“Tough Traveling” is a weekly Thursday feature created by Nathan at Review Barn where participants make a new list each week based on The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynne Jones. This hilarious little book cheerfully pokes fun at the most prevalent tropes in fantasy. All are welcome to take part, and there is a link up over at his site. Join in any time!
This week’s trope is CHESS MASTERS:
A true master knows where all the pieces are at all times. Others may think they have taken control but alas, the master knew their last move before they played it.
This topic definitely challenged me, but thankfully I had some old faithfuls to fall back on. But of course I snuck a little UF in there. Here’s what I came up with!
 The Spider – A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. MartinThanks to his expansive network of spies, the Spider knows what everyone in Westeros is going to do before they even do it. The world is his web and the rest of us are just flies trapped in it! |
 Albus Dumbledore – Harry Potter series by J.K. RowlingAll I will say about this is that I shared Harry’s fury when it was revealed just how manipulative and secretive Dumbledore really was. Dude, maybe if you’d told people what was going on – or clued them in to some damn prophecies – things wouldn’t have gotten so cray cray. |
 Jeanine Matthews – Insurgent by Veronica RothAs leader of the Erudite faction, Jeanine has the intelligence and resources to control an entire faction…one other than her own. Against their will. That’s some serious pawn manipulation if you ask me. Plus, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Jeanine were a literal chess master. She’s smart enough! |
 John Marcone – The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher
Gentleman Marcone has weaselled his way into and out of every situation imaginable. From controlling the criminal underworld to possessing some seriously powerful magical artifacts, Marcone always seems to be one step ahead of the law. And often a few steps ahead of Harry! |