Follow TV Tropes

Following

History DistressedDude / Literature

Go To

OR

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* Early in ''Literature/TheWormOuroboros'', Lord Goldry Bluszco of [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Demonland]] is spirited away by the magic of EvilOverlord Gorice XII as payback for killing Gorice's father/[[ResurrectiveImmortality previous incarnation]] in a fair wrestling match, and the bulk of the plot focuses on Goldry's kinsmen trying to locate and rescue him.

Added: 639

Changed: 252

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'': Lando is captured by Boba Fett when he's come to capture Bria. The ship they're on is then attacked by pirates, with their leader being Lando's ex-girlfriend. Thankfully, she's into Lando enough that Fett is paid the bounty on Bria and he lets them go.

to:

* ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'': ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'':
** Han is gravely endangered by a very angry female Barabel who accused him of cheating when he gets his blaster jammed in its holster, before Chewie saves him.
** Han later gets injected with a mind control drug by Boba Fett to capture him, marching helplessly toward his ship until Lando intervenes. He stops Fett, [[HoistByHisOwnPetard with the same drug]] and frees Han.
**
Lando is captured by Boba Fett when he's come to capture Bria. The ship they're on is then soon attacked by pirates, with their leader being Lando's ex-girlfriend. Thankfully, she's into Lando enough that Fett is paid the bounty price on Bria and he lets them go.go.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'': Lando is captured by Boba Fett when he's come to capture Bria. The ship they're on is then attacked by pirates, with their leader being Lando's ex-girlfriend. Thankfully, she's into Lando enough that Fett is paid the bounty on Bria and he lets them go.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.

to:

%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!


Added DiffLines:

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
fix


* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRingsReturnOfTheKing'', Samwise Gamgee risks his life to save his best friend Frodo Baggins from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, where the latter has been imprisoned, stripped naked, interrogated, and whipped by Orcs seeking to procure the One Ring for Sauron.

to:

* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRingsReturnOfTheKing'', ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'': ''Return Of The King'', Samwise Gamgee risks his life to save his best friend Frodo Baggins from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, where the latter has been imprisoned, stripped naked, interrogated, and whipped by Orcs seeking to procure the One Ring for Sauron.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Literature/MrsSmithsSpySchoolForGirlsPowerPlay'': Drexel Caine, Toby's dad, gets kidnapped near the beginning of the book by the book's BigBad, Menace. He promises Drexel's safety in exchange for Toby playing a game of Monster Mayhem.

Added: 59

Removed: 74

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


%%* David Rain from [[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]].


Added DiffLines:

%%* David Rain from ''Literature/TheLastDragonChronicles''.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Addition of literary example of trope

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/ALegacyOfLight'': ''Literature/TheThingsWeCanChange'', after returning from battle badly wounded, Tutankhamun spends the majority of the book confined to bed.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/TheArtsOfDarkAndLight'', protagonist Marcus suffers this fate when he ends up taken hostage by a renegade [[AntiMagicalFaction Michaeline]] monk. While he keeps talking, his LoveInterest Caitlys saves him with a spell.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
formatting


* In ''Literature/Ivanhoe," the title character, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, spends over half the novel recuperating in bed after being wounded in a tournament. Under the care of Rebecca of York, he steadily improves, but when the castle of Torquilstone is besieged, is still too weak to leave his bed, and must be literally carried to safety by The Black Knight/King Richard.

to:

* In ''Literature/Ivanhoe," ''Literature/{{Ivanhoe}}," the title character, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, spends over half the novel recuperating in bed after being wounded in a tournament. Under the care of Rebecca of York, he steadily improves, but when the castle of Torquilstone is besieged, is still too weak to leave his bed, and must be literally carried to safety by The Black Knight/King Richard.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
added example of appearance in fiction

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/Ivanhoe," the title character, Wilfred of Ivanhoe, spends over half the novel recuperating in bed after being wounded in a tournament. Under the care of Rebecca of York, he steadily improves, but when the castle of Torquilstone is besieged, is still too weak to leave his bed, and must be literally carried to safety by The Black Knight/King Richard.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Additions

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRingsReturnOfTheKing'', Samwise Gamgee risks his life to save his best friend Frodo Baggins from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, where the latter has been imprisoned, stripped naked, interrogated, and whipped by Orcs seeking to procure the One Ring for Sauron.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In the ''Literature/TommyAndTuppence'' series by Agatha Christie, Tommy Beresford, Tuppence's husband and fellow detective, almost invariably finds himself captured, bound and gagged by the villains.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** In ''Discworld/TheLightFantastic'' we get a conventional scene of the BarbarianHero rescuing a VirginSacrifice. And then, because it's badass Cohen, his back gives out and the sacrifice has to take ''him'' to safety.
** Verence in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'' and Roland in ''Discworld/TheWeeFreeMen'' are both captured by the Queen of TheFairFolk and rescued by the heroines. With as many ''Literature/TamLin'' references as seems appropriate.

