This is discussion archived from a time before the current discussion method was installed.
from YKTTW .... Gus:YKTTW ... A person discovers their extraordinary power under extreme duress. The older Petrelli from Heroes discover he can fly during a car wreck. Gully Foyle of Bester's "The Stars My Destination" suddenly can "jaunt" (teleport) when he is marooned in space — and then really ticked off. The list of examples will be pretty long. Just having a little problem with a trope title...
BT The P: Pre Traumatic Superpower Discovery? Y'know, to play off Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Thomas The Rhymer: Hidden Talent, Inner Strength — there should be a phrase meaning this (but the best I thought of is What Doesnt Kill You or In The Face Of Adversity), or failing that a quote from some prominent example.
Ununnilium: This is an explicit thing in The DCU, where people with "metagenes" have them activate when they're in a life-threatening situation (mostly, to explain all the Freak Lab Accidents). I like What Doesnt Kill You.
Thomas The Rhymer: suggest also Unconscious Power. I forgot to add Harry Potter as an example. I think he discovers his magic first when he leaps onto a roof to avoid bullies, and causes a snake to slide through solid glass under similar stressful situations. Or something. I feel it's common/known in sci-fi/fantasy for innate psychic powers to activate under stress/extreme emotion.
Tabby: I'm one of those people who'd like to insist on calling it That Which Does Not Kill Me, but the shorter and less pretentious What Doesnt Kill Me is probably better.
Ununnilium: You or Me, either works.
Tabby: Wasn't specifically trying to campaign for 'me' over 'you' (unless you go for the longer title, in which case it sounds better); just mistyped it. Whatever works.
Gus: going with Die or Fly...
Ener Prime: Removed the entry for The Time Traveler's Wife, since it was wrong. Henry started time traveling before that, to revisit a museum.
Nurfle: I organized everything into media and folderized this puppy. Hope no one minds (newbie here).
