From Captain Nemo to Dr. No Political Notes on the Imaginary of Terrorism

Captain Nemo has become a modern myth; however, this liberal hero, opposed to colonialism, doubles as a violent assassin devoid of scruples. Several of Ian Fleming’s villains, particularly Dr. No, have a family resemblance to him. This article questions the meaning of the clear shift of the terrorist figure toward the axis of pure and simple evil, even though, unlike Captain Nemo, Dr. No faces off against a state terrorist whose violence is legitimized.