to:

** In ''Discworld/TheLightFantastic'' ''Literature/TheLightFantastic'' we get a conventional scene of the BarbarianHero rescuing a VirginSacrifice. And then, because it's badass Cohen, his back gives out and the sacrifice has to take ''him'' to safety.
** Verence in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'' ''Literature/LordsAndLadies'' and Roland in ''Discworld/TheWeeFreeMen'' ''Literature/TheWeeFreeMen'' are both captured by the Queen of TheFairFolk and rescued by the heroines. With as many ''Literature/TamLin'' references as seems appropriate.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* Jace in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''. A recurring plot in almost every book is Jace being held in some form of captivity. This despite the fact that he is one of the most skilled [[DemonSlayer Shadowhunters]] of his generation. Most of it is that he is a bit of a DeathSeeker, and a large amount of effort on the part of his family and friends goes into getting him out of whatever trouble he has gotten into. In ''City of Bones'' his best friend [[BeleagueredAssistant Alec]] had initially never slain a demon, primarily because his main focus was on keeping Jace alive instead.

to:

* Jace in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''. A recurring plot in almost every book is Jace being held in some form of captivity. This despite the fact that he is one of the most skilled [[DemonSlayer [[DemonSlaying Shadowhunters]] of his generation. Most of it is that he is a bit of a DeathSeeker, and a large amount of effort on the part of his family and friends goes into getting him out of whatever trouble he has gotten into. In ''City of Bones'' his best friend [[BeleagueredAssistant Alec]] had initially never slain a demon, primarily because his main focus was on keeping Jace alive instead.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Cross-wicking from City Of Bones 1995

Added DiffLines:

* ''Literature/{{City of Bones|1995}}'' by Creator/MarthaWells: Khat can usually handle himself well as a CombatPragmatist, but when he's faced with groups of Trade Inspectors or Wardens, he needs [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveConnections better-connected]] or [[ScrewTheRulesIHaveSupernaturalPowers more magically powerful]] people in the supporting cast to save his neck.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/MrStandfast'', Hannay can generally take care of himself, but at one point he gets lured into the villain's clutches and placed in a DeathTrap.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


* In the ''{{Tarzan}}'' books, William Cecil Clayton gets lost in the jungle and has to be saved by Tarzan from lions. He also gets shipwrecked and has to be saved by the other sailors from being cannibalized.

to:

* In the ''{{Tarzan}}'' books, ''Literature/{{Tarzan}}'': William Cecil Clayton gets lost in the jungle and has to be saved by Tarzan from lions. He also gets shipwrecked and has to be saved by the other sailors from being cannibalized.

Added: 1515

Changed: 556

Removed: 1489

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In ''Literature/AlexAndTheIronicGentleman'', Mr. Underwood, a fully grown man, is captured by pirates and is actually present for less than half of the book for this reason.



* Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip:
** In ''Literature/TheBookOfAtrixWolfe'', Tanis is trapped in the LostWoods. Where a woman reveals [[spoiler:that the ominous Hunter is her consort, trapped in a dire spell]].
** In ''Literature/TheRiddleMasterTrilogy'', when Morgon disappears, both his sister (who is ''far'' too young) and Raederle, the second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An, set out on a quest to find and rescue him.
** In ''Literature/TheForgottenBeastsOfEld'', Sybel has to rescue Coren from her own beasts more than once.
* Creator/AndreNorton:
** In ''Literature/IceCrown'', Nelis Imfry is arrested for crimes while the crown mind-controls the new queen.
** In ''Literature/{{Catseye|1961}}'', Troy is captured by Zul and brought to the head of the spying ring to be persuaded to help.
** In ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Shann has to break Thorvald out of the dream the Wyverns hold him in. Later, he is captured by the Throgs. When he defies them by warning off the incoming ship, albeit cryptically, they take him to be tortured to death.
** In ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere'', the Wyverns attack Shann and imprison him in his own mind; Charis has to break him free. Later, he's captured by Company men, and retreats back there to escape questioning. Charis, posing as a DamselInDistress, manages to pull him back.

----

* In ''Literature/AlexAndTheIronicGentleman'', Mr. Underwood, a fully grown man, is captured by pirates and is actually present for less than half of the book for this reason.



%%** In "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver," Balthus.

to:

%%** In "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver," "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver", Balthus.



* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden seems to end up manacled, bound, or otherwise restrained once a book at least. Other examples include Shiro (''Literature/DeathMasks''), Thomas Raith (''Literature/BloodRites'' and ''Literature/TurnCoat''), and John Marcone (''Literature/WhiteNight'').

to:

* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden seems to end up manacled, bound, or otherwise restrained once a book at least. Other examples include Shiro (''Literature/DeathMasks''), Thomas Raith (''Literature/BloodRites'' and ''Literature/TurnCoat''), and John Marcone (''Literature/WhiteNight'').(''Literature/FoolMoon'' and ''Literature/WhiteNight'').



* In Regina Doman's ''[[Literature/FairyTaleNovels Fairy Tale Novels]]'', every male hero gets tied up and humiliated at least once.

to:

* In Regina Doman's ''[[Literature/FairyTaleNovels Fairy Tale Novels]]'', ''Literature/FairyTaleNovels'', every male hero gets tied up and humiliated at least once.



* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'':

to:

* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs' ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'':



* Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip:
** In ''Literature/TheBookOfAtrixWolfe'', Tanis is trapped in the LostWoods. Where a woman reveals [[spoiler:that the ominous Hunter is her consort, trapped in a dire spell]].
** In ''Literature/TheRiddleMasterTrilogy'', when Morgon disappears, both his sister (who is ''far'' too young) and Raederle, the second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An, set out on a quest to find and rescue him.
** In ''Literature/TheForgottenBeastsOfEld'', Sybel has to rescue Coren from her own beasts more than once.



* Creator/AndreNorton:
** In ''Literature/IceCrown'', Nelis Imfry is arrested for crimes while the crown mind-controls the new queen.
** In ''Literature/{{Catseye|1961}}'', Troy is captured by Zul and brought to the head of the spying ring to be persuaded to help.
** In ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Shann has to break Thorvald out of the dream the Wyverns hold him in. Later, he is captured by the Throgs. When he defies them by warning off the incoming ship, albeit cryptically, they take him to be tortured to death.
** In ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere'', the Wyverns attack Shann and imprison him in his own mind; Charis has to break him free. Later, he's captured by Company men, and retreats back there to escape questioning. Charis, posing as a DamselInDistress, manages to pull him back.

to:

* Creator/AndreNorton:
**
''Literature/TheParasolProtectorate'': In ''Literature/IceCrown'', Nelis Imfry book 3, ''Blameless'', this is arrested for crimes while the crown mind-controls the new queen.
** In ''Literature/{{Catseye|1961}}'', Troy is captured by Zul and brought
used to the head of the spying ring to be persuaded to help.
** In ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Shann has to break Thorvald
get someone out of the dream way. [[spoiler:Biffy, Lord Akeldama's favourite drone, is kidnapped on the Wyverns hold potentate's orders and held in an underwater prison in the Thames so his master is preoccupied looking for him in. Later, he is captured by and can't help Alexia, who the Throgs. When he defies them by warning off vampires want dead because of the incoming ship, albeit cryptically, they take him to be tortured to death.
** In ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere'',
kind of being she's pregnant with. And during the Wyverns attack Shann and imprison him in his own mind; Charis has to break him free. Later, he's captured by Company men, and retreats back there to escape questioning. Charis, posing as rescue, Biffy is fatally shot, necessitating an EmergencyTransformation… into a DamselInDistress, manages to pull him back.[[FurAgainstFang werewolf]].]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', [[spoiler:Merik]] spends most of the third book trapped by TheDragon who wants to turn him into his puppet.

to:

* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', [[spoiler:Merik]] spends most of the third book trapped by TheDragon who wants to turn him into his her puppet.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* In ''Literature/TheWitchlands'', [[spoiler:Merik]] spends most of the third book trapped by TheDragon who wants to turn him into his puppet.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:

Added DiffLines:

* In ''Literature/TheWellOfMoments'', Jasmine has to rescue [[spoiler:Seth Gable, who is now her boyfriend and was [[HostageForMacGuffin taken hostage]] for that reason]].

Added: 1271

Changed: 280

Removed: 980

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In ''Literature/TheBarbarianAndTheSorceress'', BarbarianHero Rom is taken captive by an EvilSorcerer and finds himself chained to a stone slab, about to become a HumanSacrifice to an EldritchAbomination.



* Creator/RobertEHoward's ''Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian'':
** In "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn", Conan is crucified. He even needs someone to get him down.
** In "Literature/ShadowsInTheMoonlight", Olivia rescues Conan from {{pirate}}s.
** In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Zenobia rescues Conan from the EvilSorcerer.
** In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel", Conan is captured by another EvilSorcerer and his ally, who want to usurp Conan's kingdom. He manages an escape due to a slave of the EvilSorcerer taunting him with the keys and trying to kill him in revenge for his pirate days before being killed by the EvilSorcerer's big-ass snake. Conan then proceeds to free the sorcerer's rival from a ManEatingPlant and join forces to escape.
%%** In "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver," Balthus.



