially a massive death ray for a fascist empire in the middle of a civil war that they're building and operating, after all.

* As seen in the quote above, the torturers of the Omnian Quisition in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/SmallGods''.

* In several place, Literature/TheBible mentions tax collectors as among the most disliked members of society. Back then they were considered little more than thieves employed by the government. The Roman Empire often made use of "Tax Farming," the practice of selling the authority to gather tax moneys. The purchaser could squeeze people as hard as they liked under the tax laws, and any extra they got was profit. This practice was common in Europe through the Middle Ages, and is likely the cause of the heavy taxes often mentioned in Robin Hood and similar stories. That makes this trope is OlderThanFeudalism.

** Count Bela de Magpyr from ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'', sure he's a neck biting vampire, but in the words of his Igor "only adventurouth femaleth over the age of theventeen and looking good in a nightie" is who he goes for, and it's soon revealed that he has quite a camaraderie with the townsfolk, and actually likes phoenixes, who themselves hate evil. This was largely PragmaticVillainy; he knows that if he's enough of a nuisance the villagers would start fighting back seriously he wouldn't stand a chance, as his successor learns the hard way.

* Damon "Demon" Larkham in MatthewReilly's ''Scarecrow''. He runs a ruthless, highly efficient (they ''exterminate the Taliban'') and technologically advanced band of mercenaries (called [[ShoutOut IG-88]]), but he still gets beaten by the heroes. [[spoiler: At the end of the novel, he and his men corner [[TheLancer Aloysius Knight]]. Just as Knight has a huge OhCrap moment, Larkham gives a short speech about how "what happens on the field stays on the field," congratulates Knight, then walks away.]]

** Count Bela de Magpyr from ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'', sure he's a neck biting vampire, but in the words of his Igor "only adventurouth femaleth over the age of theventeen and looking good in a nightie" is who he goes for, and it's soon revealed that he has quite a camaraderie with the townsfolk, and actually likes phoenixes, who themselves hate evil.

** Not quite a villain but Professor John Hicks - er, Hix, Head of the Department of necro- er, Post-Mortem Communications, is required by University Statute to commit ''moderately'' evil acts. These include pressuring people to attend community theatre productions.

** The Mandalorians are an odd case of this to the Empire. Sure, they contract with the Sith as hired guns, but it's a StealthInsult. Their true motive is to test their might against the ''best'' - the "best" in their eyes are the Republic and the Jedi, who they will praise to the hills as being {{WorthyOpponent}}s and honorable fighters. The Sith and the Empire? Meh. They're good for a paycheck, and ''slightly'' better about honoring contracts than the Hutts.

** As did Randall and a passing customer in ''{{Clerks}}'', considering the deaths of civilian contractors on the half-built second Death Star. Although it's played with, as the passing customer -- with reference to a friend of his who took up a contract on a house owned by a high-profile mobster that the customer himself warily passed on and got gunned down in a drive-by shooting as a result -- notes that on some level even the contractors and non-military staff had to be aware of what they were getting into, even if they chose not to acknowledge it; it ''is'' essentially a massive death ray for a fascist empire in the middle of a civil war that they're building and operating, after all.

* Bronn in the ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' series, albeit he's a very pragmatic example.

* Captain Ramballe of the French army that invades Russia in ''WarAndPeace'' is very much this. He sits down with Pierre in occupied Moscow and offers him dinner and wine, discussing how the Russians performed splendidly at the Battle of Borodino, commending them for such a fine job at defending their own country.
* In ''IfThisGoesOn'' a science fiction novella by Creator/RobertAHeinlein, our hero is captured by the evil government. He notices that the several torturers for the government show no pleasure in their job, they are strictly business. It is implied that anyone who likes to inflict pain is not permitted in that job, as they are supposed to get information, not necessarily hurt people (although that is always an option if they think it will help).

* The demons, or spirits as they like to be called, are portrayed this way in ''TheBartimaeusTrilogy''. [[spoiler: At least until the third book.]]