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| 3 | %%%% This page has been alphabetized. Please put examples in the correct order. Thanks |
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| 6 | * Near the end of ''[[Literature/NineteenEightyFour 1984]]'', after being worn down by months of torture and brainwashing, Winston Smith finds one last reserve of strength and devotion to Julia... which gives his captors the excuse to introduce him to Room101, and kill even that source of hope forever. The end. Unless you read the NewSpeak glossary and notice it's in the ''past tense''... |
| 7 | * In ''Literature/{{Allegiant}}'', just when it looks like [[spoiler:Tris is going to shrug off the death serum and survive, David fatally shoots her. She still manages to get her HeroicSacrifice off, though.]] |
| 8 | * In Creator/DanBrown's ''Literature/AngelsAndDemons'' the third of the Preferiti is burning over a large fire but still alive when Langdon and the police get to where he is. They attempt to bring him down, but then TheDragon interferes. |
| 9 | * To Owen and his friends, in ''Literature/APrayerForOwenMeany'', it seems like the day he dreamed that he would die, when it comes, would go about without a hitch. [[spoiler:Then Dick walks into the area with a live grenade...]] |
| 10 | * A ''crushing'' one occurs in the last book of ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' when [[spoiler:Artemis tries to escape the Berserker Gate before it kills him.]] He manages to jump out of the crater with [[spoiler:Holly]] holding his hand and he thinks there is a new life ahead of him. But then [[spoiler:the Gate kicks in]] and he is dragged back to the crater. [[spoiler:Butler]] doesn't make it to pull him out a second time. [[spoiler:Fortunately, he is able to come back from the dead but still...]] |
| 11 | * The ''Literature/AstraMilitarum'' novel ''Desert Raiders'' has one after the regiment has managed to destroy the tyranid swarm in a series of {{Heroic Sacrifice}}s and {{Last Stand}}s. There are only a few survivors and they are without supplies in the middle of the desert. Still they are hopeful that they can last till the fleet returns. Then they found out that [[spoiler:the defeated swarm was just a scout force and the main swarm is arriving]]. |
| 12 | * ''Literature/TheBadBox'': Despite difficulties brought on by his curses, Benny manages to answer every question on a test and it looks like he'll finally get to rid himself of a curse. But then it turns out that while he did get a perfect score, Mrs. Gustafson thinks that means he must have cheated, and he gets another curse forced on him instead. At the same time, Mika discovers that it doesn't matter how hard she studies for a test, she can't actually do well on one since her touch dissolves the paper, meaning that she, too, can never rid herself of any curses by honest means. |
| 13 | * This is a well-used tactic in the alternate-history ''Literature/BelisariusSeries'', in which the eponymous General Flavius Belisarius or allied forces grind Malwa regulars to near-total destruction on more than one occasion. The general's aim in almost every battle, aside from destroying the enemy in direct action, is to rout them and run them down along a pre-planned escape route that is even more of a meat grinder than fighting his forces was, although he still engages in occasional ambushes, battles of manoeuvre, or even straight up charges (to the repeated objections of Valentinian, one of his loyal bodyguards: "''F*** bold commanders, anyway''"). Worse still, one of the only times that Belisarius has his own butt handed to him out of numerous battles is when [[spoiler:the combined Rajput-Malwa army of Rana Sanga and Lord Damodara]] uses this tactic against him and forces him into a retreat in terrain favorable to the enemy. |
| 14 | * In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 novel ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Black Tide]]'', Fabius Bile frequently sets up apparent chances to escape for his prisoners. It's a marvel that Rafen manages to convince half the prisoners they have a real chance this time. |
| 15 | * In ''Literature/BubbleWorld'', after Freesia reveals the truth about Bubble World to her parents, it seems as if her mom will care for her daughters and turn away from the computer. Instead, she's offered a job at the retooled Bubble World, Bright Planet, and accepts. |
| 16 | * In ''Literature/CaseyAtTheBat'', two despised, lousy batters both [[MiracleRally come through]] with hits to base, to everyone's astonishment. Casey now has his opportunity to shine and win the game. Alas Casey... |
| 17 | * Tolkien's ''Literature/TheChildrenOfHurin'' is basically a repeated set of Hope Spots for our hero Túrin, until he finally runs out of hope. First, he finds safety in Doriath after being forced to flee his home, but is exiled after accidently murdering another Elf. Then, he joins up with some outlaws he become a thorn in Morgoth's side, only for them to be betrayed and for him to accidently kill his best friend. Then he is rescued and taken to the hidden city of Nargothrond, where he becomes a champion of its people and persuades them to march to war, only to lose and have the city sacked, and be forced to abandon his LoveInterest. He then raises a rebellion in his home, only for it to achieve nothing except more suffering for his people. Finally, he ends up in the forest of Brethil, where he meets a nice girl, they fall in love and get married, and he is content to live happily ever after with her in peace... then a Dragon attacks, he finds out she's actually his long-lost sister, and they both kill themselves. |
