| 1 | %% |
| 2 | %% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct place. |
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| 4 | !! Examples of MundaneUtility in Literature: |
| 5 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 6 | |
| 7 | [[folder:Examples # to E]] |
| 8 | * In ''Literature/OneHundredCupboards'', one of the [[GreenThumb Green Men's]] powers is [[DreamWalker dreamwalking]]. At one point, Henry and Monmouth use it to have a conversation while ''sitting in the same room'', in the hopes that Monmouth's headache won't be present in a dream. It doesn't even work, as once Henry, the [[HardWorkHardlyWorks better dreamwalker]], notices the bruise isn't there he imagines it back in place and can't get rid of it again. |
| 9 | * In ''Literature/ElevenTwentyTwoSixtyThree'', Al discovers a PortalToThePast in his diner's pantry. He uses it to travel back to when meat was much cheaper and then sell it in the present. |
| 10 | * In ''Literature/AfterTheGoldenAge'', the superheroine Spark uses her fire powers to cook meals, saying they turn out better that way because she can control the heat more precisely than with an oven. |
| 11 | * In ''Aleca Zamm is a Wonder'', a children's chapter book, a girl named Aleca Zamm gains the ability to [[TimeStandsStill stop time]] just by saying her name. Upon learning she can do this, she uses it for stuff like playing pranks on her {{Jerkass}} math teacher, principal and classmates, cheating on a math test, and getting a couple of hours of extra sleep in the morning. At least, until her Great Aunt Zephyr, who has the power of {{Teleportation}} shows up and puts a stop to this, offering herself as a mentor. |
| 12 | * ''Literature/AllTheSkillsADeckbuildingLitRPG'': Most of Arthur's card deck is focused on utility, making him a magically expert chef, cleaner, tailor, etc, although he does realise that he needs some kind of combat capability. [[spoiler:When he gets his Personal Space card, though, he doesn't immediately test out combat uses, he tests out whether he can use it to purchase marked-down avocadoes, time-lock them, and then resell them at high prices when they're out of season.]] |
| 13 | * ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': The title characters frequently use their {{Animorphism}} for mundane things, despite the risk that it would blow their cover and lead to the enslavement of the entire planet. For example, doing a science project and watching concerts for free (twice!). They technically have a rule against this, which TeamDad Jake is miserable at enforcing -- especially since he wanted to go to both concerts. {{Lampshade|Hanging}}d in the final book, when Marco morphs a lobster to get his car keys off the pool floor, and Jake makes fun of him because, you know, people who can't morph are just screwed then. Marco then asks Jake if he's thirsty, and Jake snarks back, "Why? Going to morph cow and squeeze me out a glass of two percent?" |
| 14 | * In ''Gifts'', the first ''Literature/AnnalsOfTheWesternShore'', much is made of the powerful and fearsome powers of the different families. One example is the gift of the knife, so named because its wielder can cut flesh at will. Gry's father uses it to painlessly remove splinters. He's also a bit of a NonActionGuy and ''only'' uses it for mundane purposes like this, which Gry thinks is a better idea than weaponizing it. |
| 15 | * In ''Literature/TheBartimaeusTrilogy'' magicians often summon demons for mundane tasks such as redecorating their homes or working as manservants. Despite the lack of risk they often resent this as much or more than their more dangerous jobs. There's glory to be found in battle, less so in wallpapering. |
| 16 | * ''Literature/TheBelgariad'': |
| 17 | ** Sorcery has nearly limitless application, which all of the sorcerers take advantage of to some extent: the high end would probably be Belgarath (who prefers to take shortcuts in things like physical labor), and the low would probably be [[spoiler:Durnik]], who prefers working by hand if time isn't an issue. {{Discussed|Trope}} when Polgara points out that she can do chores like sewing by magic, but doesn't "because I like to sew, dear". Notably, as Polgara says this, she effortlessly heals the tear she's sewing with magic... then ''rips it open again'' so she can sew it. |
| 18 | ** At another point, Belgarion gives the Orb, the most powerful artifact in existence, to his toddler son to play with. He's called out on this. |
| 19 | ** {{Discussed|Trope}} regarding a former [[AlchemyIsMagic alchemist]] who burned his notes and quit in disgust because his gold-creating experiments failed; all he could do was make glass extra-strong. His colleague has a moment of silent anguish when Belgarath points out just how valuable a process for turning sand into [[MadeOfIndestructium Indestructium]] would have been. |
| 20 | * ''Literature/BestServedCold'': The supernatural ProfessionalKiller Shenkt uses his BulletTime ability to elongate and savor the quality time he spends with his beloved. |
| 21 | * In the de Camp & Pratt short story "The Better Mousetrap", a hatchling dragon is used for pest control. |
| 22 | * ''Literature/BewareOfChicken'' has many examples. Super strength, speed, and endurance are very useful for farm chores. Also qi can be used to insantly boil water and dry things out, and Ri Zu's knowledge and control of poisons also allows her to act as a magical anesthesologist during complex medical procedures, monitoring and preventing dangerous side effects. |
| 23 | * ''Literature/TheBible'': |
| 24 | ** Jesus' very first miracle? Turning water into wine during a wedding party as a private favor for his host, and upon a request from his mom Mary. (SacredHospitality is SeriousBusiness.) However, tempted by Satan to use His God-like powers either for His own convenience or as a publicity stunt, Jesus says no thanks. |
| 25 | ** In other Gospels not considered canonical, a young Jesus also experimented with his powers by animating a clay bird and raising a kid from the dead when he accidentally smote the guy for being stupid. |
| 26 | * ''Literature/BloodsuckingFiends'': Upon concluding that Vampire saliva acts as a healing agent (primarily to keep those tell-tale neck wounds from being noticed), Tommy tries to convince his FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire girlfriend Jody to fix his cuticles and get rid of a blister on his toe. Jody is not amused. |
| 27 | * Creator/KeithLaumer's ''Literature/{{Bolo}}'' stories: |
| 28 | ** In one of the stories, it is mentioned that after a war, an attempt was made to use the titular super-sized military tanks for peaceful purposes, including attaching a blade for demolition work to one and calling it a "tractor". The half-megaton/second firepower still available on it tended to belay the "peaceful" status. |
| 29 | ** A later scheme was to use an obsolete Bolo's massively powerful AI and large hull space to create an automated tractor/bulldozer/genetics lab for adapting crops to survive on newly settled colonies. While those responsible were smart enough to remove the [[EnergyWeapon Frickin' Laser Beams]] this time, they made a really shoddy job of adapting the AI's programming: the result being that when the colony was invaded by hostile aliens it kicked into combat mode and exterminated them all with customised bioweapons, all while thinking they were just a particularly large type of crop pest. |
| 30 | * ''Literature/BookOfTheDead2021'': The "Sleep" spell is normally meant for enemies, but it's also quite handy for an outlaw necromancer who needs to keep odd hours, allowing him to go to bed at whatever time best suits him. |
| 31 | * ''Literature/CampfireCookingInAnotherWorldWithMyAbsurdSkill'' has loads of this trope. [[OlympusMons Fel the Fenrir]]'s OneManArmy strength is mostly used to hunt for a steady supply of meat. Sui, an ExtremeOmnivore BlobMonster, is used as a trash can, and teaching it to ignore specific materials turns it into a dishwasher. Fireballs are used to heat water. A spell that creates rock barriers is used to get privacy while bathing. And so on. |
| 32 | * Creator/KurtVonnegut's ''Literature/CatsCradle'', which gives us "ice-nine", a revolutionary chemical that freezes at room temperature and immediately freezes any liquid substance that it comes in contact with. As revolutionary as it is, it was only created by the US Army so that they would have a way to freeze mud instantly, and soldiers wouldn't have to spend so much time slogging through the mud and getting their boots dirty. [[spoiler:At the end, it wipes out all life on Earth when someone accidentally drops it into the ocean and freezes the ocean solid, causing a global climate meltdown. Oops..]] |
| 33 | * In the second book of the second trilogy of ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfThomasCovenant'', Thomas uses his [[CosmicKeystone white gold]] [[RingofPower ring]], an artifact of [[WildMagic indomitable magic]] that destroys peace, to shave. {{Justified|Trope}} in that it's both excellent magical training, since he struggles to control the ring earlier; and very practical, since he's a leper who has bad motor control and is prone to infection. |
| 34 | * ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'': |
| 35 | ** Tris is a weather mage: she can call lightning, shove storms around, and the like. In ''Shatterglass'', the first thing we see her do with her power is set up a personal breeze as air-conditioning; later, she uses a small lightning bolt as an arc lamp, and uses a small cyclone as an elevator to get to the top of a tower. She's also been known to use her control over the rain in place of an umbrella, and once summoned lightning to spot-weld wire into a mesh. She actually feels some chagrin over her difficulty with this trope early on, as other people she knows have more useful powers for day-to-day life; since much of her power falls fould of the InverseLawOfUtilityAndLethality, she seeks out the exceptions and also learns both [[{{Seers}} scrying]] and [[SufficientlyAnalyzedMagic academic magic]]. |
