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* [[HasTwoMommies Has Two Daddies: Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].
to:
* [[HasTwoMommies Has Two Daddies: Daddies:]] Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].Cillian]]. [[WordOfGod Patrick Ness]] has stated in [[http://www.polarimagazine.com/interviews/crane-wife-patrick-ness/ interviews]] that Ben and Cillian were gay.
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We don't have a trope under that name. Neither musician nor fanfic apply.
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* MyParentsAreDead: Viola's parents [[spoiler: died in the crash that landed her in the swamp]]. And Todd, to a degree; his mom is dead, and Cillian [[spoiler: dies protecting the farm]]. [[DotingParent Ben]] is {{MIA}}, supposedly dead. Until the end of ''Monsters of Men''; [[spoiler: he's alive and a BerserkButton for the Mayor]].
to:
* MyParentsAreDead: Viola's parents [[spoiler: died in the crash that landed her in the swamp]]. And Todd, to a degree; his mom is dead, and Cillian [[spoiler: dies protecting the farm]]. [[DotingParent Ben]] is {{MIA}}, MIA, supposedly dead. Until the end of ''Monsters of Men''; [[spoiler: he's alive and a BerserkButton for the Mayor]].
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* HasTwoMommies: Inverted; Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].
** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in ''Monsters of Men''.
** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in ''Monsters of Men''.
to:
* HasTwoMommies: Inverted; [[HasTwoMommies Has Two Daddies: Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].
** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in ''Monsters of Men''.Cillian]].
** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in ''Monsters of Men''.
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* BaddieFlattery: Mayor Prentiss constantly praises Todd for being "humble" and "a good son" and all that. He calls Todd the "truer son" right before [[spoiler: he shoots Davy]].
to:
* BaddieFlattery: Mayor Prentiss constantly praises Todd for being "humble" and "a good son" and all that. He calls Todd the [[spoiler: "truer son" right before [[spoiler: he shoots Davy]].
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Changed line(s) 21,22 (click to see context) from:
** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too {{affabl|yEvil}}e.]]
*** Except for the way the final book actually ends, which has him [[spoiler: killing himself for Todd and the good of the world, having realized what a terrible person he is.]]
*** Except for the way the final book actually ends, which has him [[spoiler: killing himself for Todd and the good of the world, having realized what a terrible person he is.]]
to:
** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too {{affabl|yEvil}}e.]]
*** Except forthe way the final book actually ends, which has him [[spoiler: killing himself for Todd and the good of the world, having realized what a terrible person he is.]]
*** Except for
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** ''Snowscape'' answers this questions. [[spoiler: He does.]]
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** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in "Monsters of Men".
to:
** Is also implied in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship and eventually confirmed in "Monsters ''Monsters of Men".Men''.
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Expanding
Changed line(s) 115 (click to see context) from:
** Is also implied in ''Monsters of Men'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.
to:
** Is also implied in ''Monsters ''The Knife of Men'' Never Letting Go'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.relationship and eventually confirmed in "Monsters of Men".
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All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[UsefulNotes/ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
to:
All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[UsefulNotes/ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate Creator/LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
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Ben and Cilian are gay, and Ben lives to the end. Further, the Spackle are never even said to have two genders, so 1017 being \'canonically gay\' is a baffling premise.
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* BuryYourGays: There is one canonically gay character in the series: 1017. Guess what happened to his lover (his "one in particular")?
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All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
to:
All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[ArthurCClarkeAward [[UsefulNotes/ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
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* RiddleForTheAges: We never learn the full story of what happened to the women of Prentisstown--only snippets of {{Gendercide}} and accounts from [[UnreliableNarrator unreliable narrators]].
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* BuryYourGays: There is one canonically gay character in the series: 1017. Guess what happened to his lover (his "one in particular")?
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* [[spoiler: BittersweetEnding: The Mayor is dead, the convoy is landing, and peace has been reached with the Spackle. But most of Haven's been destroyed, thousands are dead, and Todd's in a coma.]]
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Changed line(s) 33 (click to see context) from:
* ArmchairMilitary: Mayor Prentiss for the first book and most of the second.
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* ArmchairMilitary: Mayor Prentiss for the first book and most of the second. [[spoiler: He gets out of the armchair in the third book because things are ''that bad''.]]
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* BeastOfBattle: The Spackle ride what are called [[WeaponizedAnimal "battlemore"]]. Which are rhinos.
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* BeastOfBattle: The Spackle ride what are called [[WeaponizedAnimal "battlemore"]]. "battlemores"]]. Which are basically alien rhinos.
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* BoomStick: The Spackle in the first war were unarmed. Not now, they're not. [[spoiler: They now have some sort of explosive sticks that they touch together. And they're mounted on elephant-type animals.]]
to:
* BoomStick: [[spoiler: The Spackle in the wielded simple, primitive weaponry when humanity first war were unarmed. Not now, they're not. [[spoiler: They now have some sort of explosive sticks fought them. These days, they've got rifles (described repeatedly as 'white sticks') that they touch together. And they're mounted on elephant-type animals.fire ''acid''.]]
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Todd is in a coma after being attacked by 1017 at the end of ''Monsters of Men''.]]
