Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Assassin Fantastic

 Assassin Fantastic
type
TVTItem
 Assassin Fantastic
label
Assassin Fantastic
 Assassin Fantastic
page
AssassinFantastic
 Assassin Fantastic
comment
Assassin Fantastic is a collection of fifteen short stories, all featuring assassins, each with their own motivations and methods. Most of the stories include a Twist Ending of some sort, though a few are more straightforward. In order, the fifteen tales are: "Death Rites" by Tanya Huff - Brother-sister team Bannon and Vree (from Huff's Quarters series) are dispatched to take care of a traitorous commander who has holed up in one of their own fortresses - a traitor who has already dealt with the first three assassins sent after her with ease. "Green Stones" by Stephen Leigh - The old barkeeper Maire had his number the moment he set foot in her bar. He was looking for the legendary Green Stone... but for what purpose? "Coin of the Realm" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch - Princess Rosalind is to be married against her will to Prince Lief of Crystofil, whose lands her sexist father covets. Never mind that the assassins are currently in the middle of a bloody sort of Succession Crisis: whoever can kill the most high-profile target in a way that benefits the King the most will become his new right hand. And Rosalind is well aware that the wedding will make a very tempting target, indeed... "The Svedali Foundlings" by Fiona Patton - Coll thought he was the Last of His Kind: the last survivor of the Svedali Foundling Home. But There Is Another, and when their paths cross, it may well mean the end of the simple sort of life Coll's managed to make for himself since the incident. "History and Economics" by Anna Oster - A young nobleman comes looking for revenge, only to receive a few lessons in history and economics. "Never Say... Uh... Die?" by Josepha Sherman - Alexei Danilovich runs an efficient "Removal Service", taking out the targets heroes can't hack — but how do you kill someone who calls himself "the Deathless"? "Dying By Inches" by Teresa Edgerton - Miss Odilia Rowan navigates a Decadent Court, seeking vengeance for how her family was wronged... but has she found the right target? "Darkness Comes Together" by Mickey Zucker Reichert - An ordinary assassin finds himself working with the legendary Nightfall, inflitrating the same mansion and seeking the same target... "Raven's Cut" by Lynn Flewelling - A former assassin recounts the tale of the best assassin he's ever known: Raven. "Myhr's Adventure in Hell" by P.N. Elrod - A couple of dimension hopping travelers are recruiter to ensure a recently deceased monarch stays dead by assassinating him in hell. "He" by Leyte Jefferson - A modern werewolf assassin reports back to his master. "War of the Roses" by Rosemary Edghill - The Flower Guild of the White City of Megiddo is legendary, though few know for certain if it even exists. Redlorn, however, learns that it must exist, for how else could he cross paths with one of its members? But for what purpose has he been singled out? "On My Honor" by Bernie Arntzen - The trusted assassin for Queen Catherine of Oran is assigned to deal with King Avery of Roarke — the very country he secretly serves as a Double Agent. This could be a problem... "A Touch of Poison" by Jane Lindskold - Adalia, the Widow Baker, is dragged into an assassination plot as their instrument of murder — poison her beloved master, or her infant son dies. Surely an ordinary, helpless girl like her can't stand against them, right...? "Echoes" by Michelle West - The bard Kallandras reflects on part of his Dark and Troubled Past, on one of the finest friends he made in an unexpected place... and on the Training from Hell they endured together, and a Secret Test of Character that went terribly awry.
 Assassin Fantastic
fetched
2023-11-29T13:00:37Z
 Assassin Fantastic
parsed
2023-11-29T13:00:37Z
 Assassin Fantastic
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Assassin Fantastic / int_19102429
type
Twist Ending
 Assassin Fantastic / int_19102429
comment
Twist Ending: As mentioned above, frequently appears. Doesn't reach Mandatory Twist Ending levels since most don't double as Downer Endings.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_19102429
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_19102429
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_19102429
 Assassin Fantastic / int_237404cc
type
Ironic Echo
 Assassin Fantastic / int_237404cc
comment
Ironic Echo: A running theme in "Coin of the Realm".