| 18 | * ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' ends in an odd inversion; a ''Despair'' Spot. The day after Christmas, Scrooge appears to have reverted to his stingy, miserly ways as Cratchett arrives late for work, and appears to be preparing to finally make good on his threats to fire him... |
| 19 | -->''"Now, I'll tell you what, my friend," said Scrooge, "I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore," he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again; "and therefore I am about to raise your salary."'' |
| 20 | * ''Literature/CiaphasCain'': |
| 21 | ** In ''For The Emperor'', two guardsmen presumed dead are found alive, before being promptly shot [[spoiler:as they had already been infected by genestealers]]. |
| 22 | ** ''Cain's Last Stand'' features [[spoiler:Cadet Commissar Donal]], appearing alive after performing a HeroicSacrifice. [[spoiler:He's under the BigBad's psychic control, and is only able to hold onto his own consciousness due to Jurgen's proximity. His last words are "Kick his arse for me" before [[AteHisGun eating his gun.]]]] |
| 23 | * In ''Literature/DamnatioMemoriae'' by Laura Marcelle Giebfried, this happens to Enim near the end of the novel when [[spoiler:Enim finally thinks he has found the killer after Jack has been accused and driven away from the island. But then the author throws in a major MindScrew and things go FromBadToWorse from there...]]. |
| 24 | * Near the end of Anthony Reynolds’ TabletopGame/Warhammer40000 ''Literature/WordBearers'' novel ''Dark Apostle'', Brigadier-General Havorn encounters the [[WillingChanneler Possessed Marine]] Burias Drak’shal, and after a brief but fierce fight that sees both their entourages dead and Havorn badly injured, manages to [[BoomHeadshot shoot Burias in his unarmoured face]]. Havorn gets up and starts to walk away. [[spoiler:He barely makes it a few steps before Burias, [[NoSell whose daemonic powers have already healed this seemingly fatal wound]], grabs Havorn and rips out his heart.]] |
| 25 | * In the [[Literature/{{Changes}} 12th]] and [[Literature/GhostStory 13th]] books of ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'', Harry sees the light at the end of the tunnel after being shot. It turns out to be a train, headed his way. In general, if there haven't been ''several'' of these, the book isn't over. By ''Literature/{{Changes}}'', the series is almost a breathless litany of these. |
| 26 | * ''Literature/{{Eclipse}}'' has one at the very end of chapter seven. The HumanoidAbomination calms down from its UnstoppableRage, the Governor of Cessair (who provoked that UnstoppableRage) is forced to resign in disgrace, the TeamMom gets set to become the next head of state for Cessair, and the House of Dreyvor seems to have resolved its issues. At the end of the chapter, [[spoiler:Cessair gets attacked by an invading fleet of warships]]. |
| 27 | * ''Literature/FateZero'' |
| 28 | ** Gilles de Rais has giving his victims a Hope Spot as his fetish. His EstablishingCharacterMoment was [[spoiler:kindly freeing an orphan only to have one of his pet monsters devour the child as he ran for the door.]] |
| 29 | --->'''Bluebeard''': Some forms of terror are fresher than others. People go numb inside when they're afraid. Terror, in its truest essense, is not a static state, but a dynamic one. It is the moment when hope turns into despair. Did you enjoy that? The freshness of terror and death? |
| 30 | ** Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi gets a ''brutal'' one courtesy of [[spoiler:Kiritsugu Emiya, who, [[IHaveYourWife holding his badly-injured fiance Sola-Ui hostage]], makes him sign a geas scroll that says in return for Kayneth forcing his Servant Lancer to commit suicide, he will not harm either Kayneth or Sola-Ui further. Kayneth, who has already been crippled magically by Kiritsugu and was intending to use the Grail to repair his body, knows this will trample on the pride and name of his family if he accepts and returns to Clock Tower a cripple, but he ultimately acccepts to save Sola-Ui's life despite all the hell she has put him through. Lancer dies, Kayneth asks if it's over, Kiritsugu nods...and then Kayneth and Sola-Ui are shot by Kiritsugu's underling Maiya [[LoopholeAbuse who was given her orders to kill them before all of this was set up]]. Sola-Ui dies instantly, and Kayneth pleads for a MercyKill, which Kiritsugu won't grant because of his contract, and Saber angrily finishes him and gives Kiritsugu a WhatTheHellHero speech.]] |
| 31 | ** [[spoiler:And for a bit of LaserGuidedKarma, Kiritsugu thought he stopped the corrupted Grail by having Saber destroy it. Instead, the Grail's mud still managed to cause a massive firestorm that torched a good section of Fuyuki and forced Kiritsugu to finally realize all his NecessarilyEvil methods were AllForNothing, leaving him a broken man desperate and only able to save ''one'' person.]] |
| 32 | * In ''Literature/FirebirdLackey'', Just as Ilya gets his hand on the sorcerer's heart, [[spoiler:he's captured by his monsters]]. |