| 36 | ** Sandry has the ability to weave [[NothingIsScarier unmagic]] and tie life to a body. The technical term for this is "Stitch Witch", power over thread, so mostly she uses it to make very durable and pretty clothes. |
| 37 | ** Briar's [[GreenThumb plant-based powers]] are exceptionally useful in the realm of medicine and gardening. |
| 38 | ** Daja's particular blend of [[PlayingWithFire fire]] and [[ExtraOreDinary metal]] magic makes her an UltimateBlacksmith. |
| 39 | * Since absolutely everyone ([[IJustWantToBeSpecial except Tavi]]) in the ''Literature/CodexAlera'' series has at least some degree of ElementalPowers, they're generally used for {{Magitek}} purposes to make everyday life easier. [[DishingOutDirt Earthcrafters]] use their furies for construction and mining and SuperStrength, and can also use them to either calm people, or excite them. [[BlowYouAway Windcrafters]] can fly, manipulate sound, calm down storms, and bend air into magnifying glasses or telescopes. [[MakingASplash Watercrafters]] can use their powers to heal, swim, channel waterflow, create aqueducts, and hide the presence of ships from massive sea beasts. [[PlayingWithFire Firecrafters]] use can create lamps and cook food, or use their abilities to incite courage or fear; the best orators in Alera are firecrafters who unconsciously incite emotions in their audiences. [[GreenThumb Woodcrafters]] are excellent farmers, able to grow vast amounts of food in days. Even [[ExtraOreDinary metalcrafters]], the most martial of the crafting disciplines, are master smiths and metalworkers. |
| 40 | * In ''Literature/ConstanceVerityDestroysTheUniverse'', Connie and Tia enlist Doctor Malady's WeatherControlMachine to ensure perfect weather for Tia's wedding. |
| 41 | * In Creator/KevinJAnderson's ''Literature/DanShambleZombiePI'' novel ''Unnatural Acts'': |
| 42 | ** A succubus whose life-leeching touch causes plants to shrivel gets fired from a brothel for accidentally draining a human client so he winds up in the hospital. She finds a new job with a company that makes dried flower arrangements, where her TouchOfDeath for flowers triples their productivity. |
| 43 | ** In the same novel, a wizard moonlights as an auctioneer, because rattling off high-speed "bid calling" chant is dead easy for someone who's mastered the tongue-tangling polysyllables of spellcasting. |
| 44 | * In the ''Literature/DanteValentine'' series, the main above-board use for Necromantic powers is in settling legal matters, such as settling estate cases where the will is unclear. Danny charges extra for criminal cases: in ''Working for the Devil'' she raises a ghost having been told it's an estate case, then gets very angry with the attorney who hired her when she learns she's just gotten the deceased's son convicted of his murder. |
| 45 | * In ''Literature/DeathMarchToTheParallelWorldRhapsody'', Satou (ab)uses holy swords as cooking knives and to mine materials from a dungeon to create his own treasure room. |
| 46 | * All the main characters in the ''Literature/DiademWorldsOfMagic'' series do this. Justified in that they may have been gifted with the power to rule the entire galaxy, but they're teenagers and don't want to do it. Score, in particular, likes this trope: he uses his powers to heat his bathwater, dry himself off without a towel, change unpalatable medieval foods into cola and burgers, and seals an alliance with goblins by turning water into Coke. |
| 47 | * Lampshaded in ''Literature/DirkGentlysHolisticDetectiveAgency'': "You have a time machine and you use it for... watching television?" He's also happy for Richard to use it in order to book a table for tonight at an exclusive restaurant, three weeks in advance. |
| 48 | * ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'': |
| 49 | ** The mighty weapon of ''Literature/ThiefOfTime'''s Chaos is a sword as rule-breaking as he. It is made of blue flame, which burns with absolute coldness. When he's not fighting, it [[spoiler:creates a handy freezer that keeps his dairy products cold and fresh. Combining this with teleportation powers akin to Death's he becomes Ronnie [[SdrawkcabAlias Soak]], the Discworld's greatest milkman, able to deliver said dairy products anywhere, anytime, always fresh. Most importantly, everyone's milk arrives at 7:00 AM sharp. ''Everyone's.'']] |
| 50 | ** Susan, Death's granddaughter, has inherited The Grim Reaper's many talents, among them the ability to exist outside of time. She uses this talent to grade papers (largely due to her suffering a heavy case of IJustWantToBeNormal). Her classes take quite interesting, Disc-travelling unscheduled field trips during her lessons. However, her CompellingVoice, while able to help her skip on teaching when her grandfather needs her, cannot be used to get her a raise from the headmistress. She was also very good at certain sports such as lacrosse and hockey. Just seeing Susan moving with [[SinisterScythe a long angled stick]] and a calculating expression makes goalies reconsider their life choices. |
| 51 | ** There's some mundane uses of magic-derived technology on the Discworld, such as using tiny summoned imps to paint pictures (essentially a photo camera), or as (dis)organizers. However, magic on the Disc is likened to nuclear power - it's good to know it's out there, but you wouldn't want a pile of it in your living room. As such, such mundane uses of magic in everyday use is under the purview of the University's Department of Inadvisably Applied Magic. |
| 52 | ** On a related note, many nobles in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' send their children to the Assassin's Guild of Ankh Morpork. There are two main reasons for this: 1: Knowing how to assassinate people teaches their children how to guard against assassination, and 2: it actually is one of the best formal education schools in the world. |
| 53 | ** Unseen University's omniscopes are powerful scrying devices that can see anywhere and anywhen. Because of this it's extremely hard to get them to show anywhere and anywhen ''in particular'', so they usually show the blackness of empty space (that being what most of the universe consists of). The wizards mostly use them as shaving mirrors. Ridcully, who is particularly skilled at using an omniscope, takes advantage of his skill to make stalking prey while hunting easier, and he helps to set up a set of 'synchronized' Omniscopes to serve as a form of teleconferencing setup during the events of ''Literature/GoingPostal''. |
| 54 | ** On a lesser scale, Wizards will occasionally use magic for mundane purposes - in ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'', for example, Spelter turns water into sherry, and in various later books, the Dean uses a very tiny fireball to light a cigarette, Ridcully makes a tiny light spell that serves as a magical laser pointer for a presentation in ''The Science of Discworld'', and in ''Literature/MakingMoney'' Ponder gets the Cabinet of Curiosities to produce a Golem's Foot so that Adora Belle Dearheart could correctly identify some other Golems she was freeing from an underground area, and Hix calls back the late Professor Flead to translate Umnian for Adora and Moist with [[InsistentTerminology Post-Mortem Communications]]. |
| 55 | ** In a world in which technology to make clockwork is rare, how does one keep track time? Trap tiny demons in watches. They aren't dangerous, but the clocks aren't very reliable, which makes mechanical ones far better. |
| 56 | ** Swamp dragons, dog-sized and nonsapient fire breathers, are frequently used by their human owners as firelighters, forges, paint strippers, and the like. Lady Sybil, ''the'' expert on the species, firmly objects to such practices, and dislikes when her husband lights his cigars with dragon hatchlings, although [[spoiler: she unhesitatingly instructs him on how to use Raja as a weapon [[MamaBear in defense of their child]]]]. |
| 57 | ** On the other side of the fence, Discworld witches are trained to avert this trope (which doesn't necessarily mean they do it 100%, just that they're trained not to rely on magic as much as possible). Most of them seem to take it as a point of pride how far they can go using only hard work and completely nonmagical things like herbalism, theaterical performances, and headology. |
| 58 | *** Young witch Tiffany Aching learned the value of this aversion the downright difficult way in ''Literature/AHatFullOfSky'', when using astral projection as a makeshift mirror led a [[spoiler: parasitic demon (almost) as old as time which feeds on and finally ruins the minds of its hosts, known as a Hiver]], to find and hunt for her, leading to her [[spoiler: eventual possession]]. |
| 59 | ** {{Lampshaded}} in ''Literature/WitchesAbroad'', with a conversation between Nanny Ogg (a witch) and Mrs Googol (a voodo priestess) about when it's appropriate for a witch to use pins, or a mambo to raise zombies: |
| 60 | --->'''Nanny''': But only when there ain't no alternative.\ |
| 61 | '''Mrs Googol''': Sure. When there ain't no alternative.\ |
| 62 | '''Nanny''': When...you know ...people ain't showing respect, like.\ |
| 63 | '''Mrs Googol''': When the house needs paintin'. |
| 64 | ** Borrowing is one of Granny's greatest skills in witchcraft, the ability to ride in another being's consciousness, see what it sees, and hear what it hears. At one point in ''Literature/{{Maskerade}}'', she borrows Nanny Ogg... so she can see herself as she puts her hat back on and adjusts it. Nanny then questions why she doesn't just use a mirror. |
| 65 | ** In ''Literature/EqualRites'', Esk disguises her wizard staff as a broom, occasionally using it to sweep up. When Mustrum Ridcully was summoned to UU to become its Archchancellor, he had to retrieve his own staff from the garden, where it was serving as the support-pole of a scarecrow. He's known to use magic for trick shots in pool involving time travel and spatial manipulation that he refers to as 'baize space'. |