* A recurring trope in the Literature/{{Deryni}} books:

to:

* A recurring trope in the Literature/{{Deryni}} ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'' books:



* Creator/JohnCWright's ''Literature/TheGoldenOecumene'': In ''The Phoenix Exultant'', Daphne Tercius goes into exile herself to bring Phaethon what he needs to escape exile. Later, when faced with a problem, he asks her what to do: she came to rescue him, and he needs rescue.



* Creator/RobertEHoward:
** In "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn", Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian is crucified. He even needs someone to get him down.
** In "Literature/ShadowsInTheMoonlight", Olivia rescues Conan from {{pirate}}s.
** In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Zenobia rescues Conan from the EvilSorcerer.
** In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel", Conan is captured by another EvilSorcerer and his ally, who want to usurp Conan's kingdom. He manages an escape due to a slave of the EvilSorcerer taunting him with the keys and trying to kill him in revenge for his pirate days before being killed by the EvilSorcerer's big-ass snake. Conan then proceeds to free the sorcerer's rival from a ManEatingPlant and join forces to escape.
** In "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver," Balthus.



* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Phoenix Exultant]]'', Daphne Tercius goes into exile herself to bring Phaethon what he needs to escape exile. Later, when faced with a problem, he asks her what to do: she came to rescue him, and he needs rescue.
* In ''Literature/TheBarbarianAndTheSorceress'', BarbarianHero Rom is taken captive by an EvilSorcerer and finds himself chained to a stone slab, about to become a HumanSacrifice to an EldritchAbomination.

to:

* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Phoenix Exultant]]'', Daphne Tercius goes into exile herself to bring Phaethon what he needs to escape exile. Later, when faced with a problem, he asks her what to do: she came to rescue him, and he needs rescue.
* In ''Literature/TheBarbarianAndTheSorceress'', BarbarianHero Rom is taken captive by an EvilSorcerer and finds himself chained to a stone slab, about to become a HumanSacrifice to an EldritchAbomination.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None



to:

* In ''Literature/TheBarbarianAndTheSorceress'', BarbarianHero Rom is taken captive by an EvilSorcerer and finds himself chained to a stone slab, about to become a HumanSacrifice to an EldritchAbomination.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:


** In ''Discworld/TheLightFantastic'' we get a conventional scene of the BarbarianHero rescuing a VirginSacrifice. And then, because it's BadassGrandpa Cohen, his back gives out and the sacrifice has to take ''him'' to safety.

to:

** In ''Discworld/TheLightFantastic'' we get a conventional scene of the BarbarianHero rescuing a VirginSacrifice. And then, because it's BadassGrandpa badass Cohen, his back gives out and the sacrifice has to take ''him'' to safety.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

* ''Literature/{{Earthsea}}'': In ''Literature/TheTombsOfAtuan'', Ged gets locked in the titular tombs by Tenar and very nearly dies before he convinces her to help him.


Added DiffLines:

* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'': Sanzang, the only human of the group, often finds himself kidnapped by the newly introduced BigBad of each chapter.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** Later in ''The Quest'', NIgel is attacked by [[spoiler: his son Conall]] and is left in a psychic lock (a magic-induced coma state0 for a fortnight until Morgan, Duncam and Dhugsl learn what to look for and how to fix it.

to:

** Later in ''The Quest'', NIgel Nigel is attacked by [[spoiler: his son Conall]] and is left in a psychic lock (a magic-induced coma state0 state) for a fortnight until Morgan, Duncam and Dhugsl learn what to look for and how to fix it.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

