Would Saruman have been a reliable ally?

[Faramir Jones]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

When Gollum being evil could serve good, though, not willingly. couldn't Saruman be the same? His "voice" is said to be cruel(?) and poisonous(use of words is not clear, hope you got my point. ). Not saying, Gandalf had to "trust" the Orcs, but they, with Saruman's help, could turn them against the Army of Sauron. Aragorn looked into Palantir and that was enough for Sauron's world to turn upside down. Perhaps, knowing they are going to destroy the Ring, Saruman would have betrayed them, sending his Orc-battalion to fetch the hobbits. For his own salvation, i.e. FREEDOM from evil, he might have come to good. If, according to Gandalf, Gollum had chances(very little)of redemption and survival, Saruman would have too. But, sadly his fate was not to turn good and understand goodness of Good side, and evil of evil side. He died like that. What a tragedy!

I've thought it sad that he died the way he did, with his throat cut by his own servant; but I then think of all the evil he did.

As I said before, even if he was sincere, I don't think that Théoden and Denethor would take any chances with him, considering what he had done.

There's actually a very interesting fanfic, called 'Saruman of Many Devices', a crossover of the LotR Peter Jackson films with the General series of books by David Drake, where Saruman has knowledge of future technology, imparted by an AI:

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7568728...f-many-Devices

It's an interesting story because we have Saruman using this new (19th century standard) military technology to fight Sauron and his minions. Gandalf, as well as the elves, dwarves and men opposed to Sauron, are suspicious of Saruman's ultimate motives, but feel they have to co-operate with him for the time being. Also, the story gives us a lot of sympathetic orcs, urks, and wolves...