 Assassin Fantastic / int_237404cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_237404cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_237404cc
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2b7e72e
type
The Genie Knows Jack Nicholson
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2b7e72e
comment
The Genie Knows Jack Nicholson: Myhr and his wizard companion Terrin make tons of pop culture references and Shout Outs; this is Justified by the fact that they're both dimension-hopping wanderers trying to get back to Earth.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2b7e72e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2b7e72e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_2b7e72e
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2d768e2d
type
Succession Crisis
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2d768e2d
comment
Succession Crisis: In "Coin of the Realm", the King's right-hand assassin was recently murdered, and he's running a contest. Whoever can kill the most high-profile target in a way that benefits the King the most will get the job.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2d768e2d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_2d768e2d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_2d768e2d
 Assassin Fantastic / int_3f7a958b
type
Secret Test of Character
 Assassin Fantastic / int_3f7a958b
comment
Secret Test of Character: "Green Stones": Maire eventually tells her guest that the Green Stone was there the whole time, evaluating him, and has found him unworthy of his time. "Darkness Comes Together": Nightfall is secretly observing the man he 'teamed up with' as well as their target. In the end, he muses that the man's kindness has earned him his life. "Echoes": It turns out that the guild tells their apprentices about their low graduation rate as one of these. Tragically, it leads to two of the boys deciding to weed out the competition through mass-murder.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_3f7a958b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_3f7a958b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_3f7a958b
 Assassin Fantastic / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Assassin Fantastic / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: Combined with Mood Whiplash in "Never Say... Uh... Die?": Koshchei the Deathless dies, but at the cost of a very sympathetic character's life.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_40cc0c7e
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4e3d253b
type
Downer Ending
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4e3d253b
comment
Downer Ending: Found in "History and Economics" and combined with Karma Houdini: Jan was sent after his sister's murderer by his uncle so that the assassin could take his life as well. Also appears in "On My Honor": the POV character ends up unable to commit to either side, takes a third option and flees both countries after finding himself unable to take out his target while standing at the king's bedside.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4e3d253b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4e3d253b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_4e3d253b
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4f84cdef
type
Smug Snake
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4f84cdef
comment
Smug Snake: The villains in "A Touch of Poison", who believe that their plan to blackmail Adalia into murdering their target for them is absolutely flawless.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4f84cdef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_4f84cdef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_4f84cdef
 Assassin Fantastic / int_55232afa
type
Politically Incorrect Hero
 Assassin Fantastic / int_55232afa
comment
Licensed Sexist: All over the place in "Coin of the Realm". Including the former right hand, which led directly to his demise.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_55232afa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_55232afa
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_55232afa
 Assassin Fantastic / int_72217e12
type
Murder, Inc.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_72217e12
comment
Murder, Inc.: A major plot point in "History and Economics", as the Silent Guild operates openly after the Romanez vs. the Silent Guild case.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_72217e12
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_72217e12
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_72217e12
 Assassin Fantastic / int_7335ffa9
type
Grey-and-Gray Morality
 Assassin Fantastic / int_7335ffa9
comment
Grey-and-Gray Morality
 Assassin Fantastic / int_7335ffa9
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_7335ffa9
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_7335ffa9
 Assassin Fantastic / int_733e007a
type
Unwitting Pawn
 Assassin Fantastic / int_733e007a
comment
Unwitting Pawn: How the Smug Snakes of "A Touch of Poison" view Adalia. Their mistake.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_733e007a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_733e007a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_733e007a
 Assassin Fantastic / int_771f6307
type
Brother–Sister Incest
 Assassin Fantastic / int_771f6307
comment
Brother–Sister Incest: Implied through rumor in "Death Rites", Squicking out the carter who observes the pair during their introduction.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_771f6307
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_771f6307
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_771f6307
 Assassin Fantastic / int_80621707
type
Arranged Marriage
 Assassin Fantastic / int_80621707
comment
Arranged Marriage: "Coin of the Realm" revolves around one and the surrounding tensions.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_80621707
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_80621707
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_80621707
 Assassin Fantastic / int_835d1cd2
type
Satellite Love Interest
 Assassin Fantastic / int_835d1cd2
comment
Satellite Love Interest: Variation in "Coin of the Realm": all we know about Lief is his decidedly cool reaction to meeting his bride-to-be ("Looks like you'll have to do."), so that we don't have to feel too sorry for him upon his death.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_835d1cd2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_835d1cd2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_835d1cd2
 Assassin Fantastic / int_928ca2cc
type
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness
 Assassin Fantastic / int_928ca2cc
comment
You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Marshall Arnon falls victim to this in "Death Rites". Adalia suspects the murderers will pull this on her in "A Touch of Poison". She's correct, but manages to outwit them.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_928ca2cc
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_928ca2cc
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_928ca2cc
 Assassin Fantastic / int_950bbfa7
type
Take a Third Option
 Assassin Fantastic / int_950bbfa7
comment
Take a Third Option: In "On My Honor", it gets Deconstructed: his "third option" leaves him with nothing, dissatisfied and still struggling with his decision, uncertain whether or not his scruples were worth it.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_950bbfa7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_950bbfa7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_950bbfa7
 Assassin Fantastic / int_9d12bbc1
type
Foreshadowing
 Assassin Fantastic / int_9d12bbc1
comment
Foreshadowing: Found in all of the stories, but features most heavily in "Green Stones" and "History and Economics".
