Bonus points if the character is older than a teenager.
The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings would be a perfect example. Neither Bilbo or Frodo develop magical super powers as the story progresses, making them even more powerful than the rest of their companions. They don’t unearth some unknown lineage that reveals them to be half-god and heir to a throne. They just get pushed into this destiny they don’t particularly want and do their best to get through it without the aid of personal martial training or magic or any particular unusual skills; they just do their best.
If it helps for context, reason I’m asking is I’ve been beating myself up lately, feeling like I’ve failed to accomplish much at all in life, even basic things that I should already have under my belt by my age. A story like this would be a comfort: seeing a very average person relying on their inner strength when circumstances demand it, able to persevere in the end and achieve something great.
Thanks in advance!
by skyhold_my_hand
5 Comments
That’s a tall order in fantasy tbh. I’m sure your about to get flooded with the same suggestion, but Terry Pratchet is the only author I can think of who traffics heavily in this idea. He has some “chosen one” characters in Discworld, but he has a lot of characters who achieve great things through bravery rather than secret powers or hyper-competence. The (paraphrased) quote from him that sums up that attitude:
Whenever danger seems totally overwhelming, you still have options. You can kick danger squarely between the legs, turn on a heel, and run. If it doesn’t work out, you won’t have long to worry about it.
You’ll be dead.”
I love the quote because it says it still takes a lot of bravery, maybe more bravery, to try your damndest when you aren’t sure your damndest will be enough.
Senlin Ascends by Josiah Bancroft! The protagonist is a nice but naive school teacher travelling with his new bride to the Tower of Babel, the pinnacle of civilization, for their honeymoon. The tower has dozens of levels with incredibly complex societies within, and he is forced to grapple with his shortcomings and grow as a person as he journeys upward on a quest to find his wife, whom he loses at the base of the tower. The writing is beautiful, the characters are compelling, and the steam-punk/magical realism vibe is a lot of fun! There are 4 books in the series, and I gave them all 5 stars!
Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones. The protagonist has talents both natural and trained, she is not a chosen one of any sort. Others in the world have the same sorts of abilities with varying levels of training and talent. Even the most fantastic character is much more normal than he appears.
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine. A version of Cinderella. Ella has a curse but is otherwise a pretty normal girl. There is a prince.
The Princess Bride by William Goldman. All the main characters are normal people moved to extraordinary measures out of love. No special powers. The princess in question is a pretty farm girl who is being forced into an unwanted marriage.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune – MC is a middle-age, overweight social worker and nothing more, who is sent to check in on an orphanage for troubled kids. Might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Some others to consider:
The Liveship Traders trilogy by Robin Hobb. Everyone is either just trying to sail a ship, trying to get their ship back, or wishing they didn’t have to be on a ship. Has one of the most despicable villains I’ve ever read.
Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – MC and his best friend are the only two people in the whole world. But how do you know what a friend is when you’ve never met anyone else?
As a side note, age isn’t a limit. We all go through life at our own pace, so try not to be too hard on yourself. Sending love ❤️
I don’t know if it’s fantasy exactly but The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness