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%%* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
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%%* ManOnFire
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[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/people_of_the_whale.jpg]]
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* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler: Ruth moves on from Thomas and gets together with Dick Russell]].
to:
* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler: Ruth [[spoiler:Ruth moves on from Thomas and gets together with Dick Russell]].
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%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
%%
%%
Changed line(s) 8,13 (click to see context) from:
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Dwight]]
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Dwight]]
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
to:
Changed line(s) 18,26 (click to see context) from:
* DistantPrologue
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* JerkAss: Dwight
* ManOnFire
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* JerkAss: Dwight
* ManOnFire
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
to:
Changed line(s) 29,30 (click to see context) from:
* NeverFoundTheBody: Averted with [[spoiler:Marco Polo]].
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
to:
*
Changed line(s) 33,35 (click to see context) from:
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
to:
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* {{Telepathy}}: Ruth is a telepath.
to:
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* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
to:
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* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
to:
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* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently. Including the [[KrakenAndLeviathan kraken-like giant octopus]] that walks on land.
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Added DiffLines:
[[quoteright:265:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/people_of_the_whale.jpg]]
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Useful Notes/ pages are not tropes
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* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
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* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
to:
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently. Including the [[KrakenAndLeviathan kraken-like giant octopus]] that walks on land.
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None
Changed line(s) 25,26 (click to see context) from:
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* MeaningfulName: Marco Polo has the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater would lead to a major advantage. In an ironic twist, [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
* MeaningfulName: Marco Polo has the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater would lead to a major advantage. In an ironic twist, [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
to:
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
happens, distinguishing it from UrbanFantasy.
* MeaningfulName: MarcoPolo Polo, although he's named after the explorer, also has the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater would lead to a major advantage. His parents can both breathe underwater for an unnaturally long time, and would do very well in a game of Marco Polo. In an ironic twist, [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
* MeaningfulName: Marco
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Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
''People of the Whale'' is a novel by American author Linda Hogan. Released in 2008, the book revolves around Thomas Just, a traumatized Vietnam veteran who returns to his home in a Native American reservation to find that it has become in conflict. Thomas must choose between his life in the reservation or his life in Vietnam. The A'atsika Tribe live near Washington, and they worship the whale and the octopus. Upon his return, Thomas is made to partake in a whale hunt, which ends disastrously. Thomas feels guilty about his past and the deaths he caused, and searches for redemption. Author Linda Hogan used her Chickasaw roots as inspiration.
to:
''People of the Whale'' is a novel by American author Linda Hogan. Released in 2008, the book revolves around Thomas Just, a traumatized Vietnam veteran who returns to his home in a Native American reservation in the present day to find that it has become in conflict. Thomas must choose between his life in the reservation or his life in Vietnam. The A'atsika Tribe live near Washington, and they worship the whale and the octopus. Upon his return, Thomas is made to partake in a whale hunt, which ends disastrously. Thomas feels guilty about his past and the deaths he caused, and searches for redemption. Author Linda Hogan used her Chickasaw roots as inspiration.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
The info that the book was released in 2008 was duplicate. — Sorting the tropes alphabetically. Moving YMMV tropes to tab. — Marco Polo is not a trope. The character name in the novel seems to allude to the pool game, not the author of The Travels Of Marco Polo.
Changed line(s) 1 (click to see context) from:
''People of the Whale'' is a novel by American author Linda Hogan. Released in 2008, the book revolves around Thomas Just, a traumatized Vietnam veteran who returns to his home in a Native American reservation to find that it has become in conflict. Thomas must choose between his life in the reservation or his life in Vietnam. The A'atsika Tribe live near Washington, and they worship the whale and the octopus. Upon his return, Thomas is made to partake in a whale hunt, which ends disastrously. Thomas feels guilty about his past and the deaths he caused, and searches for redemption. People of the Whale was published in 2008. Linda Hogan uses her Chickasaw roots as inspiration.
to:
''People of the Whale'' is a novel by American author Linda Hogan. Released in 2008, the book revolves around Thomas Just, a traumatized Vietnam veteran who returns to his home in a Native American reservation to find that it has become in conflict. Thomas must choose between his life in the reservation or his life in Vietnam. The A'atsika Tribe live near Washington, and they worship the whale and the octopus. Upon his return, Thomas is made to partake in a whale hunt, which ends disastrously. Thomas feels guilty about his past and the deaths he caused, and searches for redemption. People of the Whale was published in 2008. Author Linda Hogan uses used her Chickasaw roots as inspiration.
Changed line(s) 5,6 (click to see context) from:
* {{Anvilicious}}: Throughout the whole book, Linda Hogan tries to shove her beliefs down your throats, such as, "progress is important", and "children are innocent".
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
to:
* {{Anvilicious}}: Throughout AerithAndBob: There's a character called Witka and a character called Dick Russell, and they live on the whole book, same reservation.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to LindaHogan tries to shove her beliefs down your throats, such as, "progress is important", and "children are innocent".
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.Hogan's.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
Changed line(s) 8,11 (click to see context) from:
* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
to:
* TheVietnamWar: An important part BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: One ofThomas's backstory
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback:the messages that Hogan tries to clobber you with. Marco Polo is innocent, the children Thomas has plenty prevents his platoon from killing in Vietnam are innocent, really all children featured are portrayed as being innocent.
* ColonCancer: Many ofbrutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservationthe chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is this.a real chapter title.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: One of
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback:
* ColonCancer: Many of
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation
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* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* DistantPrologue
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
Changed line(s) 19,27 (click to see context) from:
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
to:
* ArcWords: The ManOnFire
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* MeaningfulName: MarcoPolo.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth:Polo has the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater would lead to a major advantage. In an ironic twist, [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then,Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he gets better]].
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.drowns]].
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* MeaningfulName: Marco
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth:
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then,
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
Changed line(s) 30,34 (click to see context) from:
* AerithAndBob: There's a character called Witka and a character called Dick Russell, and they live on the same reservation.
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
* {{Narm}}: Shows up on a great many occasions.
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco Polo is known for his ability to breathe underwater. Marco Polo is also the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater leads to a major advantage. [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
* {{Narm}}: Shows up on a great many occasions.
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco Polo is known for his ability to breathe underwater. Marco Polo is also the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater leads to a major advantage. [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
to:
* AerithAndBob: There's a character called Witka and a character called Dick Russell, and they live on the same reservation.
RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
*PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomasconfronts Dwight.
IS this trope.
*{{Narm}}: Shows up on a great many occasions.
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco PoloSymbolicBlood: Thomas's blood is known for his ability to breathe underwater. Marco Polo is also the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater leads to a major advantage. [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].described as being like "crimson dresses".
*
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas
*
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco Polo
Deleted line(s) 36,44 (click to see context) :
* ChildrenAreInnocent: One of the messages that Hogan tries to clobber you with. Marco Polo is innocent, the children Thomas prevents his platoon from killing in Vietnam are innocent, really all children featured are portrayed as being innocent.
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* {{Wangst}}: Yes, Thomas faced hard times in Vietnam and witnessed many deaths, but does he have to consume his entire life complaining about it?
* MarcoPolo: The supposed namesake of Marco Polo. However, Linda Hogan probably gave him this name because of the pool game where people often hide by breathing underwater. This is very ironic considering what happens to him.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* SymbolicBlood: Thomas's blood is described as being like "crimson dresses".
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* {{Wangst}}: Yes, Thomas faced hard times in Vietnam and witnessed many deaths, but does he have to consume his entire life complaining about it?
* MarcoPolo: The supposed namesake of Marco Polo. However, Linda Hogan probably gave him this name because of the pool game where people often hide by breathing underwater. This is very ironic considering what happens to him.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* SymbolicBlood: Thomas's blood is described as being like "crimson dresses".
Changed line(s) 46 (click to see context) from:
* ManOnFire
to:
* ManOnFireTooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
''People of the Whale'' is a novel by American author Linda Hogan. Released in 2008, the book revolves around Thomas Just, a traumatized Vietnam veteran who returns to his home in a Native American reservation to find that it has become in conflict. Thomas must choose between his life in the reservation or his life in Vietnam. The A'atsika Tribe live near Washington, and they worship the whale and the octopus. Upon his return, Thomas is made to partake in a whale hunt, which ends disastrously. Thomas feels guilty about his past and the deaths he caused, and searches for redemption. People of the Whale was published in 2008. Linda Hogan uses her Chickasaw roots as inspiration.
-----
!!''People of the Whale'' provides examples of:
* {{Anvilicious}}: Throughout the whole book, Linda Hogan tries to shove her beliefs down your throats, such as, "progress is important", and "children are innocent".
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* DecoyProtagonist: Marco Polo seems to be set up to be a major character. Then, halfway through the book, [[spoiler:he dies]].
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler: Ruth moves on from Thomas and gets together with Dick Russell]].
* JerkAss: Dwight
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* NeverFoundTheBody: Averted with [[spoiler:Marco Polo]].
* PresentTenseNarrative: Large parts are written in Present Tense Narrative, but Linda Hogan switches tenses as frequently as most people blink.
* AerithAndBob: There's a character called Witka and a character called Dick Russell, and they live on the same reservation.
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
* {{Narm}}: Shows up on a great many occasions.