| 66 | ** In ''Literature/TheTruth'', Otto uses his vampire power over animals (the one that allows them to command the Children of the Night to make vonderful music) to make a huge crowd of squabbling dogs sit up and howl, so they'll stop blocking his and William's path back to the ''Times'' office. |
| 67 | * In ''Literature/{{Dragaera}}'', the Imperial Orb is the single most potent magical item in that world. Every citizen of the Dragaeran Empire has a psychic link to the Orb that grants them access to Dragaeran Sorcery, powered by the Orb's control over a vast ocean of [[EntropyAndChaosMagic raw chaos]]. As a bonus, it's a perfectly accurate timepiece. |
| 68 | * ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': |
| 69 | ** Harry Dresden uses his magic to light candles and his fireplace; occasionally to create energy drinks in magic potion form; and as his ''day job'' as a [[BlueCollarWarlock private investigator]]. Every MonsterOfTheWeek he tells this to can't comprehend that he'd break the {{Masquerade}} just to earn a paycheck. Since wizards are {{Walking Techbane}}s, Harry ''needs'' the mundane utility of his magic to compensate for the fact that he can't trust any electrical appliance. |
| 70 | ** Thomas uses his [[SuccubiAndIncubi White Court]] Vampire [[EmotionControl abilities]] to give the most pleasurable haircuts possible, thus earning his rent and "[[EmotionEater eating]]" all at once. |
| 71 | ** In ''Skin Game'' Harry has access to miles of tunnels, all filled with [[CrystalPrison imprisoned]] [[EldritchAbomination horrors beyond human comprehension.]] He goes jogging down them. |
| 72 | ** According to Jim, Molly once tried to make a potion to dye her hair different colours on command. |
| 73 | ** One of the powers of the Knight of the Cross is the power of ContrivedCoincidence. Useful to save a person in need in the best possible moment, and to find yourself someone that can take care of your kids while you go out and fight evil. |
| 74 | --->'''Father Forthill:''' You need a babysitter [[NoodleIncident again]], don't you? |
| 75 | * In the ''Literature/DragonridersOfPern'' series, all dragons can teleport. Green dragons (the lowest-ranking) are sometimes used to deliver messages or carry passengers. Since dragon riders are an elite class, they only do this when it's important (or when they want to impress a girlfriend, etc). |
| 76 | * ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'', for all your anachronistic SchizoTech needs: |
| 77 | ** Horse drawn antigravity wagons for farmers. |
| 78 | ** In ''Literature/PreludeToDune'', Duke Leto uses a jeweled dagger that was given to him by the Emperor...to cut a paradan melon. |
| 79 | * ''Literature/EnchantedForestChronicles'': Mendanbar, king of the Enchanted Forest, wields a magic sword responsible for choosing the succession and powerful enough to make him a match for "any three wizards" within his own territory. The first thing he does with it in his introductory book is place an improvised and stealthy spell to keep a wizard's staff from absorbing magic from his kingdom. The second? To unclog a sink. He offers to let it do the dishes as well, but is told that would be ridiculous. |
| 80 | [[/folder]] |
| 81 | |
| 82 | [[folder:Examples F to J]] |
| 83 | * ''Literature/FairyOak'': Magic is so natural for the inhabitants of Fairy Oak that that is how magic is mostly shown to us: |
| 84 | ** The fairies can use their light as a telegraph. |
| 85 | ** Fairies are often used as [[FantasticLightSource flashlights]]. |
| 86 | ** Magicals of Light use their kisses to cure small scratches. |
| 87 | ** Quills with spellcheck. |
| 88 | ** Telli once acted as firefly bait. |
| 89 | ** Flying is often used for reaching for things or not touching the ground to avoid cold feet or or slipping. |
| 90 | ** When aunt Tomelilla blew flour all over the house (long story), La used her magic to clean it. Magicals of the Dark often make stains disappear to avoid cleaning. |
| 91 | ** Depending on the user's powers, finger can be used as pencils and glue, or erasers and scissors. |
| 92 | * ''Literature/TheFifthSeason'': {{Inverted|Trope}} with "safe", a milky-white plant-based drink that changes colour when anything is added to it. It's offered as a universal gesture of SacredHospitality to prove that the host isn't poisoning the guest, but ''Literature/TheStoneSky'' reveals that it was first bio-engineered for the drinkers to enjoy the pretty colours it turns in the presence of various additives. |
| 93 | * ''Literature/TheFirstLaw'': In ''The Heroes'', Whirrun of Bligh, a {{cloudcuckoolander}} BarbarianHero, invents the sandwich by slicing bread with his ThunderboltIron CoolSword and putting cheese between it. The response of the other warriors (who rip off chunks of bread with their cheese) is ItWillNeverCatchOn. |
| 94 | * In the ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' novel ''Elfsong'', Khelden Blackstaff, the mightest wizard in the city of Waterdeep, has multiple teleport portals in his ''kitchen'', including one that leads to an evergrowing fruit tree, and one that leads to a cave somewhere in Toril's polar regions, which he apparently uses as an icebox. |
| 95 | * In ''Freakling'' by Lana Krumwiede, everyone in Taemon's city has PsychicPowers, called psi. They use them for everything, from driving to eating. It is seen as disgusting to eat with your hands. This becomes a problem when Taemon loses his powers and has to hide it. |
| 96 | * In Michael Z. Williamson's ''Literature/{{Freehold}}'' the Grainne military uses an OrbitalBombardment weapon consisting of blocks of metal dropped from orbit ... to carve a gap through a mountain range for a highway. {{Justified|Trope}} because they were paid to do it and the system was nearing the end of its operational life anyway. |
| 97 | * The madwoman of ''Literature/TheGirlWhoDrankTheMoon'' develops the ability to transmute matter during her solitary confinement, which she uses to make paper to fold and draw on. For an extra layer, her jailers then collect the paper to recycle and resell. |
| 98 | * ''Literature/TheGirlWithTheSilverEyes'': Katie Welker uses her [[MindOverMatter telekinesis]] to do things like push her glasses up on her nose and turn out the lights in her room without leaving her bed. |
| 99 | * [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] in ''Literature/{{Gladiator}}'' because [[ProtoSuperhero Hugo Danner]]'s attempts to find a use for his NighInvulnerability and SuperStrength doomed his life: |
| 100 | ** As a child, he tries to be a BullyHunter and almost kills TheBully, scaring all the other kids who consider him a EnfantTerrible when he really is a NiceGuy. |
| 101 | ** As a young man, he tries to go to college as a ScholarshipStudent, but he DoesNotKnowHisOwnStrength and commits an AccidentalMurder. He has to drop out college. |
| 102 | ** Trapped in World War I, he becomes a SuperSoldier killing as many German soldiers as he can for the French Foreign Legion. He decides to become a useful Super Soldier by InstantWinCondition: hijacking a plane, infiltrating Germany and killing the German Emperor and his generals to force a DecapitatedArmy. Unfortunately the war ends on its own accord. |
| 103 | ** Later he tries to be a bank teller, but he has to rip the safe open to save the life of a man. [[NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished His boss considers him a peril and tries to torture him into the truth]]. Hugo cannot convince his boss of his sincerity, so his boss only fires him. |
| 104 | ** Later he does a good job in an steel mill and as a farm laborer, [[TallPoppySyndrome but he makes the other workers look bad]], so he has to quit. |
| 105 | ** When he tries to be an AdventurerArchaeologist, he compares the Egyptians and Mayans and tries to explain his own life and realizes that he is a CosmicPlaything. That motivates him to RageAgainstTheHeavens and gets a BoltOfDivineRetribution. |
| 106 | * ''Literature/GoodOmens'': |
| 107 | ** The cosmic powers of angels and demons are nice for miracling up vintage wines into existence, keeping your car dent-free, and fixing up a bicycle after an accident. |
| 108 | ** After seemingly giving away his RealityWarper powers to [[IJustWantToBeNormal live the life of a normal human boy]], it's revealed that Adam has kept his powers, but only uses them for stuff like creating a hole in the fence that [[ADogNamedDog Dog]] can escape through so that he could chase him to escape being [[GroundedForever grounded]]. |
| 109 | * In the short story "The Gun Without a Bang" by Robert Sheckley, the protagonist finds himself stranded on a remote planet, forcing him to survive in the wild. Fortunately, he has a prototype disintegration gun for protection, capable of instantly vaporizing its target. Unfortunately, it does little to deter a pack of wild dog-like aliens that are hunting him (since it [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin doesn't make a bang]] to scare them off), so he resorts to an old-fashioned bow and arrows. When he's finally found and his rescuers ask how the gun worked, he says he couldn't have survived without it ... because he was using it as a hammer to drive sharp defensive stakes into the ground around his camp. |
| 110 | * In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'': |
| 111 | ** Wizards use magic for everything in their everyday lives. From making animated Chocolate Frogs, to the various practical joke items, transport, sports, enchanted items that do household chores for you, self stirring cauldrons, semi-sentient owls, radio, the list goes on. In fact, it seems most of what Wizards use magic for is just getting by in day to day life. It's stated that high levels of magic such as at Hogwarts cause Muggle technology more advanced than a wristwatch to fail to work, so while in some cases the magical alternative is far superior, they don't even have the option to use Muggle tech if they wanted to. |
| 112 | ** It appears that, based on Arthur Weasly's understanging of muggle technology (and he's supposed to be a relative expert), the magical population of the world hasn't a clue how Muggle technology ''works'' and basically couldn't survive without magic to do everything for them. If the wizarding world ever gets hit with an AntiMagic Field half of them would end up staving to death covered in their own filth. |