* EasilyConqueredWorld: The citizens of Haven are ridiculed for not putting up a fight when Mayor Prentiss and his army ride through. They simply surrendered.
* EasilyConqueredWorld: The citizens of Haven are ridiculed for not putting up a fight when Mayor Prentiss and his army ride through. They simply surrendered.
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* [[spoiler: OmnicidalManiac: In the end, the Mayor wants the world to be ''silent''.]]
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* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were the first ones to have the Noise.
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* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were evolved alongside the first ones Noise and use it to have the Noise.propagate their HiveMind.
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* TimeBomb: [[DrunkWithPower The Answer]]'s only form of offensive power.
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* TimeBomb: [[DrunkWithPower One of [[WellIntentionedExtremist The Answer]]'s only form forms of offensive power.
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* ThinkingOutLoud: Noise is unavoidable, [[spoiler: but you can suppress it like the Mayor is so good at doing]].
to:
* ThinkingOutLoud: Noise The omnipresent Noise, which is unavoidable, emitted by every living, non-plant thing on the plant, with the strange exception of human women, who emit silence instead. It can be suppressed though, either through medicine or mental discipline. And if you're sufficiently disciplined, [[spoiler: but you can suppress ''use'' it in all sorts of ways: attack people with it, control minds, even broadcast knowledge, like the Mayor is so good at doing]].ability to read.]]
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* AChatWithSatan: Happens when [[spoiler: the Mayor tells Todd that he has the capability to be as cruel as he is]].
* AGodAmI: In the scene in the waterfall church, Aaron comes out and says that he is a saint. However, we know that Aaron is, in fact, delusional and is DrunkWithPower.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Just why is he being chased? [[spoiler: To become a man there, you must kill someone. Todd is unable to kill anyone.]] The Mayor says in ''Monsters of Men'' that until a boy experiences war, he is still a child.
* AGodAmI: In the scene in the waterfall church, Aaron comes out and says that he is a saint. However, we know that Aaron is, in fact, delusional and is DrunkWithPower.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Just why is he being chased? [[spoiler: To become a man there, you must kill someone. Todd is unable to kill anyone.]] The Mayor says in ''Monsters of Men'' that until a boy experiences war, he is still a child.
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* ChastityCouple: Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: There is ''one'' kiss in the entire trilogy.]] Slightly justified by the fact that it's a book aimed at young adults and they're both about 14.
to:
* ChastityCouple: Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: There is ''one'' kiss in the entire trilogy.]] Slightly justified by the fact that it's a book aimed at young adults and they're both about 14. 14.
* AChatWithSatan: Happens when [[spoiler: the Mayor tells Todd that he has the capability to be as cruel as he is]].
* AChatWithSatan: Happens when [[spoiler: the Mayor tells Todd that he has the capability to be as cruel as he is]].
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* AGodAmI: In the scene in the waterfall church, Aaron comes out and says that he is a saint. However, we know that Aaron is, in fact, delusional and is DrunkWithPower.
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* ARealManIsAKiller: Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Just why is he being chased? [[spoiler: To become a man there, you must kill someone. Todd is unable to kill anyone.]] The Mayor says in ''Monsters of Men'' that until a boy experiences war, he is still a child.
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* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: [[spoiler:The Mayor, having gone completely insane from being able to hear EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, decides that he'd rather not have to hear anything anymore... but makes sure to set everything on fire and order his army to destroy what remains of the Answer and set ''what remains of his army'' up to be destroyed by the Spackle before he goes.]]
to:
* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: [[spoiler:The Mayor, having gone completely insane from being able to hear EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, decides that he'd rather not have to hear anything anymore... but makes sure to set everything on fire and order his army to destroy what remains of the Answer and set ''what remains of his army'' up to be destroyed by the Spackle before he goes.]] ]]
* TakeAMomentToCatchYourDeath: Frequently.
* TakeAMomentToCatchYourDeath: Frequently.
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* WhewThatWasBoom: Frequently.
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Removed \"I am the Noun\" pothole.
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''Chaos Walking'' is the collective term for Patrick Ness's books ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'', ''The Ask and the Answer'', and ''Monsters of Men''. It is a series set on a [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CrapsackWorld Earth-like planet called New World]], which human settlers from "Old World" colonised in the hope of starting a new life.
to:
''Chaos Walking'' is the collective term for Patrick Ness's books ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'', ''The Ask and the Answer'', and ''Monsters of Men''. It is a series set on a [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] {{dystopia}}n [[CrapsackWorld Earth-like planet called New World]], which human settlers from "Old World" colonised in the hope of starting a new life.
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* ActionGirl: Viola after {{Taking A Level In Badass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played With}} regarding Lee.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played With}} regarding Lee.
to:
* ActionGirl: Viola after {{Taking A [[TookALevelInBadass Taking a Level In Badass}}.
in Badass]].
* ActionSurvivor:{{Played With}} [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] regarding Lee.
* ActionSurvivor:
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** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too [[AffablyEvil affable.]]]]
to:
** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too [[AffablyEvil affable.]]]]{{affabl|yEvil}}e.]]
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* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments Of Awesome]].