%%%
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order.
%%
%%%

Added: 18519

Changed: 552

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* In ''Literature/AlexAndTheIronicGentleman'', Mr. Underwood, a fully grown man, is captured by pirates and is actually present for less than half of the book for this reason.
* Creator/PoulAnderson:
** In ''Literature/AMidsummerTempest'', Prince Rupert is captured in the opening scene.
** In the ''Literature/TimePatrol'' series:
*** "Brave To Be A King": Finding where Denison is in time and extricating him.
*** "Delenda Est": they deduce the deaths of the Scipios in battle caused the AlternateHistory and go to rescue them.
* All men in ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' are {{Non Action Guy}}s, while women [[WorldOfActionGirls fight]] and [[{{Matriarchy}} rule]]. When Jerin Whistler is kidnapped, he's not utterly helpless but his efforts are far more along the lines of a SpiritedYoungLady's contributions than those of a BadassInDistress. ''That'' role fell to Cira.
%%* Creator/CSLewis' ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'':
%%** Prince Rilian in ''Literature/TheSilverChair''.
%%** Edmund in ''Literature/TheLionTheWitchAndTheWardrobe'', between Jadis revealing her true colors and his rescue by Aslan's troupe.
%%* In Creator/SarahAHoyt's ''Literature/DarkshipThieves'', Kit, after his HeroicSacrifice, is taken prisoner.
* A recurring trope in the Literature/{{Deryni}} books:
** After the young Barrett de Laney surrenders himself in exchange for twenty-three Deryni children, he's rescued by another Deryni (one of the teachers at a forbidden Deryni ''scola'') who dies of arrow wounds he sustained in the rescue. The short story "Bethane" gives one version of these events, and Barrett himself recounts the story to Jehana in ''King Kelson's Bride''.
** In ''In the King's Service'', rebellious Mearans try to assassinate Prince Richard Haldane, the King Donal's younger half-brother. The plot is unsuccessful, but Earl Keryell is slain and his eldest son and heir, Lord Ahern de Corwyn, is seriously wounded in the attack. Three years later (but also in the same book), assassins strike at King Donal directly, and Sir Kenneth Morgan (future father of Duke Alaric Morgan) is wounded defending him.
** Late in ''Childe Morgan'', a young King Brion Haldane is the target of an assassination plot led by rogue Deryni Zachris Pomeroy (a friend and foster brother to the Festillic Pretender Hogan Furstán-Festil mac Tadhg a.k.a. "the Marluk"). Pomeroy and his minions are defeated and killed by the combined efforts of Sir Kenneth Morgan, Master Jamyl Arilan (a squire to Brion and elder brother of future bishop Denis Arilan), Lord Rhydon of Eastmarch (who is wounded in the face), and Sir Sé Trelawney.
** Alaric Morgan is abducted by Warin de Grey's men and has to be rescued by Duncan [=McLain=] in ''Deryni Checkmate''.
** Derry is retrieved from Wencit during a tense parley in ''High Deryni'' (though Wencit seems to have permitted this knowing [[BrainwashedAndCrazy he had control of Derry's mind]].
** Dhugal is taken captive by allies of the Mearan Pretender (who happens to be his [[spoiler: great aunt]] by marriage); he contrives his own escape and takes the Pretender's daughter Sidana hostage, and one her brothers is taken by Kelson's forces while he's riding to the rescue.
** Nigel (and possibly young Liam as well) is the target of Torenthi assassins in ''The King's Justice''. He gets warnings from a couple of sources (one of them Jehana), and is able to fight off the assassins with the help of Conall and the Haldane household archers.
** Duncan is rescued from Loris' clutches by Kelson, Morgan, Dhugal and their army in ''The King's Justice''.
** Dhugal keeps Kelson alive after they both get caught in a landslide and are washed over a waterfall (Kelson has a head injury) in ''The Quest for Saint Camber''. In the same mudslide, Conall is saved from going over the side by his maternal uncle Saer de Traherne.
** Later in ''The Quest'', NIgel is attacked by [[spoiler: his son Conall]] and is left in a psychic lock (a magic-induced coma state0 for a fortnight until Morgan, Duncam and Dhugsl learn what to look for and how to fix it.
** Kelson and Liam are attacked by assassins disguised as servants en route to the Hort of Orsal's palace in ''King Kelson's Bride''. First, Morgan's stepson Brendan Coris tackles one of the assassins, giving them some breathing space, then Morgan saves Liam from falling off a nearby precipice.
** Later in ''King Kelson's Bride'', Liam is attacked by Mahael and Braynyng during a vulnerable moment in his ''killijálay'', whereupon Mátyás and Kelson attack them, giving Liam enough time to finish the ritual and assume the power of Furstán.
* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
** In ''Discworld/TheLightFantastic'' we get a conventional scene of the BarbarianHero rescuing a VirginSacrifice. And then, because it's BadassGrandpa Cohen, his back gives out and the sacrifice has to take ''him'' to safety.
** Verence in ''Discworld/LordsAndLadies'' and Roland in ''Discworld/TheWeeFreeMen'' are both captured by the Queen of TheFairFolk and rescued by the heroines. With as many ''Literature/TamLin'' references as seems appropriate.



%%* David Rain from [[Literature/{{Dragons}} The Last Dragon Chronicles]].
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Harry Dresden seems to end up manacled, bound, or otherwise restrained once a book at least. Other examples include Shiro (''Literature/DeathMasks''), Thomas Raith (''Literature/BloodRites'' and ''Literature/TurnCoat''), and John Marcone (''Literature/WhiteNight'').
* In Creator/WenSpencer's ''Endless Blue'', Paige finds Turk bound by spider web on the civ raft. He pleads with her to [[ICanNotSelfTerminate kill him]] if she can't free him; she has to leave him for a time in hopes of getting what she's after, [[DespairEventHorizon plunging him in despair]], but returns to rescue him.
* In Regina Doman's ''[[Literature/FairyTaleNovels Fairy Tale Novels]]'', every male hero gets tied up and humiliated at least once.



