Can You Recommend A Fantasy Novel Wherein The MC Doesn't Save the World?

Kitty Pryde · Jun 13, 2008

Hello,
I'm brainstorming a story right now, and it seems more and more that the planet, the world, the universe, all possible universes, etc, doesn't get saved by my MC. That is, it's not even at stake.
Can you please suggest some fantasy novels in which the MC saves himself and his buddies, or a particularly charismatic dog, or a truckload of orphans, or his town, but not the whole world? I'm seeking stories in which the stakes are smaller but the story is still compelling. Or must the whole planet always be rescued in the process of the hero getting out of a scrape?
Thanks!

ChaosTitan · Jun 13, 2008

Fixed it for ya.

blacbird · Jun 13, 2008

A couple of classics:

The King of Elfland's Daughter, by Lord Dunsany
The Gormenghast Trilogy, by Mervin Peake

caw

Esopha · Jun 13, 2008

I think you need to step away from high fantasy.

Lemme see. Jeff Vandermeer's novels. Diana Wynne Jones has several non-world savers (Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Air, Fire and Hemlock). Patricia C. Wrede. Lots of YA fantasy stays away from world saving. Urban fantasy, too.

And those are just off the top of my head.

krylyr_dave · Jun 13, 2008

It kind of depends on what kind of fantasy you like, I think. But Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys definitely fits the bill. Also, his book Coraline, as well. If you dig really dark fantasy, China Mieville's the Scar. Ditto Holly Black's Valiant.

If you're looking for lighter stuff, I'm sure most of Pratchett's work would fit in. Really, it just kind of depends what kind of fantasy you're looking for

Buddikins · Jun 13, 2008

Uhm.. The first and second books of The Bartimaeus Trilogy don't have the hero... 'hero' saving the world.
Terry Pratchett's already been said...
I guess Artemis Fowl isn't really about saving the world, although that's prob more science fiction.
Hmm.
The Foundling isn't, but I didnt like that one lol.
Sorry, there must be more, I just can't think of them at the moment.

Thump · Jun 13, 2008

Doesn't matter

Go ahead, make yourself happy, write what you want

I love it when heroes don't save the world.

Richard White · Jun 14, 2008

Some older books that might fit your bill:

The "Thieves World" series, edited by Robert Asprin and Lynn Abbey
"Daughter of the Bright Moon" by Lynn Abbey
The "Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser" series by Fritz Leiber
"The Black Company" series by Glen Cook
The Dragon series by Gordon Dickson ("The Dragon and the George" is still my favorite.)
The "Witch World" series by Andre Norton
The "Earthsea" series by Ursula LeGuin
The "Sun Wolf and Starhawk" series by Barbara Hambly

And some newer ones:
"Doppleganger" and "Warrior and Witch" by Marie Brennan
"Tales of the Wolves" series by Tara Harper

Some of the older books may be out of print, but isn't that what used book stores are for? *grin*

Vomaxx · Jun 14, 2008

The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon

Smiling Ted · Jun 14, 2008

Jack of Shadows by Roger Zelazny.
The "hero" pretty much destroys the world.

rugcat · Jun 14, 2008

Much of contemporary urban fantasy involves the mc solving a particular mystery or problem, and the saving of her or himself, friends, etc., becomes a byproduct of that.

Saving the world is not part of the story.

Sirion · Jun 14, 2008

I think most (successful) fantasy novels don't have to do with saving the world.

High Fantasy has gotten a bit popular among some, but it's very difficult to do correctly. Still, saving the world is a big part of the Fantasy genre, because it is very rare to 'save the world' in other forms of literature. It'll never go away.

-Travis

Oddsocks · Jun 14, 2008

The Second Sons trilogy, by Jennifer Fallon. The stakes are certainly high, but from memory, they weren't the-world high or higher.

Hollan · Jun 14, 2008

The Secret Country by Pamela Dean.
The first 3 Elric Saga books have no world saving either.

blacbird · Jun 14, 2008

And then there's The Odyssey by . . . what'shisname.

caw

Zoombie · Jun 15, 2008

The "Liveship traders" by Robin Hobb has no world savings...just one family trying their best to survive a horrible calamity. They all grow and learn...and end up better for it in the end.

Except for Kyle. But no one liked Kyle.

Uh, The Derlavani War series by Harry Turtledove. That's fantasy and not one of the main characters directly saves the world...

It's more of a long, slow decent into darkness and the slow, horrible crawl back out....but what do you expect, its a retelling of WWII with magic. Really, most characters are more focused on saving their own skins and their loved ones.

Uh...there was another one...

But I forgot it ^_^

Ruv Draba · Jun 15, 2008

As another poster suggested: avoid high fantasy. Try low fantasy, sword and sorcery, dark fantasy, urban fantasy. There are too many authors to list, but here's a way of finding them on your local fantasy shelves:

Stand in front of the fantasy shelves, shut your eyes, spin around and pick a book at random.
Now open your eyes and look at the back cover. If it contains the words: 'journey', 'destiny', 'chosen' or 'quest', put it back.
Now turn it over and look at the front cover artwork. If it features people travelling - especially travelling through moody locations (like forests, moors, lakes, caves), put it back.
Check now for signs of half-seen faces in the sky or the background, glowering, leering and looking scornfully at the characters. If you see anything like that, put it back.
Now read the blurb in full. If you think you'd like it, buy it.

Anonymisty · Jun 16, 2008

Mine.

*grin*

Nyna · Jun 16, 2008

The Seven Waters Trilogy, by Juliet Marillier
The Sword-Dancer series, by Jennifer Robeson
A Shadow in Summer, by Daniel Abraham
The Lies of Locke Lamora, Scott Lynch

All of which are highly recommended, none of which are Urban or YA, none of which involve the saving of the whole world, though sometimes people try to save certain parts of it. You can also try some Stephen Brust, or maybe even some of Bujold's fantasy, though it's been long enough that I'm not sure if they involve world-saving or not. Anyone want to confirm or deny?

Ooh, and try some Guy Gavriel Kay, too. I'd recommend the Sailing to Sarantium duology -- they're my personal favorites.

Danger Jane · Jun 16, 2008

Stardust by Neil Gaiman also, and Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia Wrede and Caroline Stevermer--that one's more like Jane Austen with magic.

ETA: Also pretty much any fairy-tale or myth [retelling] I can think of.

badducky · Jun 16, 2008

I actually suggest Umberto Ecco.

arkady · Jun 17, 2008

Can you please suggest some fantasy novels in which the MC saves himself and his buddies, or a particularly charismatic dog, or a truckload of orphans, or his town, but not the whole world?

Sure -- my own last three fantasies. You can buy them at... Oh, wait, no one's published them. Silly me.

Zoombie · Jun 17, 2008

Jeeze...now I feel bad about my novel. It's sci-fi, not fantasy, but the heros don't just save the human race, they don't just save the world...they save a good half the galaxy.

But if makes you feel better, when they get back from their adventure, they're put into summer school cause they missed their high school finals and failed all their classes.

Kitty Pryde · Jun 17, 2008

Thanks for all the great suggestions! After a long thoughtful weekend, I realized that my MC definitely isn't going to save the world. I am feeling much better about it after reading all your responses.

sadron · Jun 18, 2008

Katherine Langrish: Troll Fell, Troll Mill and Troll Blood.

Can You Recommend A Fantasy Novel Wherein The MC Doesn't Save the World?

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