| 33 | * ''Literature/FiveWeeksInABalloon'': The heroes are stranded in the desert and are running out of water. Then they see two palm trees in the distance, which imply an oasis. But when they get nearby, the trees turn out to be long-dead and there is no water around. |
| 34 | * ''Literature/{{Forbidden}}'': In the last part of the book, the family are happier and more settled than they've ever been, Kit's finally behaving, Lochan's anxiety is improving, and Lochan and Maya seem to have found peace together. [[spoiler:Then their mother discovers their relationship and everything falls apart.]] |
| 35 | * Creator/TerryPratchett's [[Literature/{{Discworld}} Discworld Series]]: |
| 36 | ** ''Literature/GoingPostal'' uses this multiple times: |
| 37 | *** Moist von Lipwig, imprisoned, attempts the old trick of digging his way out of prison with a spoon. Having worn his spoon down to the hilt to loosen one stone in the wall he takes it out only to discover... Another wall. With fresh mortar, implying it had been made while he was digging his way through the last one. [[spoiler:Vetinari, of course, knew and had it put in intentionally, to give the prisoners something to focus on and increase their morale while still making sure they wouldn't get out. He also [[MagnificentBastard provided a new spoon, placed in a small hollow between the two walls]].]] |
| 38 | *** Moist gets another spot when he's about to be hanged and Vetinari's clerk shows up... not to tell them there's been a reprieve, but to hurry up. |
| 39 | *** Vetinari gives Moist and [[spoiler:Reacher Gilt]] the option to work for him... or, if they don't want to, just walk out the door and he won't bother them again. Of course, there's a loooooong drop on the other side of that door. Moist ''instantly'' recognized from Vetinari's tone and ExactWords ("you will never hear from me again") that he should file the door idea under "Deeply Suspicious". It's unclear whether or not [[spoiler: Gilt did]]. |
| 40 | *** Vetinari also inflicts this on the Grand Trunk board members who Moist has just revealed to be a bunch of (negligently homicidal) crooks. “It would be iniquitous to detain these men here any longer. …To the cells with them.” |
| 41 | ** Literature/MonstrousRegiment has a subversion. During the court martial Sergeant Jackrum tries to use their blackmail material on the the third of the army high command that are women pretending to be men. This seems to be a normal hope spot when the only effect this seems to have is to lessen their punishment. The war is going to continue. And then we find out that Wazzer had The Duchess guiding her the whole time and The Duchess possesses her to give the Generals a huge TheReasonYouSuckSpeech. It works. |
| 42 | * ''Literature/GoToSleepAJeffTheKillerRewrite'': At one point while Jeff is at Ben's side, [[PleaseWakeUp begging for him to get up]], he feels a slight grip from Ben's hand in his own. Jeff's hopes of his friend being okay are swiftly dashed as Ben's hand goes limp a few minutes later. |
| 43 | * The ''Literature/HarryPotter'' series has at least one per book, usually around the climax of the novel. |
| 44 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndThePhilosophersStone Philosopher's Stone]]'', Harry [[spoiler:manages to retrieve the titular stone completely unintentionally, and without Quirrell noticing. For a moment, it looks as if he can bluff his way out and escape with the stone, before Quirrell catches on. And then, he finds out [[BigBad who]] Quirrell has [[BodyHorror sticking out of the back of his head]]...]] This one manages to turn out okay due to the magical protection that Harry gained due to his mother's sacrifice. |
| 45 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets Chamber of Secrets]]'', Harry manages to find Ginny still alive in the Chamber, but only just. As he struggles to carry her out, he runs into a living memory of Tom Riddle, who thus far has been shown as a charismatic, likeable guy who Harry almost viewed as a long-lost friend. [[spoiler:Then, we find out that Riddle was the teenage version of Voldemort, and that he is more than happy to summon the Basilisk to kill Harry and Ginny both. Like the previous book, this one too is resolved by a bit of DeusExMachina, in the form of Dumbledore's pet phoenix.]] |
| 46 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', Harry discovers that [[spoiler:Sirius is innocent and willing to take him in, so he won't have to live with the Dursleys anymore. Pettigrew is also caught, so that Sirius's innocence can be proved. And then we find out that it just happens to be the full moon, Lupin happens to be a werewolf who forgot to take his potion, and Pettigrew escapes in the confusion, all while Dementors show up to suck out Sirius's soul.]] |
| 47 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire Goblet of Fire]]'', Harry, along with Cedric Diggory, reaches the trophy that marks the end of the Third Task; up to this point, Harry and his friends believed that someone was trying to kill Harry through the Tournament, so by completing it, he would seem to be thwarting the plot against him. [[spoiler:Then Cedric and Harry are both teleported to the graveyard, where Harry is used as a means to resurrect Voldemort, while Cedric is killed as a "spare".]] |