* In almost every single adventure, at least one of ''Literature/TheHardyBoys'' (including their friends and father) would wind up captured, bound and gagged, and need rescuing. The original author, who reportedly hated writing "juvenile fiction", may have been putting this in on purpose, as a dig at his editors. Whatever works. Many, ''many'' bondage fans grew up reading those books.
* ''Franchise/HarryPotter''
** [[spoiler:Sirius Black]] ultimately becomes this in the climax of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban''. He was unjustly arrested by the Ministry of Magic and is set to undergo the capital punishment, called the Dementor's Kiss, which amounts to having his soul sucked out by the eponymous {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. It is up to Harry and Hermione to save him from this fate.
** Near the end of ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheOrderOfThePhoenix'', Harry receives a vision that [[spoiler:his godfather, Sirius]] is being held captive by Voldemort at the ministry. [[spoiler:This time, the trope is subverted, as it was a vision fabricated by Voldemort to lure Harry to the ministry. Sirius wasn't there at all.]]
** Harry and Ron (along with [[DamselInDistress Hermione]]) become this themselves halfway through ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheDeathlyHallows'' when they are apprehended by Snatchers.
* ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'':
** ''The Lost Hero'': Percy Jackson has disappeared, and no one knows where he is. [[spoiler:At the end of the book, Hera reveals she sent him to the Romans.]]
** ''The Son of Neptune'': At the end, it's revealed that Nico di Angelo has been captured. He's rescued in the next book.
** ''The Mark of Athena'': At the end, [[spoiler:Percy and Annabeth fall into '''Tartarus'''.]]
* Creator/RobertEHoward:
** In "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn", Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian is crucified. He even needs someone to get him down.
** In "Literature/ShadowsInTheMoonlight", Olivia rescues Conan from {{pirate}}s.
** In ''Literature/TheHourOfTheDragon'', Zenobia rescues Conan from the EvilSorcerer.
** In "Literature/TheScarletCitadel", Conan is captured by another EvilSorcerer and his ally, who want to usurp Conan's kingdom. He manages an escape due to a slave of the EvilSorcerer taunting him with the keys and trying to kill him in revenge for his pirate days before being killed by the EvilSorcerer's big-ass snake. Conan then proceeds to free the sorcerer's rival from a ManEatingPlant and join forces to escape.
** In "Literature/BeyondTheBlackRiver," Balthus.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': ''Mockingjay'' has [[spoiler:Peeta Mellark]].
* Creator/IanFleming's ''Literature/{{Moonraker}}'' has Literature/JamesBond and Gala Brand (not Holly Goodhead) tied up at a missile silo to be left and fried at (London-bound) takeoff. Bond gets villain Hugo Drax distracted by dredging up ugly memories of Drax's sorry past (and getting himself thrashed brutally), to where Drax leaves them with a running blowtorch available to undo their bonds.
* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'':
** In ''A Princess of Mars'', John Carter is captive to Green Martians twice, once on his arrival, and once after he enabled Dejah Thoris's escape with YouShallNotPass.
** In ''The Gods of Mars'', John Carter and Tars Tarkas are trapped in a MobileMaze with banths that could kill them; Thuvia saves them. Later, John Carter and his (male) companions must escape captivity among the black pirates. Later still, John Carter must rescue Tars Tarkas from the Warhoon.
** In ''Thuvia, Maid of Mars'', Carthoris and Kar Komak are captured first by green men and then by great apes.
** In ''The Chessman of Mars'', Turan is captured by the city of Matador. Tara tries to shield him by denying knowledge of him.
--->''"You did not guess," she asked, "that it was my lips alone and not my heart that denied you? O-Tar had ordered that I die, more because I was a companion of Ghek than because of any evidence against me, and so I knew that if I acknowledged you as one of us, you would be slain, too."\\
"It was to save me, then?" he cried, his face suddenly lighting.\\
"It was to save my brave panthan," she said in a low voice.''
** In ''The Master Mind of Mars'', Ulysses Paxton rescues some men from FauxDeath, and they all escape the MadScientist. Later, one of them is captured in the city where he had been betrayed and threatened with HumanSacrifice; Ulysses rescues him.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Siron was one of the Black Cloak's captives in ''[[Literature/AMagesPower A Mage's Power]]'', and to add insult to injury, it was while attempting to rescue Kasile. [[DamselOutOfDistress She escaped on her own]]; he didn't. Someone in the official rescue party needles him about it afterward.
* In the first ''Literature/KingdomKeepers'' book, there's a subplot about [[TheLancer Maybeck]] getting kidnapped and needing to be rescued.
* Michael in the ''Literature/KnightAndRogueSeries''. Even though he's the stronger of the two main characters, he's also the one with almost no sense of self presvation or legal rights.
%%* In Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/LordOfLight'', the opening chapter depicts rescuing Sam's mind.
* Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip:
** In ''Literature/TheBookOfAtrixWolfe'', Tanis is trapped in the LostWoods. Where a woman reveals [[spoiler:that the ominous Hunter is her consort, trapped in a dire spell]].
** In ''Literature/TheRiddleMasterTrilogy'', when Morgon disappears, both his sister (who is ''far'' too young) and Raederle, the second most beautiful woman in the three portions of An, set out on a quest to find and rescue him.
** In ''Literature/TheForgottenBeastsOfEld'', Sybel has to rescue Coren from her own beasts more than once.
* In the climatic scene of Stieg Larsson's ''The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'', first part of ''Literature/TheMillenniumTrilogy'', the male protagonist Mikael Blomquist is captured by a mass murderer, locked in an underground torture room, chained, stripped naked, humiliated and explicitly threatened with rape, when his female partner, the ActionGirl Lisbeth Salander, comes in to save him, chase and destroy the villain.
* In Teresa Frohock's ''Literature/MiserereAnAutumnTale'', Lucian is a captive at the opening. Father Matthew has to give him a way to escape and rouse him from despondency to get him to take it.
* Jace in ''Literature/TheMortalInstruments''. A recurring plot in almost every book is Jace being held in some form of captivity. This despite the fact that he is one of the most skilled [[DemonSlayer Shadowhunters]] of his generation. Most of it is that he is a bit of a DeathSeeker, and a large amount of effort on the part of his family and friends goes into getting him out of whatever trouble he has gotten into. In ''City of Bones'' his best friend [[BeleagueredAssistant Alec]] had initially never slain a demon, primarily because his main focus was on keeping Jace alive instead.
* In one of the less known fragments of ''Literature/LeMorteDarthur'', Elaine of Astolat practically saves Lancelot's life by finding him and healing his injuries.
* In ''Literature/{{Murderess}}'', this happens to [[spoiler:Hallwad]] after he [[spoiler:takes on the Dark Ones [[BigBrotherInstinct torturing his sister]]]].
* Literature/NancyDrew's boyfriend, Ned Nickerson, gets kidnapped a lot. Nancy and Ned took turns getting kidnapped and coming to the other one's rescue.
%%* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': [[spoiler: Tristan ends up a captive at the Resistance.]]
* Creator/AndreNorton:
** In ''Literature/IceCrown'', Nelis Imfry is arrested for crimes while the crown mind-controls the new queen.
** In ''Literature/{{Catseye|1961}}'', Troy is captured by Zul and brought to the head of the spying ring to be persuaded to help.
** In ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Shann has to break Thorvald out of the dream the Wyverns hold him in. Later, he is captured by the Throgs. When he defies them by warning off the incoming ship, albeit cryptically, they take him to be tortured to death.
** In ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere'', the Wyverns attack Shann and imprison him in his own mind; Charis has to break him free. Later, he's captured by Company men, and retreats back there to escape questioning. Charis, posing as a DamselInDistress, manages to pull him back.
* Arguably, Raoul in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', both the novel and Creator/AndrewLloydWebber musical. The entire purpose of his character seems to be to get caught by the Phantom, who then offers the female lead a ScarpiaUltimatum for his life.
* In Creator/GeorgeMacDonald's ''Literature/ThePrincessAndTheGoblin'', Irene uses a magic thread given her by her great-great-grandmother to rescue Curdie when the goblins have him trapped in the mines.



