All for Nothing: Difference between revisions

* In [[Harry Turtledove]]'s ''[[Worldwar]]'' series, Liu Han is a classic [[Science Hero]] aside from being female. She goes from ignorant farm girl (or rather, woman) to one of the leaders of the anti-alien resistance, survives endless [[Cold-Blooded Torture|torture]] and abuse without becoming embittered, and captures the villain who had brutally held her prisoner. In the sequel ''Colonization'' series, she's become a callous [[Knight Templar]], and she gets re-captured by the same villain, making her achievements seem hollow. This could be seen as an attempt to say that life goes on and the world doesn't follow mythic cycles.

* ''[[Harry Potter]]'':

** In ''[[Harry Potter/Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire|The Goblet of Fire]]'', the primary drama of the book's first three quarters surrounds Harry's performance in the three Tasks of the Triwizard Tournament. The drama is removed from this on all re-readings when you know that Harry was aided, manipulated and guided through the first two by the villain, and the villain's entire plan hinged on Harry winning the Tournament.

* A disappointing example occurs in the ''[[Sword of Truth]]'' series, in which the dramatic climax of the (relatively good) first book turns out to have been all for naught. Umpteen books later, in the final book of the series, we discover that {{spoiler|Darken Rahl would have died no matter what box he opened}}. So much for [[The Power of Love]].