| 48 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix Order of the Phoenix]]'', the Order has arrived and scattered the Death Eaters, the prophecy has been destroyed so Voldemort can't learn what it foretells, and everyone has survived with minimal injuries...[[spoiler:then Bellatrix gets a lucky hit on Sirius, knocking him through the Veil and killing him instantly.]] |
| 49 | ** In ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheHalfBloodPrince Half-Blood Prince]]'', Harry has been trapped with a Body Bind, Dumbledore is weakened by a potion and surrounded by Death Eaters ready to kill him, and then Snape walks in... [[spoiler:only to kill Dumbledore himself. (It turns out to have been a MercyKill that Dumbledore not only arranged ahead of time, but was literally asking for at that moment, but we don't find that out until the next book.)]] |
| 50 | ** The visit to [[spoiler:Godric's Hollow]] in ''[[Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows Deathly Hallows]]'', seemingly a turning point because the readers and characters are just that desperate for one, brings nothing but [[spoiler:a broken wand, a threefold close brush with death (Nagini, Voldemort, and the locket), the profound doubts that come of Harry experiencing Voldemort's memories,]] and, just to bring the utter despair to a climax, [[spoiler:Harry's faith in Dumbledore is shaken to the core]]. Moral of the story: When grasping at straws, beware of snakes in the grass. [[spoiler:Or in the corpses of little old ladies.]] |
| 51 | *** When the trio are caught by Snatchers, Harry lies about his name being "Vernon Dudley" and having a father who works in the Ministry of Magic to hide his identity even though he knows how ridiculous it sounds. It turns out there actually ''is'' a guy called Dudley in the Ministry department Harry mentions. Just when he's thinking that they might get away by sheer luck, the Snatchers find his glasses and discover his scar, and things just become worse from there... |
| 52 | * ''Literature/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy1'' includes what is presumably a [[TheParody parody]] of these in the scene where Ford and Arthur are ThrownOutTheAirlock: |
| 53 | -->'''Ford:''' Wait a minute... what's this switch?\ |
| 54 | '''Arthur:''' What? Where?\ |
| 55 | '''Ford:''' No. I was only fooling. We're going to die after all. |
| 56 | ** In the TV version the first part of this scene is accompanied by [[TheDayTheMusicLied swelling music]], just to heighten the effect. |
| 57 | * ''Literature/HowISurvivedMiddleSchool'': Twice in ''Can You Get an F in Lunch?''. |
| 58 | ** At the end of the first day at school, Jenny reminisces with her childhood friend Addie over their fifth-grade teacher at Addie's locker after the latter blew her off earlier. Jenny thinks this means they're still friends, but Dana shows up and Addie leaves to go shopping with her. |
| 59 | ** The next week, Jenny and Felicia see Addie on the school bus with her makeup still on, which Felicia has a laugh over because Addie only applies her makeup at school and normally takes it off before getting home so she won't get in trouble with her mom. Addie then asks Jenny if she can hang out with her to do their homework together, which Jenny thinks is promising until Addie washes off her makeup in the bathroom at her house (implicitly proving she only pretended to be friendly to her so she could get a chance to remove it). Despite this, Jenny remains hopeful that this means they're still friends, especially because Addie mentions she's going shopping with Dana and Claire that weekend and there's extra room in the minivan...until the next day, when Jenny brings this up in front of them, Dana and Claire laugh at her and Addie denies ever inviting her, humiliating her. |
| 60 | * ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': |
| 61 | ** Head Gamemaker Seneca Crane, inspired by Katniss and Peeta's "romance", gives an extended one to the remaining district [[spoiler:pairs when it's declared that 2 tributes can win if from the same district. Then when Katniss and Peeta are the last 2, the rule is revoked. However, they subverted this and both came out of the Games ok (for the most part anyway). Seneca... did not.]] |
| 62 | ** Over the course of the trilogy Katniss' budding romance with Peeta becomes the one thing keeping her from going over the edge. It's one long extended Hope Spot showing, that in all of this despair, she has one person capable of keeping her grounded. All this naturally builds up so that it makes [[spoiler:the blow that Peeta didn't get rescued with Katniss in the Quarter Quell, and his subsequent hijacking, even harder.]] |
| 63 | * ''Literature/IAmNotASerialKiller'' has a love for kicking [[BrokenBird John]] while he's down, but ''Literature/IDontWantToKillYou'' has the most memorably crushing example. After years of battling with mental illness, John is finally finding a balance, and his hunt for the next SerialKiller on his hit list is going smoothly. He feels free, free enough to go out with a beautiful girl and try happiness and normalcy for once in his life. [[spoiler:Then, in the space of a few chapters, the main villain murders the girl he's just now letting himself love, possesses his only friend, attempts to MindRape him, and then burns his mother alive in front of him.]] He spends the rest of the series trying to escape the pull of a sanity-shattering DespairEventHorizon. |
