“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 DRUGS
DRUGS- Driver of all the underground economies. At times glorified, at times responsible for all the world’s evil, but just as common in Fantasyland as our own.
This one isn’t in the Tough Guide but was actually suggested by Tammy over at Ink Bones Books. Thanks Tammy!
 Morphling – Catching Fire by Suzanne CollinsMorphling is a powerful painkiller that’s used mainly to treat serious injuries and administered mainly through IV – it’s not coincidence that the name sounds pretty similar to “morphine.” Like many painkillers, it is highly addictive and can alter the appearance of the addict, making them jaundiced and blowing their pupils wide. Several characters in the games are addicts or “Morphlings” including a major character… |
 ThreeEye – Storm Front by Jim ButcherIn the series opener, ThreeEye is introduced as a drug that can enable the user to gain the Sight thereby allowing humans them to see the supernatural. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, of course it turns out to be addictive…and that never ends well. |
 Hotblood Wine – Terrier by Tamora PierceHotblood wine is an alcohol/drug combo: it’s wine that has been spiked with an amphetamine that is predominantly used as an upper or an aphrodisiac. It is very commonly consumed substance in Tortall, especially the capital city Corus, where drugs and crime are a serious problem. |
 Milk of the poppy – A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. MartinThis one is kind of interesting because “milk of the poppy” or opium is an actual drug rather than something fantastical. In ASOIAF people mainly use it to deal with pain, but it’s highly addictive so that doesn’t always end well. Just ask Gregor Clegane! |
Nathan (@reviewbarn)
mmm. Hotblood wine. I prefer the California vintages.
Realizing I remember nothing about Hunger Games past the first book until the ending.
Danya @ Fine Print .
Hahaha, I’ll take anything under $15 ’cause I’m cheap like that. 😉
BiblioSanctum Blog
Lots of morphine and opiates and their derivatives in fantasy, like milk of the poppy. I vaguely remember the mention of morphling in the Hunger Games too, but like Nathan, I can’t recall much from the series since I read it a while ago.
~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum
Danya @ Fine Print .
You’re right…probably has something to do with the state of medieval medicine. They needed something to dull the pain during those surgeries.
I actually re-read the first two books before I saw the movies in theatres, so they’re pretty fresh in my mind!
Kat Stark
WE ARE ALL ON DRUUUUUUUUUGS ~~~
I need me some Milk of the Poppy right about now
Danya @ Fine Print .
GIVE ME SOME OF THAT STUUUUUFF
Kat Stark
I love how you knew that.
Tabitha (@Not Yet Read)
Cool picks, I forgot about threeye. Have you read Blood Red Road by Moira Young? I highly recommend it if not. Like ya fantasy / dystopia almost
Danya @ Fine Print .
I have actually!! I really liked it, especially the way that the writing was done to mimic the narrator’s illiteracy. Very cool. I haven’t read the sequels yet though…I need to get on that. Thanks for the reminder!
Lynn Williams
haha, high five for getting Tamora on your list! I will definitely read some of her books now. I’ve absolutely dropped the ball with LotR for the past couple of months. Nice list!
Lynn 😀
Danya @ Fine Print .
It’s my personal challenge to include her work in some way each week – thankfully she’s written a LOT of books, so it’s not too difficult. Hahaha, I always enjoy your LOTR inclusions!
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Sorry that I am so late in making the rounds. I’ve been studying for a job test that I took last Saturday. I’m not sure that all of my hard work paid off, but we’ll see. Anyway, Stacia Kane’s Downside Ghosts series is another one to add to the drug list, as is the 11th installment in Jennifer Estep’s Elemental Assassin series.
Carmel @ Rabid Reads
Danya @ Fine Print .
No worries! It’s always hard to tell how a test went just after you’ve taken it – fingers crossed that it went well!
I’ve heard a lot about the Downside Ghosts books, and I know that the protagonist is a drug addict. I find that can be pretty hit or miss but from what I can tell most people seem to like the MC.