%%* Lee in the ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'' trilogy. He rapidly becomes sick of that.

to:

%%* * In ''Literature/TheRedVixenAdventures'', Rolas starts out as the captive of the titular SpacePirate, spending most of first half of the story either in a cell on her ship, or led around with an electronic leash and a ShockCollar.
* Ruggiero, a heroic knight in many medieval French {{Chivalric Romance}}s, was once held prisoner by a wizard until rescued by his future wife, the knight Bradamante.
* ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'': In ''Physik'', Septimus is abducted 500 years into the past and forced to work as Marcellus Pye's apprentice.
* Poor Harry Vincent is constantly a victim of this in ''Literature/TheShadow'' pulp novels. In the first story alone, he has to be rescued by the Shadow no less than three times.
* In Creator/GeorgeEliot's essay "Literature/SillyNovelsByLadyNovelists", she complains of a work supposed to be instructive because "the hero is a Jewish captive".
* Lúthien saves Beren in ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'' and in Tolkien's other tellings of the story. Another example is the story of Elwing and her husband Eärendil. There's also Maedhros, who spent a few decades ChainedToARock before being [[LifeOrLimbDecision rescued]] by his [[HoYay friend]] Fingon.
*
Lee in the ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'' trilogy. He rapidly becomes sick trilogy by Creator/TanyaHuff. In this case, he's Tony's Mary Jane. Lee gets ''very'' tired of that.being the damsel by book 3. Also in the fourth book of the ''Literature/BloodBooks'', Henry, the vampire is captured and held prisoner by mad scientists and it is up to Vicky and Mike to rescue him. In the fifth book it is Mike who is captured and bound, but since he is rescued by two vampires, I do not know if that would count.