| 64 | * ''Literature/INeedAWee'': A doll offers her toilet, but it's too small for Alan to use. |
| 65 | * ''Literature/JaineAustenMysteries'': In ''Murder Gets a Makeover'', after Jaine's cat Prozac saves a philanthropist's life (long story there), the man writes Jaine a check for $50,000... and then a few days later, is arrested for insider trading, freezing his assets before she can cash or deposit it. |
| 66 | * ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': |
| 67 | ** After deftly handling three of the mooks sent to kidnap her during ''Literature/AMagesPower'', Kasile is feeling confident about handling the situation. Then their boss steps up and {{Magic Eye}}s her into submission. |
| 68 | ** In ''Looming Shadow'', Eric briefly gets the upper hand on Reno Grade but then the reaper demonstrates the true difference between a physical god and a merely enlightened mortal. |
| 69 | * ''Literature/TheLorax'' ends on a more ambiguous note, with the Once-ler giving a child the last truffula seed in hopes that the child would fix the mistake that he once had made. But there are several things that could possibly fit this into HopeSpot territory, namely that all other life around is either dead and moved somewhere else, and that it takes one Truffula tree 20 years to grow. |
| 70 | * A quiet yet significant one is featured in ''Literature/TheMagicMountain'': Hans Castrop, the protagonist, is out hiking when overtaken by a blizzard; he stumbles in desperation through the blinding snows looking for shelter. He thinks he sees it in the far-off form of a snow-shrouded inn, only to discover on close approach that it's just a covered hayrick. |
| 71 | * In ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn'', the hope spot comes as [[RebelliousPrincess Miriamele]], [[MagicalNativeAmerican Binabik]], and [[DirtyCoward Cadrach]] burst into Green Angel Tower to see EvilSorcerer Pryrates completing his NoHoldsBarredBeatdown of several minor characters. Miriamele happens to have a [[TheFairFolk Norn]] arrow nocked in her bow, and fires it reflexively, hitting Pryrates right through the neck and apparently killing him. There's just enough time for the good guys to exult over the victory before he staggers back to his feet, pulls the arrow out, and indulges in some serious EvilGloating. This display of invincibility serves to utterly destroy what little hope the heroes had left. |
| 72 | -->'''Pryrates:''' "You ''hurt'' me. For that I shall keep you alive a long time, girl." |
| 73 | * ''Literature/MidnightsChildren'': After the midnight's children are gathered in the Widows' Hostel, Saleem believes that they can fight back now that they're finally all together. He encourages them to endure the torture and strike back once the Widow thinks they're finished... but then that torture turns out to remove their magic powers. Lampshaded by Saleem, who says that in addition to vasectomies and hysterectomies, the sterilization crew performed "sperectomies" -- the removal of hope. |
| 74 | * ''Literature/NightOfTheAssholes'': [[spoiler: When it seems like Barbara and Todd have discovered a way to ward off the assholes and have long since gotten away, Todd flips the bird and insults the assholes when he thinks they aren't around. Then an asshole pops out and calls him out, thus technically making Todd's act of innocent defiance him being an asshole to another asshole and turning him into an asshole.]] |
| 75 | * Swedish writer Simona Ahrnstedt does this in her debut novel ''Literature/{{Overenskommelser}}''. Beatrice and Seth, the two protagonists, have what can only be described as a really hot date. Surely they will sort things out now, after eight months of misunderstandings? Surely now Beatrice won't have to marry Rosenschiöld (who's like forty years older than her and treats women like dirt), to whom she was forced to get engaged? But alas, not only does she have a tyrannical uncle. She also has a sadistic [[TheSociopath sociopath]] for a cousin, who now makes sure that she's separated from Seth. Cue a whole year of more misery for Beatrice... |
| 76 | * ''Literature/RainbowMagic'': In [[Literature/RainbowMagicAmberTheOrangeFairy Amber]]'s book, both Rachel and Kirsty see something sparkly and think it's a fairy. However, their hopes are quickly dashed when they realize the sparkly things are just a crab and a candy wrapper, respectively. |
| 77 | * In the end of book 5 of ''Literature/TheSagaOfDarrenShan'', when Darren rushes back to help his friends fight a group of enemies, [[spoiler:and sees that Kurda has made it in time to help Gavner... only then to see Kurda stab Gavner himself.]] Captured ''brilliantly'' by artist Creator/TakahiroArai in the manga adaptation. |
| 78 | * ''Literature/SecretVampire'': |
| 79 | ** Upon realizing Poppy will die of her cancer, a desperate James goes to see his father to beg him for help. To James' shock, his father actually hears him out and says he can understand having compassion for humans. He tells James he's sure it will be fine to help Poppy as long as he's discreet and for a moment James believes his father is agreeing to his intention to turn her...only to realize they've both misinterpreted what the other is saying and James' father is actually talking about ''{{mercy kill}}ing'' Poppy so she won't suffer. |