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco Polo is known for his ability to breathe underwater. Marco Polo is also the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater leads to a major advantage. [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
* {{Telepathy}}: Ruth is a telepath.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: One of the messages that Hogan tries to clobber you with. Marco Polo is innocent, the children Thomas prevents his platoon from killing in Vietnam are innocent, really all children featured are portrayed as being innocent.
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* {{Wangst}}: Yes, Thomas faced hard times in Vietnam and witnessed many deaths, but does he have to consume his entire life complaining about it?
* MarcoPolo: The supposed namesake of Marco Polo. However, Linda Hogan probably gave him this name because of the pool game where people often hide by breathing underwater. This is very ironic considering what happens to him.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* SymbolicBlood: Thomas's blood is described as being like "crimson dresses".
* TitleDrop: The book's title, as well as pretty much all the chapter titles that don't have colons in them.
* ManOnFire
----
-----
!!''People of the Whale'' provides examples of:
* {{Anvilicious}}: Throughout the whole book, Linda Hogan tries to shove her beliefs down your throats, such as, "progress is important", and "children are innocent".
* ShellShockedVeteran: Thomas IS this trope.
* BackFromTheDead: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* TheVietnamWar: An important part of Thomas's backstory
* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Thomas has plenty of brutal flashbacks about Vietnam.
* TheRez: Dark River Reservation is this.
* DecoyProtagonist: Marco Polo seems to be set up to be a major character. Then, halfway through the book, [[spoiler:he dies]].
* MagicalNativeAmerican: Witka
* UnfriendlyFire: After realizing Thomas's strike team has landed in the wrong spot and that Thomas's platoon has begun to kill innocent children, [[spoiler:Thomas kills his own men]].
* MagicalRealism: Ruth was born with gills, and can communicate telepathically. It's implied that Witka and the Old Ones have special powers. Thomas and Witka can both breathe underwater for a very long time. Finally and most importantly, [[spoiler:Thomas dies and gets resurrected]]. It's never explained how any of this happens.
* UnexplainedRecovery: [[spoiler:Thomas]]
* DidNotGetTheGirl: [[spoiler: Ruth moves on from Thomas and gets together with Dick Russell]].
* JerkAss: Dwight
* ArcWords: The Marco Polo.
* ArcSymbol: The door.
* TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth: [[spoiler:Marco Polo]]
* ColonCancer: Many of the chapter titles have this, most notably "D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''". Yes, this is a real chapter title.
* AuthorAvatar: Ruth is obviously this. Lin sometimes seems like one, especially how her name is similar to Linda Hogan's.
* MarySue: Marco comes across as one.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Thomas. Then, he gets better]].
* EverythingsSquishierWithCephalopods: Octopi feature very prominently.
* BurialAtSea: The A'atsika tribe's death ritual.
* NeverFoundTheBody: Averted with [[spoiler:Marco Polo]].
* PresentTenseNarrative: Large parts are written in Present Tense Narrative, but Linda Hogan switches tenses as frequently as most people blink.
* AerithAndBob: There's a character called Witka and a character called Dick Russell, and they live on the same reservation.
* PrecisionFStrike: Several occur throughout the book, most notably shortly after the botched whale hunt, and when Thomas confronts Dwight.
* {{Narm}}: Shows up on a great many occasions.
* DistantPrologue
* MeaningfulName: Averted spectacularly with Marco Polo. Marco Polo is known for his ability to breathe underwater. Marco Polo is also the name of a popular pool game where breathing underwater leads to a major advantage. [[spoiler:Marco Polo dies by having his head held underwater until he drowns]].
* {{Telepathy}}: Ruth is a telepath.
* ChildrenAreInnocent: One of the messages that Hogan tries to clobber you with. Marco Polo is innocent, the children Thomas prevents his platoon from killing in Vietnam are innocent, really all children featured are portrayed as being innocent.
* OrphansOrdeal: Lin's childhood.
* TheHeretic: Thomas
* {{Wangst}}: Yes, Thomas faced hard times in Vietnam and witnessed many deaths, but does he have to consume his entire life complaining about it?
* MarcoPolo: The supposed namesake of Marco Polo. However, Linda Hogan probably gave him this name because of the pool game where people often hide by breathing underwater. This is very ironic considering what happens to him.
* TheExile: [[spoiler:Thomas]]'s ultimate fate.
* FunWithAcronyms: D.O.A: Department of the Army: ''Rooms''.
* HeroicBSOD: Thomas definitely isn't a hero, but he suffers from this after the events of the war.
* SymbolicBlood: Thomas's blood is described as being like "crimson dresses".
* TitleDrop: The book's title, as well as pretty much all the chapter titles that don't have colons in them.
* ManOnFire
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