| 113 | ** The House-elves. A race of powerful magical beings with near absolute loyalty, whose magic isn't bound by the same rules or limitations as human wizardry, and what do most wizards and witches use them for? ''Chores''. [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] by the [[FantasticRacism condescending attitude]] most wizards and witches have concerning House Elves. A few wizards do make clever use of their House elves though: [[spoiler: Crouch Sr. entrusted Winky with the ''very'' important task of keeping his son hidden (and fired her for nearly letting him escape), Regulus Black told Kreacher to destroy Voldemort's locket Horcrux, though even Kreacher's powers weren't enough to break it, and Harry put Kreacher's talents to good use for espionage in ''Half-blood Prince'' and for capturing a thief in ''Deathly Hallows'']]. |
| 114 | ** The Time Turner. For nearly the whole year Hermione uses it to go back an hour or so to do more classes, extending her days to about 28 hours each with 13 classes a week on almost no sleep. Put to better use at the end, when Harry and Hermione go back in time to [[spoiler: save the lives of Harry's godfather and an innocent Hippogriff]]. Still, the time turners are used exactly once in the series despite being one of the most obviously powerful artifacts in the series. Although they do have limitations in that they can't go back very far and they [[YouAlreadyChangedThePast create stable time loops,]] meaning that whatever you go back to change will result in the same future you've already seen. |
| 115 | ** The invisibility cloak makes you invisible. Primary use? Pranks, and sneaking around Hogwarts. James used it to get free food. [[spoiler: When it is described as one of the supposedly mythical Deathly Hallows, Hermione is actually shocked speechless.]] In fairness, Harry does generally use it when more important problems come up as well. |
| 116 | ** The Marauder's Map, which has the power to see through various shapeshifts and even Harry's Invisibility Cloak (which can literally hide the wearer from ''Death itself'') has been passed down for 20-30 years and used to pull pranks and sneak out of school. Again Harry and friends do get quite a bit of value out of it when real problems arise. |
| 117 | ** Hermione wears braces because her parents don't want her to mix regular, muggle dentistry with magic. When a jinx hits her and she needs to get the teeth fixed to their proper size again? She lets the magical nurse of the school fix them past the necessity of wearing braces. |
| 118 | * In ''Literature/HeartOfSteel'', Alistair Mechanus apparently uses advanced biochemistry to make a grilled cheese sandwich for Julia. Justified in that dairy products like cheese are not casually available on Shark Reef Isle. |
| 119 | * The boys in ''Literature/HiddenTalents'' all use their powers [[PowerIncontinence unconsciously at first]], causing them to wind up together in a disciplinary alternative school because none of the adults in their lives could get them to stop cheating/starting fires/throwing things etc., and the boys all insist that they aren't to blame. After they find out about and learn to control their gifts, some of them go on to use them casually. |
| 120 | ** Cheater, who's telepathic, lives up to his (previously wrong) nickname by cheating in poker games. This fails because while Cheater can read minds, his opponents can read his ''expressions''. |
| 121 | ** Trash uses his telekinesis to try and get cash out of his bank account when his dad won't let him buy art supplies. This has [[TheyWouldCutYouUp unforeseen consequences]]. |
| 122 | ** Flinch, who can see a few seconds into the future, is an [[InvertedTrope inversion]]: he doesn't compete in sports because he feels it gives him an unfair advantage. Before he found out about his powers though, he was a champion at dodgeball. However, he does find a use for it in stand-up comedy: anticipating hecklers so he can plan for snappy retorts. |
| 123 | * ''Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy'': One of the perennial complaints of Marvin the Depressed Robot is that he has a brain the size of a planet, yet is assigned only simple household tasks that wouldn't challenge a lobotomized goldfish's intellect. |
| 124 | * ''Literature/HowARealistHeroRebuiltTheKingdom'': Souma Kazuya, as his NewLifeInAnotherWorldBonus, has a magic that lets him split his consciousness to remotely manipulate objects. His most common use for this is to speed up filling out paperwork by letting him operate four quill pens at once. |
| 125 | * In ''Literature/ImInLoveWithTheVillainess'', the Bauer Kingdom turns its aristocracy into a meritocracy, greatly upsetting its nobles and causing massive waves through the masses, all thanks to the sheer, world-changing potential of magical tools. Though their most prominent applications are for the military, you could also make a toilet for someone suffering a PottyEmergency, complete with plumbing and running water. |
| 126 | * In ''Literature/ImpracticalMagic'', artificing magic is used to power all forms of modern conveniences, from lights, to elevators, to stoves. |
| 127 | * From the ''Literature/InheritanceCycle'': When the (financial) going gets tough, [[LaResistance the Varden]] have their mages [[spoiler:use their powers to make valuable lace to sell for funds]], since the only limit on their magic is that it takes the same amount of energy to do something by magic as it does to do it by hand - thus they can make the low-energy [[spoiler:lace]] really ''really'' fast. They consider this beneath their dignity and are horrified when Nasuada orders them to do it. Additionally, magic can be used for any number of mundane purposes. One such example is that when Oromis gives Eragon a razor for shaving, it cuts Eragon so badly that he devises a spell for shaving and from then on shaves in that matter. This is something that is explored in some detail, and even commented upon by certain other characters who fear magic and are disturbed by Eragon's unnatural clean-shavedness even at hours of the day when it wouldn't be normal. Whether or not Oromis [[StealthMentor did this on purpose]] to get Eragon to discover the spell is left up to the reader to ponder, though it is indicated that magicians have used such methods with their apprentices in the past. If apprentices didn't tap into their magical power on their own, then the magician would set them some mundane task such as moving a large pile of rocks until they finally grew so frustrated that they unconsciously tapped into their magic for the first time. |
| 128 | * ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': This verse uses {{mana}} in place of electricity, and so magic is used in every appliance and aspect of daily life. When Eric first arrives in ''Literature/AMagesPower'', he marvels at the differences in technology: the air conditioning in Eric's bridge house is wind magic; Scries (cell phone equivalents) use runes in place of circuitry; and locks use enchanted crystals instead of metal keys. |
| 129 | [[/folder]] |
| 130 | |
| 131 | [[folder:Examples K to O]] |
| 132 | * ''Literature/KillDecision'': Inverted. A derivative of ''Music/{{Vocaloid}}'' - and yes, the copyright is expressly namedropped, as is the used to do "virtual pop stars in Japan" thing - is used [[spoiler:by the villains to fake a video of the colonel ordering Odin's team to stand down.]] |
| 133 | * ''Literature/{{Krabat}}'': The boys may and do use magic for their daily work and even just for pranks. |
| 134 | * Played with in Creator/MercedesLackey's novels. (White) magic is a semi-finite resource, meaning you can exhaust your resources (or yourself) if you draw too much or too fast. Using power for frivolous or mundane purposes (things that could be done just as easily by hand) is usually the mark of a corrupt or evil mage -- someone who can just take as much power as he wants doesn't care about running out, after all. |
| 135 | ** Justifying this is that magic use has certain drawbacks. Doing something with magic is [[MagicAIsMagicA usually]] harder than doing it by other means. Anyone who does something magically when an easier way exists is probably [[FridgeLogic addicted to magic]]. Additionally, magical sources can become unreliable, as the Eastern Empire found out when the Mage Storms hit and their {{Magitek}}-based infrastructure nearly collapsed. |
| 136 | ** Sometimes, the person using magic for mundane purposes is just being dumb. There's a reference in ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheFiveHundredKingdoms The Fairy Godmother]]'' to one of Elena's predecessors, who used so much magic on things like housecleaning that she didn't have any on tap to deal with an EvilSorcerer. |
| 137 | ** On the other hand, several mages in the ''Literature/ElementalMasters'' series use their powers for such things as making sure dinner doesn't burn or the butter churn gets ''completely'' clean. And in the ''Five Hundred Kingdoms'' series, explicitly magical creatures can serve any function they are willing to do, presumably because magic is easier for them. Also from that, unlike Witches/Hedge Wizards (who are supposed to have minimal magic and usually hoard what they can get) and Fairy Godmothers/Warding Wizards (who are supposed to have vast amounts of magic, but need to conserve it when "offstage" as the Tradition forgets they exist when they aren't actively part of a storyline), Sorcerers/esses are ''supposed'' to live in highly magical surroundings; when they make magic a part of their daily lives the Tradition actively subsidizes them and increases their available power. (This isn't usually resented, as the latter under normal circumstances get the most dangerous roles for magic users the Tradition can find for them.) |