| 80 | ** James, [[spoiler:with Phil's help]], successfully turns Poppy into a vampire, smuggles her out of the cemetery and back to his apartment without too many mishaps, Poppy starts to accept her new status as a vampire, and she and James deduce they're soulmates. But then James' troublemaking cousin Ash shows up at the apartment while Poppy is home alone and quickly figures out she's illegally-made. |
| 81 | * In the prologue of ''Literature/TheSleepingBeautyKiller'', Casey feels immense relief when she's found not guilty of murder, thinking she might have a chance to go back to a normal life now. However, a few moments later the jury finds her guilty of manslaughter and she realises that while it's not as bad as a murder conviction, she's still going to be in prison for a long time and that a significant number of people are convinced she's a killer. |
| 82 | * ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' has a Hope Spot on a grand scale: Beren and Lúthien steal a Silmaril from [[BigBad Morgoth]], which inspires Elf-prince Maedhros to form a great alliance of Elves and Men and attack Morgoth. This battle is known by Elves as Nírnaeth Arnoediad - the battle of Unnumbered Tears. The battle itself is just a repeated set of Hope Spots. First, Gwindor and a good part of Fingon's army charges up to the gates of Angband, and managed to terrify Morgoth himself by their banging of the door, but are then forced into a hasty retreat by hordes of orcs, who kill Haldir and take Gwindor prisoner. Then, Turgon's forces cut through the enemy to save Fingon, but they are slowly ground down by superior numbers. Then, Maedhros' force arrives, and it seems like they'll win, but before they can reach Fingon, a bunch of Balrogs and a Dragon appear between them, Ulfang's Easterlings turn cloak, and Morgoth empties Angband, killing Fingon and most of his soldiers, and forcing Maedhros and Turgon's forces to retreat- retreats that are only successful due to their human allies pulling a YouShallNotPass. |
| 83 | * ''Literature/{{Somewhither}}'': Ilya finally figuring out how to climb up from his oubliette and leaving through the hole in the ceiling... at which point the portal surrounding the hole activates and dumps him in another, identical, undamaged cell. |
| 84 | * In ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': |
| 85 | ** In ''Literature/AGameOfThrones'', when Cersei Lannister [[spoiler:arranges Robert Baratheon's death]], she decides that [[spoiler:Ned Stark]] [[HeKnowsTooMuch must be silenced.]] Eventually she decides to let him live and have him sent to the Night's Watch instead, in exchange for [[spoiler:a public false confession]]. [[spoiler:Ned]] agrees, but then her son Joffrey decides to go off-script at a pivotal moment... |
| 86 | --->'''Joffrey:''' "My mother bids me let [[spoiler:Lord Eddard]] take the black, and Lady Sansa has begged mercy for [[spoiler:her father.]] [[spoiler:But they have the soft hearts of women. So long as I am your king, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!”]] |
| 87 | ** In ''Literature/AClashOfKings'' Theon Greyjoy [[spoiler:is facing a battle he cannot win, when Maester Luwin reminds him that he can surrender to Rodrik Cassel and join the Night's Watch to save his life. Theon considers this, and seems to be on the verge of agreeing]] when [[spoiler:Ramsey Snow and his men betray and kill Cassel, meaning Theon has no-one to surrender to.]] |
| 88 | ** In ''Literature/AStormOfSwords'', after breaking his word to marry the daughter of his ally Walder Frey, King of the North Robb Stark tries to salvage the alliance by suggesting a marriage between his uncle, Edmure Tully, and a Frey daughter in his place. Frey's alliance is desperately important to Robb's campaign. After sulking and rubbing Robb's face in the fact of his broken promise, Frey appears to acquiesce and mend the fences. Then comes the [[spoiler:Red Wedding]], where [[spoiler:Robb and a good number of the Starks and their supporters are massacred by the Freys and the Boltons, including many characters we had come to like.]] |
| 89 | ** Also from ''A Storm of Swords'', [[BreakTheCutie Sansa Stark]] looks like she's about to escape [[DecadentCourt King's Landing]] and [[GodSaveUsFromTheQueen Cersei]] with Ser Dontos Hollard, who gets her off the grounds, through a forest, and to a ship, where she finds out the one behind her rescue was none other than [[spoiler:[[ManipulativeBastard Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish]], the closest thing the series has to a BigBad who's already given off some creepy vibes for her.]] |
| 90 | ** Also from ''A Storm of Swords'', the fight between [[spoiler:Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne, and the ''evil, evil'' Gregor Clegane, the Mountain that Rides, includes not merely a hope spot but a giant hope searchlight. At first the Viper looks rather outclassed by the Mountain. Then the Viper turns it around and puts the Mountain on his back, badly wounded by a poisoned spear. He steps on the Mountain's chest to finish him off -- and the Mountain grabs his foot, yanks him down, and taunts him horribly before smashing his skull with one enormous fist. Not only this is a cruel change of situation for Oberyn, but also for Tyrion Lannister, who has his last hope of being legally saved from execution [[CruelAndUnusualDeath literally crushed before his eyes.]]]] |
