Saving this classic blog post from Walter Jon Williams because it needs to be preserved. Fantasy GMs and designers, take note.
Chosen Ones
I’ve had it with Chosen Ones. You know, the people we are told by the wise old wizard or some other Explicator of Plot who “are Chosen to save the world/kill the Dark Lord/become king/bring balance to the Force/whatever.”
Who the hell is it who does the Choosing, here? Lazy writers, that’s who.
Listen up, writers. Two things happen when I’m told that a person is Destined to accomplish something.
First, it removes all suspense. Because the character is Destined, you know the character’s going to succeed. Big yawn.
Second, it just makes me want to yell at the character, “Get on with it, won’t you? Don’t futz around for thirteen episodes, go kill the evil usurper and make yourself king. After all, you’re Chosen. It’s your damned job.”
Writers, if you’re going to give your characters a Destiny, at least give them one that isn’t so straightforward. Something like these:
Your character is Destined to fight a long rear-guard action against evil, until she makes a mistake or gets unlucky, and then she dies. (That would be Buffy the Vampire Slayer.)
Your character is Destined to defeat the enemy, but will then be despised forever because of the means necessary to achieve that victory. (Ender’s Game)
Your character is Chosen to defeat the evil monster, but will die in the attempt; and without his leadership, his kingdom will fall. (Beowulf. Heard of the Geats lately?)
Your character is Chosen to wield the most powerful magic in the universe, but is also Destined to use it to destroy the world. PS, no exceptions. (The Wheel of Time)
Writers, what these examples do is add irony, which is a vital component of successful literature. They also open the story to at least the possibility of tragedy, which you really want. If a tragic ending isn’t possible, and demonstrated to be possible (kill Boromir!), the eucatastrophe or happy ending will have no power.
Give me Destiny if you must, but also give me Doom.