| 138 | * ''Literature/TheLastAdventureOfConstanceVerity'': Not only had Connie found the Holy Grail, she uses it as a planting pot for her asparagus fern to keep it from dying on her. |
| 139 | * In the ''Literature/{{Lensman}}'' series, the ability to render objects inertialess is not just used for FTL travel, but also to replace elevators. Step out into a yawning shaft, drop "free" for fifty or a hundred floors in a fraction of a second, and walk out at the desired level without a hair being mussed. The one drawback is that skirts are out as female office wear. |
| 140 | * ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': The One Ring, the object that holds most of the Dark Lord Sauron's power, binding him to Middle Earth as long as it exists, the One Ring designed to rule all the other rings of power, and what does Bilbo use it for after ''Literature/TheHobbit''? To avoid meeting unpleasant relatives and to play a prank at his birthday party. {{Justified|Trope}} and [[ExploitedTrope Exploited]]: the Ring canonically grants power "according to the wielder's stature," so the hobbits ''can't'' tap most of its deeper and more intimidating powers; but the fact that they think so small, desiring to be left alone in peace above all else, makes them more resistant to the Ring's corruption than most. Gollum's vision of being the all-powerful Ring-Bearer is to be served fresh fish every day. |
| 141 | * ''Literature/TheMachineriesOfEmpire'': [[ClarkesThirdLaw Sufficiently Advanced Technology]] is a fact of life in the Hexarchate GalacticSuperpower, with some standouts: |
| 142 | ** Spaceships are fitted with "variable layout" technology to shorten walking times by creating {{Extradimensional Shortcut}}s between rooms. High-ranking officers have the privilege to reprogram the network of shortcuts on the fly. |
| 143 | ** Uniforms are self-repairing, self-cleaning, and self-folding, and can be programmed to morph into anything from casual attire to full formal. Oddly, this makes them hackable, since they network with command centers to verify the wearer's rank and decorations. |
| 144 | * In Scott Meyer's ''Literature/Magic20'' series, all time travelers learn to do this. However, this involves coming up with creative ways of modifying the reality file. Since pretty much all time traveler "colonies" utilize some type of interface similar (and frequently based on) the shell program developed by Phillip, they can write a macro for a specific spell and use it whenever they want. There are limitations, though, as most objects can't be easily manipulated due to the fact that the program considers any inanimate object made up of a number of parts to be separate objects. Thus, attempting to levitate or teleport a computer will probably break it, since only a part of the device will be affected. The same can be said of simple rocks as well, if they are not made up of a single mineral. [[{{Atlantis}} Atlantean]] sorceresses (specifically, Brit) came up with a solution by designing a macro that [[MatterReplicator creates objects on a molecular level]], aligning the molecules in a desired pattern. Thus, many things in Atlantis are made of molecularly pure diamond and can, thus, be easily manipulated. In fact, Atlantean sorceresses are even more guilty of this trope than most. Brit the Younger projects the Interface on a sheet of glass to, basically, make it work like a remote for various "systems" in her home (e.g. open windows, change temperature), while all sorceresses use the file to adjust their metabolism so that they don't have to go on a diet or exercise. A wizard named Gary is particularly fond of using the file to play pranks on people. All time travelers make food out of thin air (Phillip likes to pull burritos out of his hat). Just to be clear, the file in this case controls the complex program that we call reality, and most who discover it tend to be at least a little careless about editing it. |
| 145 | * Throughout ''Literature/TheMagicians'' trilogy, magic is used for all manner of mundane purposes. While a good chunk of this is just UtilityMagic, other cases involve warping more theoretical or powerful spells to causes that their creators probably hadn't thought of. For example, in ''The Magician's Land,'' Quentin hears a story about a group of Brakebills students who tried to create a thermal field in the hope that they could use it to keep their beer cold. Unfortunately, [[AlcoholInducedIdiocy they'd been sampling some of the beers and gotten a little bit carried away]], resulting in a field ''so'' cold that anyone making the mistake of getting too close to it would be [[KillItWithIce fatally frozen]], hence why this area of the school has been walled off until the field can be dispelled. |
| 146 | * In ''Literature/{{Mastodonia}}'' by Clifford Simak, the main characters use their newfound abilities to travel into the past, among other things, for tax-avoidance. They reason that the IRS's power to tax does not extend to 100,000 B.C., and effectively set up their own country there. |
| 147 | * Many of Nina Kiriki Hoffman's magic-using characters have creative methods of using their abilities in everyday life. The character of Terry Dane from the ''Matt Black'' series is probably the best example. She can cast spells to summon money (in the short story ''Airborn'' she mentions that she paid for a new car by casting spells to make multiple minor wins in the lottery), to make oneself more attractive, and to help someone study better by improving memory and concentration, and is constantly looking for new ways to use magic. She even invented a way to create portable spells in tablet form that can be used by nonmagical people. She runs an Internet-based business where she sells weak versions of these spells to ordinary people (her biggest customer base is college students), and although her mother disapproves of the way she uses her powers, she doesn't complain too much since Terry makes more money than she does and pays at least half the rent. However, Terry is careful about how she uses these spells to avoid attracting too much attention or giving too much of an unfair advantage to her customers. |
| 148 | * Discussed and defied in ''Literature/MemorySorrowAndThorn''. [[CourtMage Doctor Morgenes]] only uses his magic for things that would be impossible (or at least, prohibitively difficult) to accomplish via mundane means, and makes plain his opinion that wise wizards exercise restraint when it comes to their powers. His EvilCounterpart [[EvilSorcerer Pryrates]] is a lot more flagrant, and proves Morgenes' point in that his reckless experimenting attracts the attention of [[BigBad greater and extremely unpleasant forces]]. |
| 149 | * ''Literature/{{Mindwarp}}'': Being about thirteen-year-olds gaining superpowers, everyone, to a greater or lesser degree, finds a way to use them to make life easier. Jack (who speaks all languages) wins money on a TV show showcasing 'weirdities' and makes a fool of his Spanish teacher. It gets pointed out to Todd that school will become amazingly easy, since he can memorize things whether or not he's paying attention, but he's never shown to use it. |
| 150 | * ''Franchise/{{Mistborn}}'': |
| 151 | ** Feruchemy is based on weakening an attribute to store for later, tapping it later to gain the power that was put in originally, at a vastly increased rate. Sitting around reading all day long? Store strength and speed. Bored waiting for the dentist? Store mental speed. Air conditioner not working? Store heat. Need to get to bed on time? Store wakefulness. Need privacy? Store your connection to others. Even eyesight can be weakened by storing to using glasses all the time if you're okay with that kind of style. Then, of course, you'll have extra of all of these resources for later when you need them. |
| 152 | ** Allomantic powers have their own mundane uses, provided one shells out for the metal necessary to power it. Iron and Steel (pull and push nearby metal objects and [[RequiredSecondaryPowers detect those objects]]) allow you to find your keys, push or pull open doors with your hands full, and power a generator without needing fuel. Pewter (enhances physical ability, including power, balance, and dexterity) burners can tear up a dance floor, while tin (enhances senses) burners can ace any vision test and never need the snooze button. Zinc and brass burners can be incredibly persuasive by amplifying or dampening specific emotions. Electrum (see your own future) burners can clean up at the casino, Cadmium (makes a bubble of time that passes slower inside) burners can make any wait pass by in a snap (ranging from stakeouts to dull waiting rooms to loading times), and bendalloy (bubble of time that passes faster inside) is excellent for impromptu costume changes and private conversations. |
| 153 | ** By the time of ''Literature/WaxAndWayne'', Allomancers can find employment using their powers. Steel burners (who can fly by pushing down on street-level metals like lamps) are high speed couriers, Brass burners (dampens emotions) work as therapists, and a law was passed against Brass and Zinc (zinc amplifies emotions) Metalborn from using their powers to attract customers (not that it stops them). Someone won a minor election with a platform that just said that as a copper burner, he's immune to emotional Allomancy. |
| 154 | * The Congery in ''Literature/MordantsNeed'' is supposed to spend most of its time researching the possibility for practical, non-warlike uses of [[MagicAIsMagicA Imagery]], as opposed to the summoning of monsters and natural disasters that it's traditionally been used for. Their success rate is spotty, but they do come up with a few in the course of the story - for instance, the Imagers help with the rescue operation in a collapsed part of the castle by sending large pieces of debris into their mirrors. |
