Tough Traveling – Messiahs
The Thursday feature “Tough Traveling” is the brainchild of Nathan of Review Barn, who has come up with the excellent idea of making a new list each week based on the most common tropes in fantasy, as seen in The Tough Guide to Fantasyland by Diana Wynn Jones. Nathan has invited anyone who is interested to come play along, so be sure to check out the first link for more information.
This week’s tour topic is: Messiahs
If the world needs saving who are you going to call? Perhaps there is someone out there destined to save everything? It sounds like you need…a Messiah. (Thanks Rabindranauth for the topic).
Mogsy’s Picks
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
In the final showdown against Lord Voldemort, Harry realizes the truth: he must sacrifice himself in order to vanquish his enemy once and for all — because he himself is the Horcrux that needs to be destroyed! Of course, after Harry “dies”, he comes back to life again and well, my memory is a bit of a mess when it comes to this last book but rest assured the good guys win in the end.
The Hero of Ages by Brandon Sanderson
A prophecy in the Mistborn series says that a savior, or a “Hero of Ages”, will one day come and take the power of the Well of Ascension to use it to save the world. There is great speculation between the characters all throughout the three books on who this person is, and in the end the answer may surprise you.
The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley
Adare went from being a rather forgotten and underdeveloped character in the first book of this series to become a mighty prophet figure in the sequel. Her supporters followed her willingly, believing that shehas the power to lead their army to victory.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Katniss Everdeen’s whole life has been about sacrificing herself for others. It all began when she took her sister Prim’s place in the Hunger Games. Her eventual victory there inspired an entire nation of people to fight back against the injustices forced upon them by President Snow and the Capitol, and she herself becomes the ultimate symbol for hope for the oppressed and downtrodden.
Yukiko, known as the “Stormdancer” because of the might storm tiger she rides, becomes a bringer of hope for the fight against the tyrannical Shima Imperium. Allies and friends rally around her, but she is also a target for those who understand that taking her out will also mean breaking apart the rebellion.
Wendy’s Picks
The Genesis of Shannara by Terry Brooks
“And Hawk, the rootless boy who is nothing less than destiny’s instrument, must lead the last of humanity to a latter-day promised land before the final darkness falls.”
Sounds pretty messiah-y to me.
A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin
She’s got dragons and survived a fire and everyone calls her “khaleesi.” That seems to be more than enough for Daenarys Targaryen to fall into the belief that everyone needs saving and she’s the only one that can do it.
Princess Leia’s message said that Obi-1 Kenobi was her only hope, but turns out it was that other guy, who would go on to stop the evil Empire (with help, of course), and return the Jedi to their former glory.
Children of Fire by Drew Karpyshyn
Not one messiah, but four! Four children born of chaos, destined to form a bond stronger than blood. But will their legacy be as the saviours of this world? Or will they be its undoing. Sometimes, you never know when it comes to messiahs.
The BiblioSanctum 
What, no Paul?
LikeLike
I thought I was stretching it with Katniss but instead everyone is including her. So now I don’t feel so bad.
I am such a geek I have actually read A New Hope’s novelization.
LikeLike
I’ve read all three. Empire is one of my favourite books, and they all include extra little details that make it even better.
LikeLike
It should go without saying I have read all three. You looking for a Star Wars showdown?! LETS DO IT!!!
=)
LikeLike
Yukiko, I didn’t even think to include her! Great pick though. I think you can safely assume you’re a messiah figure once people start tossing mythic titles your way. And of course Skywalker is a must.
LikeLike
She was a last minute addition when I looked through my list of recently read books and it’s like, OH YEAH…I think her savior status is even more emphasized in the last book.
LikeLike
Wish I’d thought about Daenerys!! Great picks guys. 😀
Can’t wait to read Stormdancer, and I’m pleased to hear Adare gets more page time in Providence of Fire. I seem to remember ranting about how overlooked she was (among other things) when I wrote my review of the first book.
LikeLike
Totally, I think most bloggers commented on Adare’s character getting short changed – yeah, definitely not the case anymore in Providence of Fire! I loved her character, she rocked book two 🙂
LikeLike
Oh yes Harry Potter is always a good choice! Haven’t read the others though.
LikeLike
LOVE the Adare pick! That was so recent, can’t believe it didn’t cross my mind
LikeLike
I love that Potter and Katniss seem to be making every list. I thought about Katniss and then forgot as I was making my list – short term memory loss!!
Great list this week – and next week PETS!!
Lynn 😀
LikeLike
No love for Neville Longbottom. He was as much the messiah as Harry was, but Harry’s the one that got all the press.
LikeLike
That picture you have of Dany… yep, definitely a messiah complex. Gah that scene was so unnecessary on the show.
Also, good point about Neville.
LikeLike
I wasn’t sure about messiahs at first, but you made it fun. I have to rad Mistborn already! I just bough StormDancer. 🙂
I tried one of Brook’s later Shannara books and just couldn’t get into it. Maybe I picked a bad one. Yes to the Khaleesi! I like her character, but I never like her story line. I mean, can anything else go wrong for the poor girl?
LikeLike
I thought about including Mistborn, but it’s such a complicated situation without revealing spoilers. There’s a whole buncha potential messiahs, and they all turn out to be head fakes. That’s my favorite part of the series, and why I loved the last novel in the trilogy the most.
LikeLike
Yeah, writing spoiler free comments for these lists is sometimes even harder than coming up with books themselves 😛
LikeLike
Ahh, yes, Khaleesi 🙂 Good choice! I saw her on another list this week. Her role is somehow similar to Katniss’s, isn’t it?
LikeLike
Great Pics that illustrate very well just how messiah-like they are! I have not read the Jay Kristoff book(s) but it’s going directly on the TBR mostly because Storm Tiger!
LikeLike
Yeah, when I saw the pic Wendy chose for Dany, I just had to choose a symbol-laden pic for Katniss too 😛
LikeLike