“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 topic is MAJOR DISCOVERIES:
While often the people of Fantasyland seem stuck in a time warp occasionally a major discovery can shock the land into changes. Be they new lands, new peoples or new technologies fantasyland thrives on having something to jump start the next age.
What a fun topic! The best weeks are the ones where you can pull from every genre/sub-genre, and this was definitely one of them. I even snuck a little sci-fi in there…because I do what I want!
 Gracelings/The Seven Kingdoms – Fire by Kristin Cashore
Life is far from peaceful or magic free in The Dells, a kingdom plagued by magical monsters and civil war. But when Fire and her friends meet a strange boy with two different coloured eyes, they learn of a new realm…and the dangerous Gracelings who live there. |
 Werewolves – Alpha & Omega/Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Although werewolves and their ilk are the subject of Patricia Briggs’ two companion series, the human population only learned of their existence halfway through both series. Most people have difficulty processing the fact that the things that go bump in the night are real…and it goes about as well as you’d expect. |
 The Still Blue – Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi
Aria and Perry live in a land plagued by lightning storms that ravage the land and destroy natural resources (not to mention killing people). But there are whispers of a territory where the sky is free of the lightning storms, a land called The Still Blue…if only they could find it. A fantastic dystopian series that doesn’t get enough love or attention, imho. |
 Various Alien…Things – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Learning that aliens are real is not initially a happy discovery for Arthur Dent (and it blows chunks for the rest of humanity, let me tell ya). In fact, I’d call it pretty damn traumatizing. But all’s well that ends well, and Arthur meets many alien races, visits alien planets, and sees alien tech. |
Lynn Williams
I like the sound of this Still Blue – sounds good. And this is the first I’ve heard of it so it is suffering from a lack of love isn’t it.
Fire is a great book isn’t it. I really enjoyed it – Have you read Graceling or Bitterblue. I’ve read Graceling and have Bitterblue waiting to be read.
Lynn 😀
Danya @ Fine Print .
I’m surprised more people haven’t read the series! Anyone who’s not completely tired of YA dystopian should definitely give it a go.
Fire was sooooo good! I actually just re-read it about a week ago and loved it just as much the second time around. I’ve read Graceling, but not Bitterblue…should we buddy read it? 🙂
Lynn Williams
that would be cool. I’ve had the book for ages so it would make me get a budge on.
Lynn 😀
Danya @ Fine Print .
Excellent! I’ll send you a DM on twitter. 🙂
Aentee @ Read at Midnight
This meme sounds so fun. I might have to join in next week. But ahh I get a happy buzz whenever I see The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, those books bring me some serious joy hehe.
Danya @ Fine Print .
It really is! Nathan at Fantasy Review Barn does a great job of organizing it every week. Ahhhh yes, me too! Douglas Adams always reminds me of summers camping, because I always snuck those books in my tent after lights out when I was supposed to be sleeping. Shhhh! 😉