| 155 | * In Creator/TheodoreSturgeon's ''More Than Human'', Lone asks Baby to come up with a mechanical device that would help a farmer keep his truck from getting stuck in mud... Baby gives him instructions on how to build what turns out to be an anti-gravity machine. Neither character actually realizes the full extent of this invention - Lone is capable of making the device with help but doesn't comprehend how it actually works, while Baby does have this knowledge but, having a mind comparable to a computer, doesn't consider any other uses for it until later on when he's specifically asked about what might happen if the device is found. |
| 156 | * Jace to Magnus in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments'': "Nearly unlimited supernatural power, and all you do is use it to watch reruns. What a waste." |
| 157 | * In A Lee Martinez' ''Literature/{{Monster}},'' the villain of the story, Lotus, possesses an indestructible stone that is [[CosmicKeystone responsible for the birth of the entire universe and its continued existence.]] And though Lotus mainly uses it as a handy source of power she can leech off, she also uses it as a ''cutting board, a nutcracker, and a paperweight.'' |
| 158 | * Done by all [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Others]] in Creator/SergeyLukyanenko's ''Literature/NightWatchSeries''. A good number of spells are specifically designed for domestic uses and are fairly simple to cast even by low-level Others. All female Others use magic instead of conventional makeup (except Svetlana, who reveals in ''New Watch'' that she has stopped using magic outside of the apartment in order to retain her humanity). There are spells for slicing vegetables, shaving, ironing, wiping dust, etc. It's mentioned that every Other tries to be clever and use a domestic spell in combat. However, dedicated battle spells are much faster to cast and can be "hot-keyed" to fingers. On the other hand, old and experienced battle mages have learned how to use these domestic spells to end battles very quickly and unpleasantly in a CombatPragmatist fashion (as Anton states, most magical battles involve mages hidden behind Mage Shields hurling fireballs at one another to no effect). How would an Other feel if he or she suddenly felt like ''they'' were being ironed instead of a shirt? Or if a millimeter of their skin was suddenly gone with a Peel spell? Most Others also use their ability to predict future events to avoid traffic and to make easy cash by playing the stock market. |
| 159 | * ''Literature/OfFireAndStars'': In Zumorda, magic is ubiquitous enough that people even use it for minor things such as making animated brooms sweep all on their own. They also frequently wander around in different [[VoluntaryShapeshifting assumed animal forms]]. |
| 160 | * ''Literature/OldKingdom'': Spirit-glass shards are incredibly precious single-use [[CrystalWeapon weapons]] that can kill almost anything they strike. Ferin is given all three of her clan's shards to help her on a vital mission, leaving her quite guilty when she's forced to break one just so the heat of its dissipating magic will keep her from dying of hypothermia. |
| 161 | [[/folder]] |
| 162 | |
| 163 | [[folder:Examples P to T]] |
| 164 | * Peter Reidinger of Creator/AnneMcCaffrey's ''[[Literature/ToRidePegasus Pegasus]]'' books discovers he has powers after becoming a [[DisabilitySuperpower quadriplegic]] at age [[PubertySuperpower thirteen]]; as a result he uses his "Talent" for ''everything,'' including hiding the fact that he's doing it by puppeting his own inert body, which leads to some creepy moments (as well as him ''literally'' levitating with enthusiasm early on when he forgets where his feet are in relation to the ground...) |
| 165 | * Percy's sword Riptide in ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' can transform into a pen for concealment purposes. In the sequel series, it's revealed that he can write with it. |
| 166 | * ''Literature/ThePerfectRun'': At parties, Wardrobe often turns into Jesus Christ to turn water into wine. For bonus points, this is literal canon. |
| 167 | * After Catherine from ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'' becomes a [[TheFairFolk winter fae]] noble who can - among other things - create ice, the officers of her legion immediately latch on to the idea of her cooling rations and providing a water supply for the army when on the march. |
| 168 | * ''Literature/PrinceRoger'': When stuck on an alien world, the prince's valet discovers a local caterpillar-analogue whose venom causes the flesh of those bitten to dissolve and slide off their bones, causing the victims to die in excruciating agony. He immediately develops a method to use it (in small doses and heavily diluted) to make the toughest parts of the local fauna melt-in-your-mouth-tender. |
| 169 | * Lila Black does this quite a lot in ''Literature/QuantumGravity''. Once she lit a cigarette with the pilot light for her flamethrower. Another time had her turning her hand into a touchscreen... in order to play naughts and crosses. |
| 170 | * Dawn's Helix from ''Literature/TheRadiantDawn'' has a [[GatlingGood gatling gun]] that proves very effective for mowing down hordes of undead, blowing up artillery...and creating a makeshift buzzsaw to separate an air conditioning unit from the roof it's bolted to so the helicopter has enough space to land. |
| 171 | * In ''Literature/RaiseSomeHell'' Oz binds a demon to himself that has the ability to make fire. He of course uses this to [[SmokingIsCool light his cigarettes]]. |
| 172 | * ''Literature/TheRavenTower'': Many small gods make a living facilitating household tasks, such as keeping water clean, preventing small fires from getting out of hand, and generally making an area nicer to live in. In Vastai all of these duties are handled by the Raven. [[spoiler:{{Deconstructed|Trope}}: Within days of his death, the city is ravaged by a cholera outbreak and multiple fires, and no one remembers how to handle these dangers without godly assistance.]] |
| 173 | * ''Literature/TheRecordOfUnusualCreatures'': |
| 174 | ** Y'zak uses his SuperStrength to change gas tanks for stoves. |
| 175 | ** The sirens of the Nangong family uses their water controlling ability to act as humidifiers and air conditioners. They also transform into octopus so they can use their tentacles for a variety of chores such as mopping floors and washing dishes. |
| 176 | ** Vivian can lower temperature as her vampire power, and she uses it most frequently as an air conditioner. She can also cast lighting via herself or her bats precisely at certain volts or amps. After discovering this none of Hao Ren's party ever use charger for their phones anymore... |
| 177 | ** Hao Ren uses Lil'Pea's holy flame as a lighter. |
| 178 | * ''{{Literature/Redwall}}'': In ''The Legend of Luke'', Martin uses his sword (yes, the legendary artifact regarded as magic in later books) to cut a cake. Then there's the famous line, "See this magical sword? Did you know it has the power to make pretty hare maidens happy?"... |
| 179 | * ''Literature/TheReluctantKing'': |
| 180 | ** After Jorian refuses to pay the wizard Abracarus for his demon-summoning service since it was a blunder, the latter retaliates by summoning a wraith that appears every night at his bed and moans out "Pay your debt" for hours before disappearing. |
| 181 | ** A group of wizards in Iraz are set to keeping leaks from a tunnel, which Jorian points out later is better solved by engineering and proper maintenance. |
| 182 | * By the fourth book of the ''Literature/{{Safehold}}'' series, ''A Mighty Fortress'', several of the main cast besides Merlin have access to his supercomputer Owl and his [=SNARCs=], which provide near omnipotent levels of spying ability on a planet otherwise locked in MedievalStasis. Some of the uses Emperor Cayleb puts it to: Checking up on his adopted son and following baseball scores back home. Although he does use it for more serious things too. |
| 183 | * ''Literature/SaintessSummonsSkeletons'': Sofia's [Angel Bolt] is a ten second ChargedAttack so powerful that she can't use it in an enclosed space, for fear of killing herself and/or bringing the whole building down. Every shot burns her armour and then her body with its mere presence, requiring magical healing to recover from the backlash. She can also use it to boil drinking water and grill meat. |
| 184 | * ''Literature/TheScholomance'': The protagonist El Higgins struggles to find day-to-day uses for her affinity for [[PersonOfMassDestruction large-scale destructive magic]], especially since the school's GeniusLoci keeps pushing those spells on her instead of normal UtilityMagic. In one case, she has to jury-rig an old EvilSorcerer's spell for crushing {{Human Sacrifice}}s to make the glass for her MagicMirror set smoothly. |
| 185 | * ''Literature/SchooledInMagic'': For those who possess magic, it is an indispensable part of life and is used for even mundane tasks. |
| 186 | * The title character of ''Secrets of the Silent Witch'' developed the art of casting spells without incantations, something thought so difficult as to be virtually impossible. Why did she do this? Because her crippling social anxiety made it difficult for her to speak in front of others, and she needed a way to get around this when casting in front of an audience if she wanted to pass her practical examinations in magic school. |
| 187 | * ''Literature/ShadowOps'' goes into this with regards to the various magical powers the military Latents develop. The various ElementalPowers get used for a huge range of mundane tasks. For example, when the base's heating system break down, one of the hydromancers uses his powers to heat up the showers. A terramancer uses his control of dirt and rock to instantly wipe away the mud off a soldier's trousers, and so on. |
| 188 | * ''Litrature/{{Smoke}}'': Jack The Fourth is less concerned with using the invisible man his scientists have accidentally created for corporate espionage than to spy on his doctors and see if they're laughing at him. |
| 189 | * ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Dragons' [[BreathWeapon fire breath]] makes them medieval weapons of mass destruction. In the wild, they use it in hunting- dragons will only eat cooked meat, so they sear it with their breath before eating. |