 Assassin Fantastic / int_9d12bbc1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_9d12bbc1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_9d12bbc1
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a70223
comment
Found in "History and Economics" and combined with Karma Houdini: Jan was sent after his sister's murderer by his uncle so that the assassin could take his life as well.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a70223
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a70223
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_a70223
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a7aef9ff
type
Obfuscating Stupidity
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a7aef9ff
comment
Obfuscating Stupidity: Adalia uses the fact that the Smug Snakes trying to play her as their pawn assume she's stupid and easily manipulated to her advantage.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a7aef9ff
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_a7aef9ff
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_a7aef9ff
 Assassin Fantastic / int_af157b58
type
First-Person Smartass
 Assassin Fantastic / int_af157b58
comment
First-Person Smartass: "Never Say... Uh... Die?" and "Myhr's Adventure in Hell". "On My Honor" has a light touch of this, but is more Sympathetic P.O.V..
 Assassin Fantastic / int_af157b58
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_af157b58
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_af157b58
 Assassin Fantastic / int_b2f4114e
type
Heir Club for Men
 Assassin Fantastic / int_b2f4114e
comment
Heir Club for Men: Rosalind's father views his six daughters as mere "coin to be traded", for he feels only a son can inherit his crown.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_b2f4114e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_b2f4114e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_b2f4114e
 Assassin Fantastic / int_bc1865fb
type
Deader than Dead
 Assassin Fantastic / int_bc1865fb
comment
Deader than Dead: The point of Myhr's mission.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_bc1865fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_bc1865fb
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_bc1865fb
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c2ab0eaf
type
Double Agent
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c2ab0eaf
comment
Double Agent: The main character in "On My Honor".
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c2ab0eaf
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c2ab0eaf
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_c2ab0eaf
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: Everything from Alien to Looney Tunes in "Myhr's Adventure in Hell".
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c75df49a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c75df49a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_c75df49a
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c9790040
type
Decadent Court
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c9790040
comment
Decadent Court
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c9790040
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_c9790040
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_c9790040
 Assassin Fantastic / int_caf89e54
type
Taking You with Me
 Assassin Fantastic / int_caf89e54
comment
Taking You with Me: In "Myhr's Adventure in Hell", it turns out that their target attempted to pull this on his world, setting it up so that his death would trigger a deadly chain reaction that can only end if his soul dies.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_caf89e54
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_caf89e54
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_caf89e54
 Assassin Fantastic / int_dca70c44
type
Reasonable Authority Figure
 Assassin Fantastic / int_dca70c44
comment
Reasonable Authority Figure: Master Greene Reid in "A Touch of Poison". How else do you describe someone who reacts so calmly to being informed of a plot against him by the very same woman who just about poisoned him?
 Assassin Fantastic / int_dca70c44
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_dca70c44
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_dca70c44
 Assassin Fantastic / int_ddeaea82
type
Miscarriage of Justice
 Assassin Fantastic / int_ddeaea82
comment
Miscarriage of Justice: A Frame-Up led to Odilia's whole family being imprisoned in "Dying By Inches". The story begins when she's called in and informed that the ruling has been reversed and she and her surviving relatives are being released and recompensated. Emphasis upon surviving.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_ddeaea82
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_ddeaea82
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_ddeaea82
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e52a0409
type
Calling the Old Man Out
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e52a0409
comment
Calling the Old Man Out: In "Coin of the Realm", Rosalind combines this with Break Them by Talking and Ironic Echo upon claiming the best target for herself and announcing her place as the new right hand.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e52a0409
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e52a0409
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_e52a0409
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5da07dd
type
Badass Unintentional
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5da07dd
comment
Badass Unintentional: Adalia of "A Touch of Poison" is just an ordinary baker who finds herself forcibly "recruited" by assassins. She proceeds to prove that this was a very, very poor decision on their part.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5da07dd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5da07dd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_e5da07dd
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5e07b2d
type
You Cannot Grasp the True Form
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5e07b2d
comment
You Cannot Grasp the True Form: In "Myhr's Adventure In Hell", Terrin translates everything Myhr "sees" in Hell to something he can grasp without going insane. Mainly, a Sugar Bowl. With naked lesbian demons.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5e07b2d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e5e07b2d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_e5e07b2d
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e7db27c7
type
Sympathetic P.O.V.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e7db27c7
comment
Sympathetic P.O.V.: "On My Honor" and "Raven's Cut".
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e7db27c7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_e7db27c7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_e7db27c7
 Assassin Fantastic / int_f8b3fa5d
type
Our Werewolves Are Different
 Assassin Fantastic / int_f8b3fa5d
comment
Our Werewolves Are Different: In "He", along with Our Vampires Are Different.
 Assassin Fantastic / int_f8b3fa5d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_f8b3fa5d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_f8b3fa5d
 Assassin Fantastic / int_name
type
ItemName
 Assassin Fantastic / int_name
comment
 Assassin Fantastic / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Assassin Fantastic / int_name
 Assassin Fantastic / int_name
itemName
Assassin Fantastic

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
American Literature (# to D) / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
seeAlso
Assassin Fantastic
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Conflicting Loyalty / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Double Agent / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Heir Club for Men / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Murder, Inc. / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
The Genie Knows Jack Nicholson / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
Widowed at the Wedding / int_fa735989
 Assassin Fantastic
hasFeature
You Cannot Grasp the True Form / int_fa735989