Prophecies Are Always Right: Difference between revisions

{{quote|''"That's the funny thing... I made it up and it all came true anyway."''|'''[[Historical Domain Character|Robert]] [[Phony Psychic|James]] Lees''', ''[[From Hell]]''}}

 

 

[[Philip K Dick]] wrote a short fantasy story subverting this trope once, but no one would publish it until he [[Executive Meddling|changed the ending]] to fulfill the prophecy. Dick wrote, bitterly, "I guess the term False Prophet is an oxymoron, then."

See also [[Self-Fulfilling Prophecy]], where the ''knowledge of'' a prophecy spurs the actions that (whether intentionally or not) ultimately fulfill it.

 

{{examples}}

 

* In ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'' this trope normally holds true but is subverted by {{spoiler|Dany's son being satanically miscarried instead of leading the Dothraki to conquering the whole world as was prophecized}}. But it leads to {{spoiler|Dany trying to take over the world}}.

* In William King's ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' [[Space Wolf]] novel ''Wolfblade'', Ranek invokes this to defend Ragnar, who threw their prized relic [[Blade On a Stick|The Spear of Rus]] into a Chaos warp gate, despite the prophecy that their primarch would take it up when he [[King in The Mountain|returned]]. The Spear would doubtlessly return in good time to fulfill the prophecy, if it is a true prophecy. One of those who wish to punish Ragnar sneers at Ranek's faith -- [[Berserk Button|a sad misstep on his part]]. {{spoiler|It really is recovered in the end of the series.}}

* ''Gregor the Overlander'': Subverted hard. The series revolved around the prophecies of Sandwich (no, really), who wrote numbers of them in his tenure in the Underland some time before. At first, these prophecies seem to be always turning true (the first two books for example), but the third and fourth books become increasingly stretched to fit the prophecy. It all comes to a head when it is revealed that in the last prophecy, {{spoiler|Gregor is supposed to die}}. After going into the final battle, Gregor {{spoiler|does not die}}, and not all of the prophecy comes true, as is noted by several characters throughout the book such as {{spoiler|Ares, Gregor, Ripred, and Luxa}}. However, they still manage to con the people and creatures of the Underland that the prophecy is true {{spoiler|with a little help from Luxa's "prophetic" sister, who believes the prophecies are true in order to bring peace amongst the humans and rats.}}

* In ''[[The Belgariad]]'' and ''[[The Malloreon]]'', [[David Eddings]] [[Playing With a Trope|plays with]] many of the standard conventions of prophecy. In particular, there is not one, but two prophecies that control the outcome of the universe. The two are diametrically opposed, born of a tremendous accident that occurred long ago. The writings of their prophets are carefully hidden such that only the people they are intended for can make use of them, and they actively intervene from time to time to make sure events stay on track.

* In ''[[Hitmen for Destiny]]'' there is an organization called Destiny and it's job is to ensure that various prophecies are fulfilled {{spoiler|due to the fact that it's a moneymaking venture and destiny, their moneymaker, is fallible}}. The point of this is discussed in spoilerific detail [http://www.webcomicsnation.com/thorsby/destiny/series.php?view=archive&chapter=40932 here].

* In ''The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny'', it's prophesied that "only one will survive--" and it comes true: {{spoiler|Mr. Rogers!}}

 

 

[[Category:Fate and Prophecy Tropes]]

[[Category:Prophecies Are Always Right]]