| 190 | * ''Literature/SoThisIsEverAfter'': Matt used his magic to do chores when he was still a boy. |
| 191 | * ''Literature/{{Spellster}}'': Spellsters sometimes do things like make cooking fires with magic, though spells are generally used for more pressing matters. |
| 192 | * ''Literature/SplitHeirs'': Wulfrith uses magic to do his chores, such as animating the broom and having it sweep by itself. A common practical spell the wizards know (even when they had become a highly impractical group) is for curing hangovers too. |
| 193 | * In the ''Franchise/StarTrekExpandedUniverse'' novel ''Literature/HowMuchForJustThePlanet'' our heroes encounter a baking dish made out of dilithium (a valuable type of crystal that is one target for both sides of the Federation/Klingon Cold War currently in effect). To make it even better, the slab of dilithium is engraved with writing from the local {{Precursors}}, combining two kinds of Mundane Utility. The locals argue that if dilithium can regulate a matter-antimatter reaction a few hours in the oven isn't going to hurt it. |
| 194 | * ''Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse'': |
| 195 | ** In ''Literature/TheWeaponOfAJedi'', the first time Luke uses his lightsaber, about halfway through the book... is as a light source. Just as in ''Darksaber'', below. |
| 196 | * ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'': |
| 197 | ** In the novel ''[[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Yoda:_Dark_Rendezvous Yoda: Dark Rendezvous]]'' has [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Wookieepedia:Quote_of_the_Day/2_July_2007 a conversation about such uses of the force]] (But of course using the force for such things [[ComesGreatResponsibility leads to the darkside]]). |
| 198 | ** In ''Literature/{{Darksaber}}'', Luke uses his lightsaber as a glorified glowrod. He even lampshades it: |
| 199 | --->"Not the most impressive use I've ever made of my lightsaber," Luke commented, "but it'll do." |
| 200 | ** In the second book of the ''Literature/BlackFleetCrisis'' trilogy, Luke notes that nearly all scanners misidentify a lightsaber as a type of shaver... which it ''could'' be used as in a pinch, if you were ''very'' very good with it. |
| 201 | ** [[{{Vibroweapon}} Vibroblades]] are awesome weapons that can cut and slice through most armors. Sure enough, they are used for day-to-day cutting of non-warfare-related items all the time, and scaled-down versions exist that aren't even supposed to be used for fighting at all. And yeah, lightsabers get used for similar purposes too every now and then, as well as torches. |
| 202 | ** While hardly mundane, Thrawn found a new application of the Interdictor-class cruisers in ''Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy''. Instead of pulling enemy ships out of hyperspace, he set up gravity wells right next to targets he needed to destroy, then had his own ship enter lightspeed from not far away, and be pulled back into realspace almost immediately at the precise location where they could do the most damage. |
| 203 | ** In the ''Literature/HandOfThrawn'' trilogy some individuals express concern that Luke and other Jedi are using the Force too much, and often for mundane tasks. At one point someone asks Leia if her twins are being trained properly in the Force and not to use it as a shortcut to get around unpleasant or difficult tasks. |
| 204 | * ''Literature/SteelCrowSaga'': The Tomodanese people's ExtraOreDinary power of metalpacting has many deadly combat applications, but is far more often used to open and close metal doors and to operate metal vehicles. When other nations import Tomodanese automobiles, they have to add engines. |
| 205 | * ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': |
| 206 | ** Soulcasting is an ancient FunctionalMagic art of transmutation that's believed to be a gift of the Almighty, so holy that most people are forbidden from watching it in practice. It's also very handy for creating buildings on the fly, and absolutely vital to the Alethi military for creating food. That said, food created by soulcasting tends to taste either bland or outright gross. |
| 207 | ** The setting's [[FictionalCurrency currency]] consists of gemstones set in glass spheres. Said gems can be infused with [[{{Mana}} Stormlight]], which [[PowerGlows makes them glow]]. Since they don't flicker or smoke, and don't need refueling/replacing nearly as often as lamps or candles, scholarly types frequently use infused spheres as light sources. It's something of a status symbol how much money you can "waste" on light -- the city of Kharbranth uses its royal treasury to illuminate its world-famous library, since the books are at least as valuable and as well-guarded as the gems anyway. |
| 208 | ** Shardplate, a LostTechnology that is effectively magical PoweredArmor, has always been used exclusively for combat. One character wonders why no one ever thought to use it for anything else -- and then proves his point by digging through ''solid rock'' to make a latrine for his army. In ''Literature/WordsOfRadiance'', we find out why exactly the Radiants never gave the secrets of Plate and Blade to the common people: [[spoiler:Since they were created through their bonds with their spren, it was literally impossible for anyone else to replicate them. This may have been common knowledge in the past, but in the present the main reason it wasn't applied for more practical purposes is its extreme rarity]]. |
| 209 | ** In the ''Edgedancer'' novella, it's mentioned that the entire city of Yeddaw -- built into a vast web of deep trenches to protect it from the Highstorms -- was excavated by renting the Imperial Shardblades. Ancient, tremendously valuable, {{Absurdly Sharp|Blade}} [[SoulCuttingBlade Soul-Cutting Blades]] might be the ultimate mark of prestige for a noble house, but they're also quite handy for public works projects. |
| 210 | ** Radiant shardblades are [[spoiler:{{Equippable All|y}}ies that can [[MorphWeapon choose the form in which they manifest]]. Lift doesn't like hurting people, so she mostly uses Wyndle as a shard-fork]] to eat pancakes. Not even a very good fork, since she keeps stabbing through the plate and table underneath by mistake. |
| 211 | * ''Literature/StrayCatStrut'': The Vanguards are humans who can buy super-advanced technology from the alien Protectors, which is instantly teleported to their location. Since they're meant to fight the Antithesis, most Vanguards focus on weapons, armor, and {{transhuman}} upgrades. But it seems as though the catalogues cover literally everything the many member species of the Protectors have ever invented, meaning that there are also catalogues for food, clothing, and civilian structures. [[PowerPerversionPotential And sex toys]]. |
| 212 | * ''Literature/SweetAndBitterMagic'': Tamsin sometimes uses her magic in doing ordinary things like drying clothes. |
| 213 | * ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'': |
| 214 | ** Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander, Wizard of the First Order, AKA the Wind of Death, has been known to use his exceptional and frightening mastery over magic to cook dinner just a little faster. |
| 215 | ** Another case has Zedd restoring a wilted flower to full vitality before he goes to speak with his girlfriend. |
| 216 | ** Nicci, Death's Mistress and former lieutenant of the [[GodOfEvil Keeper of the Underworld]], applies [[BlackMagic Subtractive Magic]] to tasks such as healing and changing the color of clothes. Zedd {{Lampshade|Hanging}}s this, but considering his own example, he doesn't have much room to talk. |
| 217 | * ''Literature/TheTaleOfTheFive'': Various magics can grow fresh fruit and vegetables even in the depths of winter. However, given that the magic [[CastFromLifespan consumes part of the user's life]], even people who can afford the ConspicuousConsumption of magically grown treats often prefer not to indulge. |
| 218 | * ''Literature/ThereIsNoEpicLootHereOnlyPuns'': It's not clear exactly how Seth's spell is working, but "Space twisted, the souls beyond screamed, Quiss' ears popped, and Deo seemed to have a vision, but then the cup was refilled with fresh coffee and Seth sipped at it with a blank expression on his face." |
| 219 | --> '''Quiss''': I hate that spell.\ |
| 220 | '''Seth''': [[NoodleIncident I don't trust boiling water or pots anymore.]] |
| 221 | * Two of the main characters in ''Literature/TheThreeStigmataOfPalmerEldritch'' by Creator/PhilipKDick are "pre-fash consultants", [[{{Seers}} people with precognitive powers]] employed to find out whether or not various products will become fashionable before they're accepted for production. |
| 222 | * In Creator/StephenKing's novel ''Literature/TheTommyknockers'', an alien spacecraft is discovered, and it makes the people near it technical geniuses, but it also harms their common sense (to the point where they simply never think of buying an AC/DC converter so they don't have to rely on batteries for their antigravity). Pretty much all they make is this, since [[ReedRichardsIsUseless they never think of higher uses for their power]]. The main character uses her new abilities to power up her water heater by creating a small sun in it, making a tractor that can fly, and a typewriter that can read thoughts. Other townspeople create similar things, like a teleporter used for magic tricks. |
| 223 | * Mentioned and then subverted with Numair Salmalin, one of the most powerful mages in the ''Literature/TortallUniverse'', specifically ''Literature/ProtectorOfTheSmall''. While most mages can just use magic to extinguish a candle, his power is so great that it would cause an explosion. However, he ''can'' do small things like drying a shirt if his magic reserves are low to begin with. |
| 224 | * ''Literature/TrappedOnDraconica'': Rana uses ShockAndAwe powers given to her by a god to keep her dress clean of dust. |
| 225 | [[/folder]] |
| 226 | |
| 227 | [[folder:Examples U to Z]] |
