tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post5590583684079381110..comments2023-09-06T05:28:26.542-06:00Comments on David Powers King: Tuesday Tropes: The Last Of Their KindDavid P. Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-55322730238121460732012-02-23T11:48:16.352-07:002012-02-23T11:48:16.352-07:00I have a "next to last" character in my ...I have a "next to last" character in my story. I really like this set-up because the character's skills or what-have-you are already rare enough to create concerns about the future, but you ALSO know the stakes will rise immensely if they ever DO become truly the last of their kind.<br /><br />Last of the Mohicans is a great example of this. (at least the movie version is) The father is technically the "last," but he lives...the tension and emotion come from the son's death, and the fact that there WERE two and now only one remains.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10680066584646789184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-42828778360691071872012-02-22T17:52:58.599-07:002012-02-22T17:52:58.599-07:00Yep - I've got a last of their kind. I think t...Yep - I've got a last of their kind. I think the trope frequents storytelling because it's so effective at creating tension - the stakes are obvious. It also makes a character sympathetic, since we all have a hard time seeing something go extinct. It kind of has that gut-wrenching effect.Chasehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07100346397450204554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-40711295074629386422012-02-22T16:07:13.960-07:002012-02-22T16:07:13.960-07:00There's Daenerys as the last heir to the Targa...There's Daenerys as the last heir to the Targaryen throne. She's the last "dragon rider" and has the last dragons.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03308347645723660613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-16309810522325886882012-02-22T12:13:02.242-07:002012-02-22T12:13:02.242-07:00That's a whole other trope! :)That's a whole other trope! :)David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-1879900087624585242012-02-22T08:54:35.817-07:002012-02-22T08:54:35.817-07:00What about the first of their kind?What about the first of their kind?Author Joshua Hoythttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01256754228034053632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-87550696108735144392012-02-22T06:51:15.555-07:002012-02-22T06:51:15.555-07:00A quick way to mark someone out as special I guess...A quick way to mark someone out as special I guess. It does get used an awful lot.<br /><br />mood<br /><a href="http://moodywriting.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Moody Writing</a><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/mooderino" rel="nofollow">@mooderino</a><br /><a href="http://www.scoop.it/t/the-funnily-enough" rel="nofollow">The Funnily Enough</a>mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-88498363224510365172012-02-22T00:33:05.991-07:002012-02-22T00:33:05.991-07:00When I read the title, the first person that came ...When I read the title, the first person that came to mind was Roland the Gunslinger. Dude, (the other, less blogable) King nailed it with *that* series... phew:)Mark Koopmanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03634424953074803816noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-11037384122637243622012-02-21T20:33:14.754-07:002012-02-21T20:33:14.754-07:00Yup...I've got a last of their kind. Kinda a b...Yup...I've got a last of their kind. Kinda a big plot point for my MS actually. <br /><br />Great post!Kelley Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06373650788799372118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-62765232108024405722012-02-21T20:19:55.314-07:002012-02-21T20:19:55.314-07:00There is something powerfully sad about someone be...There is something powerfully sad about someone being the last of their kind. I think it makes for the beginnings a wonderfully damaged character.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-1688333566930215882012-02-21T19:41:04.038-07:002012-02-21T19:41:04.038-07:00Nice post. I actually have two of a kind in Two Ha...Nice post. I actually have two of a kind in Two Halves. There's no one else like them in the world and they exist to stop the extinction of two different species (humans and vampires).Marta Szemikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100791404636754754noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-64579491854636430972012-02-21T19:05:28.335-07:002012-02-21T19:05:28.335-07:00Interesting DPK! I never really thought about Airb...Interesting DPK! I never really thought about Airbender that way...and some of the other movies (Lord of the Rings) I never saw...ha ha...sorry. I'm lame.i'm erin.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13729541389129887477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-61560524383294107322012-02-21T16:37:32.038-07:002012-02-21T16:37:32.038-07:00Interesting concept. Maybe I'll work with it s...Interesting concept. Maybe I'll work with it someday.writing and living by Richard P Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814139767151989286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-59915420377313309042012-02-21T14:50:59.515-07:002012-02-21T14:50:59.515-07:00I love the last of his kind trope, and I use an id...I love the last of his kind trope, and I use an idea of it in my writing because it is so compelling. I'm more a fan of the theme that it often allows you to explore. In the case of the Airbenders, the Jedi, and the American indian we see the exploration of the theme of genocide. I just wish that the reasonings behind it were sometimes less than "I want to take over the entire world." Mwa ha ha ha ha ha... wait I'm not an evil overload who wants to take over the world. Sorry.Jayrod P. Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12856869742909290300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-51294427001380151052012-02-21T14:44:39.097-07:002012-02-21T14:44:39.097-07:00I don't have a "last of his kind" ch...I don't have a "last of his kind" character in my writing... my characters have community structures they have to contend with... but! I immediately thought of Time Lord when I read your post. Doctor Who anyone???fairbettyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11641997265787156629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-68812729457391196262012-02-21T13:52:38.705-07:002012-02-21T13:52:38.705-07:00In Homecoming I have a race that was one of the pr...In Homecoming I have a race that was one of the progenitors of the human race but is now almost extinct due to inbreeding, a very low reproductive rate, and disease.Sue Ann Bowlinghttp://homecomingbook.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-27320700816893160722012-02-21T13:20:13.002-07:002012-02-21T13:20:13.002-07:00I've never used it in my writing, but I love i...I've never used it in my writing, but I love it in so many books and movies. And Ender had a great twist. I love it when a writer takes a trope and turns out something new and surprising.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-20908979541611623332012-02-21T12:42:46.617-07:002012-02-21T12:42:46.617-07:00In one of my WIPs, I have a girl who is the only o...In one of my WIPs, I have a girl who is the only one of her kind. Not the last, not really the first either because there aren't going to be more.Nicole Zoltackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07464800543376449290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-27279380799900316142012-02-21T12:39:26.401-07:002012-02-21T12:39:26.401-07:00Poor Ender, forced to destroy a race, only to save...Poor Ender, forced to destroy a race, only to save them in the end. Sad story, but great plot twist!Jennie Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17331827076858223497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-52872390216167655282012-02-21T11:54:30.052-07:002012-02-21T11:54:30.052-07:00Love this trope. And Avatar- The Last Airbender is...Love this trope. And Avatar- The Last Airbender is a fun cartoon. I didn't like the movie as much, but I like the cartoon.Leigh Covingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377634002477171615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-27926747697976548172012-02-21T11:32:57.168-07:002012-02-21T11:32:57.168-07:00Um, a few one-of-kinds when it comes to blood, but...Um, a few one-of-kinds when it comes to blood, but not something that makes them the last.<br /><br />Uh ... I've one MC who's the last of his clan. Does that count?Aldrea Alienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05652344290376563676noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-80837314806689777192012-02-21T11:30:48.949-07:002012-02-21T11:30:48.949-07:00I have a last of its kind in my short story DARK W...I have a last of its kind in my short story DARK WATERS. My heroes, Samuel McCord and Victor Standish, are both Only of Their Kinds in a sense. And Victor's mother, the being called Death, is, of course, the only of her kind as well! Great imaginative post, RolandRoland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-75824139411764921602012-02-21T11:18:45.920-07:002012-02-21T11:18:45.920-07:00Ah, this trope is close to my heart. There are two...Ah, this trope is close to my heart. There are two 'the last of their kinds' in my WIP, though one is more last than the other. And boy, do I exploit the heck out of it.<br /><br />Another example: I Am Legend. Being the sole survivor of a creepy pandemic? Not fun.Avery Marshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15615057600393412922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-18287580483831697682012-02-21T11:15:31.348-07:002012-02-21T11:15:31.348-07:00I like this device too. It is exciting to feel inv...I like this device too. It is exciting to feel involved with THE VERY LAST of something. I don't have it in a WIP now, but it is a plot point I would consider in the future. A recent example I would use is FIRE by Kristin Cashore, where the title character is the last human monster. And that book is amazing!Megan Dolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07672065144005028628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-22861274367938804062012-02-21T11:13:09.722-07:002012-02-21T11:13:09.722-07:00I suppose in my current WIP, the main guy the narr...I suppose in my current WIP, the main guy the narrator is talking about could be considered the last of his kind. He was imprisoned and upon release, found that 400 years had passed. So, in a sense, he's the only person from his time left. Or so he thinks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1135194497307080856.post-46695027284204478462012-02-21T11:00:01.780-07:002012-02-21T11:00:01.780-07:00Reminds me of Obi Wan, and is definitely a good to...Reminds me of Obi Wan, and is definitely a good tool in any fiction storyline.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.com