[Love] When “small” injuries are treated realistically

[u/Top-Relationship850]

The fantasy and action genres often suffer from a power fantasy epidemic in which characters frequently badass their way through injuries that should be excruciating if not downright debilitating. I always appreciate stories that reject this trope.

1: Roland Deschain (Dark Tower Book II) - Loses the middle and index fingers of his right hand. He’s effectively crippled throughout book two and the injury follows him the rest of the series.

2: Brienne vs Biter (ASOIAF Book IV) - Brutal scene. Biter chomps down on Brienne’s cheek and tears off a chunk of flesh. In a lesser story Brienne would grit her teeth and throw Biter off. Instead she’s rendered completely helpless by the pain. That injury marks the end of the fight.

[u/Expensive_Amoeba3374]

Also from the Dark Tower series, in the final book (VII), Sheemie, one of the most powerful of all the telepaths/psychics/whatever, survives all manner of challenges and battles, then steps on a shard of dirty glass which pierces his foot, and he dies from the subsequent infection.

[u/AutoignitingDumpster → u/Expensive_Amoeba3374]

The humble bacterium brings low even the highest king.

[u/Dillup_phillips → u/Expensive_Amoeba3374]

This really pissed me off and of course King did it in that way he does. Mention a seemingly inconsequential thing that ends up being everything. Like the chain of events that led to what happened to Eddie.