| 228 | * Creator/HBeamPiper's ''Uller Uprising'' features a project to use A-bombs for volcano mining on uninhabitable planets. {{Justified|Trope}}, because by the point in the future Piper's novels are set in, people have access to weapons like [[StuffBlowingUp the Bethe-cycle bomb]], which ''creates a miniature sun 2000 miles across'' at its point of detonation, so mere nuclear weapons are relatively unimpressive. |
| 229 | * ''Literature/VorkosiganSaga'': |
| 230 | ** In ''Literature/{{Komarr}}'', Miles Vorkosigan holds the position of a Barrayaran Imperial Auditor, which means he is above the law and can issue orders to anyone about anything with the Emperor's personal authority, subject to review only by the Emperor himself. At one point he uses this power to bypass paternal consent on a routine medical treatment for his love interest's son. Lampshaded by his comment "Just like swatting flies with a laser cannon. The aim's a bit tricky, but it sure takes care of the flies." Ekaterin's own point of view regarding this scene: |
| 231 | --->''Yes, she realized enviously, he could just wave all ordinary problems out of his path. Leaving only the extraordinary ones...her envy ebbed.'' |
| 232 | ** Miles also gets one in ''Literature/{{Memory}}''. He and Simon Illyan aren't having much luck fishing, so Miles messes with his SonicStunner's cartridge so that when he discards it into the water, it creates an explosion of fish. |
| 233 | * ''Literature/TheVoyageOfTheDawnTreader'': When Eustace is transformed into a dragon, this has occasional mundane uses: one puff of his fiery breath would light the most obstinate fire. |
| 234 | * ''Literature/WarCrimes'' has the members of the Horde and Alliance conduct a trial with a bronze dragon's help, effectively using time travel to get error free witness testimony. [[spoiler: It's also useful for helping a defendant escape justice.]] |
| 235 | * ''Literature/WarriorCats'': |
| 236 | ** Dovewing has SuperSenses that allow her to see pretty much the entirety of the lake territories. She often uses them so that she knows when her crush is leaving for their meetings and can beat him there. Just to mess with him. |
| 237 | ** Leafpool at one point uses her TwinTelepathy with Squirrelflight to check the weather outside. |
| 238 | * In ''Literature/WearingTheCape'' novels, Grendel's teeth turn into sharp fangs in a fight -- and also when eating meat. |
| 239 | * In Robert Jordan's ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': |
| 240 | ** This is the TrainingFromHell philosophy of the ''Asha'man''; all chores have to be done with the One Power. If you can't channel fire, you eat cold food. This contrasts with their nun-like female counterparts, the Aes Sedai, who do not permit such flippant uses by ''their'' trainees, since ''[[WaxOnWaxOff Menial Labour Builds Character]]''. Of course, the main reason the Aes Sedai don't allow trainees to use the Power for tasks where it isn't necessary is because channeling is ''addictive''. But the life expectancy of an Aes Sedai is more than 10 times that of an Asha'man [[spoiler:(when the asha'man are created, anyway),]] so the addiction is considered worth the risk for them. |
| 241 | ** As [[TheChosenOne Rand]] develops his skill with the One Power, he invokes this trope more and more for everyday convenience. One visiting aristocrat has a moment of silent horror when he realizes that Rand -- the prophesied DestructiveSavior of the world, PersonOfMassDestruction, conqueror of nations -- personally created the ice in the aristocrat's punch, simply because Rand couldn't be bothered to have it imported. |
| 242 | ** When the Aes Sedai rediscover the long-lost art of creating ''cuendillar'', an utterly indestructible substance from the Age of Legends, they start manufacturing ''cuendillar'' trinkets to sell to wealthy collectors for astronomical prices. They even have to take care to avoid saturating the market. |
| 243 | * In Wilson Tucker's 1954 novel ''Wild Talent'', the psychic protagonist uses his ability while growing up to find out who is willing to hire kids his age for various jobs (extremely useful since the character grows up during TheGreatDepression), and is also able to learn things more quickly during school, job training as a movie projectionist, and military training as he possesses a combination of telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition. |
| 244 | * ''Literature/TheWitchOfKnightcharm'': |
| 245 | ** Emily’s ability to do this is one of the things that Lauren claims to like about her. For instance, in order to get into the club where Lauren is waiting without alerting the bouncers, Emily wants to go in through a window in the alley. The problem is, she can’t quite reach it even when climbing up as high as she can get and then jumping. She ultimately summons a magical shield from her amulet, positions it below herself, and then slams it upwards into herself just as she jumps. This knocks her a couple extra inches into the air, which is enough for her to reach the window. |
| 246 | ** For that matter, Lauren doesn’t just use her magic to curse her enemies. She also knows how to brainwash waiters into not carding her when she orders alcoholic beverages. |
| 247 | * ''Literature/TheWitchlands'': Safi uses her LivingLieDetector ability to win at card games well enough that neither she nor her flatmate Iseult need to work to support themselves. |
| 248 | * Multiple characters in ''Literature/{{Worm}}'' and its sequel ''Literature/{{Ward}}'' put their superpowers to use in their everyday lives: |
| 249 | ** Skitter pretty quickly gets to the point of using her insect control powers basically constantly, for everything from weaving bullet-resistant costumes from spider silk to clearing out rat infestations in her neighborhood. Probably the most relevant such use is how she constantly uses insects to monitor her surrounding, meaning she knows almost everything going on within a few blocks of her, but she also uses them for incredibly mundane things like to dial a phone, turn pages and help with her morning routine. Several characters note how her constant use of swarms of insects for mundane activities is slightly unnerving, to say the least. |
| 250 | ** Parian uses her ability to telekinetically control cloth in her job as a fashion designer. She also uses it to animate cloth mascot costumes for promotional events. |
| 251 | ** Canary used her exceptional singing talents granted by her ability to launch her career as a singer, before an accidental use of [[CompellingVoice the other part of her power]] landed her in TheAlcatraz. |
| 252 | ** Contessa's power allows her to [[spoiler:accomplish basically any goal she sets her mind to]]. This gives her precognition that makes her utterly unbeatable in combat, but also allows her to perfectly tie a necktie. |
| 253 | ** Imp's PerceptionFilter makes her incredibly dangerous as opponents literally cannot perceive her. Probably her most common use of it is to make people forget her verbal blunders and [[SaveScumming retry interactions until she gets the result she wants]]. |
| 254 | ** Narwhal creates a tiny forcefield to act as a bookmark, and her strange scaly bodysuit is actually a [[BeehiveBarrier mesh of forcefields]]. Taylor even notes she's using the suit forcefields as a sports bra. |
| 255 | ** Damsel Of Distress [[spoiler:and her clones]] can fire blasts that can annihilate anything from their hands, which doesn't exactly sound like it would have a wide range of uses. But [[RequiredSecondaryPowers her own body is immune to the blasts]], so she also uses it to clean herself off: all the dirt and grime caught in the blast is annihilated, leaving her body clean. |
| 256 | ** In ''Literature/{{Ward}}'' it's shown that as a family of capes who have no secret identities, the Dallon-Pelham extended family of the New Wave cape team are constantly using their superpowers for mundane tasks. Most of them have powers on the theme of lasers, forcefields, and/or flying and make the most of it. |
| 257 | *** Laserdream, Lady Photon/Photon Mom, and Flashbang all use their light-related powers to illuminate dark places. |
| 258 | *** Laserdream doesn't have any knives or other cutting utensils in her apartment; she just uses her lasers to cut things. It's also noted that all of her pots and pans are warped from uneven laser heating, and she often uses forcefields as trays and tables. |
| 259 | *** Laser-seared steak is mentioned as a treasured family recipe. |
| 260 | *** Antares [[spoiler:(formerly Glory Girl)]] uses her flight to be quiet and not disturb her roommates, to keep weight off an injured foot, and by flying horizontally to use her own body to carry plates. Also at one point she shares a room in a high rise building with her cousin. The building is damaged and the room has no access from the ground floor, so they simply fly there. |
| 261 | *** Antares also uses her forcefield's super strength to help people move bulky and heavy items, and it's impenetrability to shield her from the elements while flying. [[spoiler:And once she gains fine control of it, she uses her forcefield's extra arms to do things like text people on her phone, dress and undress, and braid her hair.]] |
| 262 | * ''Literature/TheWorstWitch'': When Mildred is turned into a frog in ''A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch'', she reflects that being able to jump like a frog is the only pleasant aspect of her condition. |
| 263 | * In Diane Duane's ''Literature/YoungWizards'' series, the protagonists are given access to the source code of the universe and are often seen using it for such frivolous things as teleporting around to save money on the train fare, finding a lost pen, and co-locating the inside of a fridge with someone else's when they want a snack. That said, what is and isn’t frivolous here can be a bit of a grey area. Convincing a stubborn patch of crabgrass to move preserves its life, which fulfills the main purpose of wizardry while providing a shortcut in yard work[[spoiler:, and that lost pen is eventually used to give [[{{Satan}} the Lone One]] a chance at redemption]]. |
| 264 | [[/folder]] |
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