| 91 | ** An inversion occurs in ''Literature/ADanceWithDragons'' when a hero does this to a villain. Jon Snow is fed up with [[spoiler:Janos Slynt]] after he refuses a direct order, and Jon orders [[spoiler:Janos hanged. Watching his men prepare this while Janos is pleading, Jon thinks that this is wrong and tells his men to stop. Janos, shaking, thanks Jon Snow for his mercy. To which Jon famously responds:]] |
| 92 | ---> '''Jon Snow''': Edd, [[spoiler:[[OffWithHisHead fetch me a block]].]] |
| 93 | ** The epilogue of ''A Dance With Dragons'' features one. [[spoiler:Cersei has been deposed as regent and replaced by her uncle Kevan, who can hopefully steer the Seven Kingdoms away from chaos. Then Varys shoots him using a crossbow, revealing that he had been letting Cersei ruin the kingdom because he ''wanted'' it to fall. By killing Kevan, Cersei will blame the Tyrells, who will blame her in turn, then someone will blame the Dornish... on and on, until the unity of Tommen's kingdom will crumble, paving the way for [[SpareToTheThrone Prince Aegon Targaryen]] to assume kingship.]] |
| 94 | * At the climax of Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/TheSpiritRing'', we see the evil wizard use the same spell that destroyed his master's magic ring on an animated statue of molten bronze. Obviously, a (stolen) spell to free a spirit bound to a material object would have a similar effect no matter the amount and state of metal involved, right? |
| 95 | -->'''Uri:''' ''[as Vitelli walked within reach of the motionless statue]'' You cannot release me. ''I am not bound.'' |
| 96 | ** This promptly flips back on the heroes, as [[spoiler:Vitelli's necromantic dabblings had gotten him to the point where his physical demise [[MyDeathIsJustTheBeginning made]] [[OurDemonsAreDifferent matters]] [[OhCrap worse]].]] |
| 97 | * Franchise/StarWarsLegends: |
| 98 | ** ''Literature/LegacyOfTheForce: Sacrifice'': |
| 99 | *** Chapter 20 closes with Mara about to shoot Jacen in the face. [[spoiler:He uses the Force to save himself, and proceeds to murder her in the next chapter]]. |
| 100 | *** After [[spoiler:Mara's death]] Luke goes after Lumiya, mistakenly blaming her. He out-fights Lumiya, and then saves her from falling off a cliff saying "I would never let you fall," giving the audience the momentary impression that he's going to spare her [[spoiler:and then he decapitates her]]. Then again, [[spoiler:her death ''was'' [[ThanatosGambit all part of the plan]]]]. |
| 101 | ** In ''Literature/DarkForceRising'', Luke, a crew, and Rogue Squadron find the Katana Fleet and board one of the long-abandoned ships. Fey'lya, with Leia in tow, shows up to arrest them. A Star Destroyer comes out of hyperspace. Fey'lya overrides Leia and flees while the Rogues fly a DelayingAction, but Leia tricks Fey'lya into an EngineeredPublicConfession, causing his forces to [[ChangedMyMindKid return and help the Rogues]]. This isn't enough. Then Talon Karrde's smuggler fleet comes out of hyperspace to attack the Star Destroyer. Still not enough. Then Bel Iblis [[BigDamnHeroes shows up with his six heavy Dreadnaughts]], and this ''is'' enough to start beating the Imperials... until a second Star Destroyer comes out of hyperspace. They actually manage to take it out eventually with ''two'' counts of RammingAlwaysWorks, and after chasing off the first one they find that [[YouAreTooLate they are too late]], most of the abandoned fleet's already been salvaged by the Empire. They tell themselves that it won't matter for years since the Empire is undermanned, but then they find that Thrawn has found a cache of Spaarti cloning cylinders. Interestingly, the end of that book contains both a Hope Spot ''and'' DarkestHour, since it's a Zahn book and things do work out in the end. |
| 102 | ** ''Literature/OutboundFlight''. There are so many times when characters come close to averting the disaster that's a ForegoneConclusion. Lorana Jinzler even talks to Thrawn, who encourages her to do something about C'baoth. And even after it happens, there are several spots where the reader can believe that she, at least, will survive. But she doesn't. |
| 103 | ** In the middle of ''Literature/FateOfTheJedi: Ascension'' Luke is back on Coruscant and is leading the Jedi Order once again; the Moff/Senatorial conspiracy is falling apart; all three villains (Abeloth, [[ManipulativeBitch Daala]] and [[EvilCounterpart the Lost Tribe of the Sith]]) are on the run with few resources left; Vestara [[HeelFaceTurn chooses to become a Jedi]] and [[OnlySaneMan Wynn Dorvan]] is about to be elected Chief of State. And then all goes to Hell. |
| 104 | ** The {{novelization}} of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' makes the greater part of that climactic scene when Vader takes Luke to the Emperor into a series of these, each rapidly quashed. Mind, these are dingy Hope Spots anyway; Luke wants to kill the Emperor without turning and without revealing anything, and he repeatedly ''almost'' gets a clear mind and a sense of what to do, but the Emperor just keeps reading his mind and shattering any confidence Luke manages to gather. |