* Wen Spencer's ''Literature/{{Tinker}}'': The first book opens with Windwolf being chased by [[spoiler:Foo dogs]], who have separated him from his guards. Tinker is able to fight off his pursuers, but not before he's severely injured, and stuck in Pittsburgh on Shutdown Day, the one day of the month when the city is returned to Earth. Thus, for the rest of the day Tinker's focus is on keeping him alive until Startup.



* In Creator/RuthFrancesLong's ''Literature/TheTreacheryOfBeautifulThings'', Tom was captured by TheLostWoods. When it swallows his sister, too, she decides to rescue him. [[spoiler:Later, Jack needs her help, too.]]
* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':
** In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/BrothersOfTheSnake'', a Space Marine killed another and claimed that the dead one had been touched with Chaos. There being no evidence of this, he asks to be exposed to the sea serpents of their world: if they ate him, he would be proven innocent. However, evidence turns up of his innocence, first, and a squad of Marines come to save him, killing one of the great serpents.
*** Also, when a Marine vanishes on a town they are investigating for Chaos cults, they search for him, find him [[ColdBloodedTorture being]] [[HumanSacrifice sacrificed to the daemon]], and rescue him.
** In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel ''First & Only'', the Ghosts' {{Revenge}} raid on the Jantine Patricians is partly to see if they can find Rawne alive. They do, and he is being [[ColdBloodedTorture tortured]], so the raid quickly turns to a rescue. [[spoiler:Similarly, at the end of ''Only In Death'', Mkoll and Eszarah rescue Gaunt as soon as they find him alive.]]




to:

* Rand in ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'' got kidnapped and stuffed doubled into a box for a week. He got rescued by his [[BigDamnHeroes friends and allies]] only after a big chase and probably the series' bloodiest and goriest battle ever. The captivity was one of the major catalysts of his descent into madness.
* The demon in ''Literature/WhenDemonsWalk'' distresses a DisabledBadass nobleman, who then has to be rescued by his mistress.
* In Creator/EDBaker's ''Literature/TheWideAwakePrincess'', Liam is enchanted by a kelpie, which gets him on its back and goes to drown him. Only Annie's AntiMagic saves him.
* In the second last chapter of ''Literature/WinnieThePooh'', Piglet is [[IdiosyncraticEpisodeNaming Entirely Surrounded by Water]] and has to be rescued by Pooh and Christopher Robin.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Phoenix Exultant]]'', Daphne Tercius goes into exile herself to bring Phaethon what he needs to escape exile. Later, when faced with a problem, he asks her what to do: she came to rescue him, and he needs rescue.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

{{Distressed Dude}}s in literature.
----

* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Ward is imprisoned and tortured by the bad guys and has to be rescued by a friend.
* In ''Literature/TheGoblinEmperor'', Maia is [[spoiler:kidnapped by conspirators who want to force him to abdicate]]. Although he is a NonActionGuy, he is able to [[spoiler:stall for time until the guards kick down the door.]]
* Creator/LJagiLamplighter's ''Literature/RachelGriffin'': In ''The Unexpected Enlightenment of Rachel Griffin'', a vision of three male students valiantly facing off against the villain and dying inspires a BigDamnHeroes charge. They are, in fact, unaware of their distress until told. [[spoiler:Gaius]] has a disconcerted moment before he collects himself enough to thank the rescuers.
* ''Literature/{{Ratburger}}'': Armitage, Zoe's rat, ends up in danger from the man who turns rats into burgers.
%%* Lee in the ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'' trilogy. He rapidly becomes sick of that.
%%* In Erin Bow's ''Sorrow's Knot'' there are two: Cricket and Orca.
* In the ''{{Tarzan}}'' books, William Cecil Clayton gets lost in the jungle and has to be saved by Tarzan from lions. He also gets shipwrecked and has to be saved by the other sailors from being cannibalized.
* In ''Literature/{{Transitions}}'' Tos'un Armgo, being a male from the violently misandrist drow society, is no stranger to being bound and manhandled. When Drizzt ties him to a tree to interrogate him, he doesn't even flinch when his arms are wrenched back, thinking on how he's already used to worse.
* Daniel spends the final battle in the last ''Literature/{{Watersong}}'' book trapped in a bathroom by [[{{Yandere}} Penn]], unable to help his friends. [[spoiler:It's not until ''after'' she and [[PsychoForHire Liv]] are defeated when he is freed]].

----

Top