The War of the Worlds (novel)/Awesome


 * The Thunderchild. Versions which don't include the the valiant Thunderchild ' s last stand are diminished by its lack. The Thunderchild ' s stand against the Fighting Machines is always both a high point in demonstrating the greatest things about humanity, and also a terrible lesson in how those great things can't hope to win.
 * To summarize, as a horde of people are shoving and pushing to escape to safety on a steamer, Tripods bearing down and ready to slaughter them all. From nowhere, the Thunderchild roars into life and charges straight at the Tripods, bringing down two down with torpedo tubes and heavy guns. This earns it a barrage of heat rays, and it just keeps going, trying to ram a third and take that one down as well, before circuming and vanishing under the waves, saving everyone on the steamer. If this troper ever owns a boat of his own, he's naming it after the Thunderchild. This from the Jeff Wayne musical] really sums up how freaking awesome this whole bit is.