| 105 | ** ''Literature/NewJediOrder'': The fall of Coruscant in ''Star by Star'' contains a few moments where it looks like the New Republic's defenders, having finally become fully engaged with the enemy, might actually do enough damage to force the Vong into retreat. Oddly, the ending of the book is a Hope Spot ''for the Vong'', who think the invasion is progressing extremely well (they just took the enemy's capital, right?) but are about to run into a severe case of [[PyrrhicVictory "won the battle, lost the war"]]. |
| 106 | ** ''Literature/DarkLordTheRiseOfDarthVader'': Not three paragraphs after the Wookiees offer the fugitive band of Jedi safe haven on Kashyyyk, the Empire comes calling for them. |
| 107 | * In ''Literature/{{Starburst}}'', after her first week at the Festival, comedian Rene Browlow is prepared to give up because she feels that nobody likes her shows and her accommodation is terrible, but her mood picks up when one of the Festival organisers is able to show her a recent positive review of her act and helps her find a better place to stay. |
| 108 | * Friedrich Dürrenmatt's ''Literature/{{Suspicion}}'': [[MadDoctor Dr. Emmenberger]] never tortured the prisoners at the [[UsefulNotes/NaziGermany concentration camp he worked]] without their approval. He just promised them to bring them back from an extermination camp to a concentration camp after the "surgery" and they where desperate enough to believe him. He even kept his word after he performed a vivisection on Gulliver, the only one to survive a treatment of Emmenberger. |
| 109 | * In ''Literature/SurfaceDetail'' by [[Creator/IainBanks Iain M. Banks]], this forms a major plot point, and is [[PlayedWith subverted, inverted, averted, invoked, exploited, played straight...]] [[MindScrew Yeah.]] There's a lot you can do when you have an entire virtual reality construct devoting itself to messing with your afterlife. |
| 110 | * ''Literature/AThousandSplendidSuns'' by Khaled Hosseini has so many Hope Spots that you begin to dread something good happening, because it will most likely lead to the book, once again, getting worse. |
| 111 | * The short story ''La torture par l'esperance [[http://gaslight.mtroyal.ca/villier5.htm (The Torture by Hope)]]'', by Villiers de l'Isle-Adam, is Hope Spot writ large. |
| 112 | * Literature/TrappedOnDraconica: [[spoiler:Ironically its the YouShallNotPass performed by the 300 Leondians of the Eastern Alliance.]] They crush a Baalarian army without lossing a single soldier. believes they can win against Baalaria and end the war in their favor. [[spoiler:Then Yusef sells them out.]] |
| 113 | ** The sequel, ''Literature/LegacyOfTheDragokin'' has one: Jihadain finally succeeds in her long term plan and releases Kthonia....[[spoiler:only to see that the fearsome warrior has mellowed out long ago and wants no part in her desire to kill all men. Unfortunately, this drives her into a rage and she attacks Daniar which gets her killed by Kalak which enrages Kthonia so much she decides that she ''will'' take part in her desire to kill all men.]] |
| 114 | * ''Literature/VanasHeritage'': After she gets abducted by Vladr and his mercenaries, Nirvy tries to escape captivity as the opportunity presents itself. She almost manages to escape but gets caught by Vladr in his beast form. |
| 115 | * ''Literature/TheWitchOfKnightcharm'': Shortly before the rookie witches have to complete a lethal orientation course at an evil WizardingSchool, some older students seemingly screw up by leaving phones out, thus allowing the rookies to steal the phones and call for help or rescue. Megumi steals one for Emily, who is relieved to think that she might be able to summon her Knightcharm friends and have them rescue her rather than going to near-certain doom, since she hasn't managed to finish the course yet and has no reason to think she'll be able to complete it in time. [[spoiler:The phones are trapped and will blast apart anyone who tries to use them. Emily ultimately decides not to make any calls, since she doesn't want her friends to risk themselves for her, but Janet does call for help and is killed.]] |
| 116 | * In Henri Barbusse's UsefulNotes/WorldWarI novel ''Under Fire'', set in 1915, the narrator goes with a fellow soldier, Poterloo, to view the village where Poterloo used to live, now an unrecognizable heap of ruins. After being briefly stupefied, Poterloo begins talking about how he and his wife and their neighbors will rebuild everything after the war is over (soon!) and becomes quite cheerful. At the same time, the sun comes out and the first bird of the spring begins to sing, which to the narrator seems like a sign of the end of the war being near. A few hours later, Poterloo, still cheerful, is killed by a shell. |
| 117 | * ''Literature/WoodrowsTrumpet'': In the final act, Woodrow reconciles with his brother Benson, who offers to buy Woodrow, Nadean, and [[HiredHelpAsFamily Ellis]] a farm far away where they can live the way Woodrow is used to without feuding with their neighbors about it, and they are prepared to move away and start fresh. Then a fight between the suburbanites and those locals who've just been using Woodrow and Nadean as an excuse to oppose the newcomers for their own reasons leads to Nadean being accidentally shot and Woodrow fatally struck with a nightstick when he attacks the man who shot her. |
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