“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 the trope is Saving the World!
SAVING THE WORLD is something many Tours require you to do. You have to defeat the DARK LORD or WIZARDS who are trying to enslave everyone.
 Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry PratchettNothing requires a little Saving the World like a good old fashioned apocalypse! The angel Aziraphale and the demon Crowley have grown comfortable on Earth, and are even fond of humans. They team up to prevent the Antichrist – who is, naturally, a little English boy – from causing armageddon. Unfortunately all they really have to go on are the prophecies of Agnes Nutter, an infuriatingly vague and cryptic witch. |
 The Ultra Thin Man by Patrick SwensonAlan Brindos and Dave Crowell are contractors for the NIO, an intelligence agency that oversees the entire intergalactic Union. It’s a rough week at work for Brindos and Crowell when they stumble onto an alien plot to overthrow the Union. These aliens, called Ultras, are cloning people and using these copies to infiltrate important government positions. Destroy the Ultras and their Thin Man copies, save the Union. This is sci-fi, not fantasy, but I was having a tough time with this week’s trope so deal with it. |
 Angelfall by Susan EeEarth has been invaded by psychotic angels who are hell bent (get it? GET IT?) on the destruction of the human race. Penryn doesn’t care about the whole human race – she just wants to save her sister. If it means she gets to kick a little angel ass? Added bonus. As she journey’s to save Paige, Penryn sees the apocalyptic devastation around her and realizes that if she wants to protect her family, she’s gonna have to save the world. |
 The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. TolkienDoes anyone actually need me to explain this one? There’s this short guy, and a ring, and this giant eyeball thing…but actually though, Frodo is the ultimate “every man” devoid of fantastical powers. All he’s got to help him destroy the one ring is courage, perseverance, and his friends (who are admittedly quite magical). Kind of the ultimate save the world story, if you ask me. |