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he cannot face losing her as he lost Manchee.]]]] Angharrad saves Viola when [[spoiler: a half-crazed 1017, bent on revenge, attacks her with a knife.]]
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he cannot face losing her as he lost Manchee.]]]] Angharrad saves Viola when [[spoiler: a half-crazed 1017, bent on revenge, attacks her with a knife.]]
to:
* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Crowning Moments Of of Awesome]].
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because[[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments he cannot face losing her as he lost Manchee.]]]] Manchee]]]]. Angharrad saves Viola when [[spoiler: a half-crazed 1017, bent on revenge, attacks her with a knife.]]knife]].
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because
* TheBarnum: Mayor Prentiss.
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** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from ''Monsters of Men'' brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
to:
** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from ''Monsters of Men'' brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big {{Big Bulky Bombs]], Bomb}}s, usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
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* BondVillainStupidity: Todd. I mean, [[spoiler: he has the Mayor tied up ''right there'']] and doesn't do a thing about it. Instead, he bargains with the guy!
to:
* BondVillainStupidity: Todd. I mean, he [[spoiler: he has the Mayor tied up ''right there'']] and there'' and]] doesn't do a thing about it. Instead, he bargains with the guy!
Changed line(s) 58 (click to see context) from:
** Todd also ends up [[spoiler: wearing a duplicate of the [[LikeFatherLikeSon Mayor's]] uniform]]. It's [[RuleOfSymbolism important.]]
to:
** Todd also ends up [[spoiler: wearing a duplicate of the [[LikeFatherLikeSon Mayor's]] uniform]]. It's [[RuleOfSymbolism important.]]important]].
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* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Viola stabs Aaron in the waterfall church,]] but only after Todd hits him a lot.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Viola stabs Aaron in the waterfall church,]] but only after Todd hits him a lot.
* TheDogBitesBack: Manchee, who [[spoiler: takes Aaron's nose off. He doesn't just bite it, he bites it o-f-f, bites it off!]]
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* EnemyMine: The Mayor's forces and the Answer join together [[spoiler: to promote peace among them and the Spackle.]] Too bad it doesn't go well.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: ''Monsters of Men''.]]
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: ''Monsters of Men''.]]
to:
* EnemyMine: The Mayor's forces and the Answer join together [[spoiler: to promote peace among them and the Spackle.]] Spackle]]. Too bad it doesn't go well.
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: ''Monsters ofMen''.]]Men'']].
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: ''Monsters of
* TheHerosBirthday: Though it doesn't start on his ''actual'' birthday, the catalyst for the series is Todd's approaching 13th birthday, at which time he'll be considered a man.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
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* IllKillYou: For a guy who can't stomach death very well, Todd sure does spend an awful lot of time threatening to kill someone or other. To be fair, he usually only threatens death (and slow, ''painful'' death at that) when someone threatens [[BerserkButton Viola.]]
to:
* IllKillYou: For a guy who can't stomach death very well, Todd sure does spend an awful lot of time threatening to kill someone or other. To be fair, he usually only threatens death (and slow, ''painful'' death at that) when someone threatens [[BerserkButton Viola.]]Viola]].
Changed line(s) 132 (click to see context) from:
* JerkAss: The Mayor, Mistress Coyle and Davy come to mind as well as Viola and Todd at times.
to:
* JerkAss: {{Jerkass}}: The Mayor, Mistress Coyle and Davy come to mind as well as Viola and Todd at times.
Changed line(s) 143 (click to see context) from:
* ManipulativeBastard: The Mayor [[IAmTheTrope is this trope]].
to:
* ManipulativeBastard: The Mayor [[IAmTheTrope is this trope]].trope.
Changed line(s) 147 (click to see context) from:
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This is Todd's reaction after he [[spoiler: kills a Spackle]] in the first book. Viola has a similar reaction after she [[spoiler: kills Aaron.]]
to:
* TheMutiny: First starts in New Elizabeth, [[spoiler: which is now Prentisstown]], when the women tried to escape. Happens again in New Prentisstown, but no one knows what to do. Except Todd, who [[spoiler: organizes a team to go after the Mayor]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This is Todd's reaction after he [[spoiler: kills a Spackle]] in the first book. Viola has a similar reaction after she [[spoiler: killsAaron.]]Aaron]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This is Todd's reaction after he [[spoiler: kills a Spackle]] in the first book. Viola has a similar reaction after she [[spoiler: kills
* TheOnlyOneITrust: Viola and Todd trust each other completely without question, but do not trust anyone else.
* ThePlague: The Noise germ. Haven had developed a cure for it, [[spoiler: but the Mayor burned it all]].
Changed line(s) 163 (click to see context) from:
* PowerOfLove: [[spoiler: Whenever Todd wants to hurt the crazed Mayor with his noise, he winds up his emotions and hits him with Viola's name.]]
to:
* PowerOfLove: ThePowerOfLove: [[spoiler: Whenever Todd wants to hurt the crazed Mayor with his noise, he winds up his emotions and hits him with Viola's name.]]
Changed line(s) 177 (click to see context) from:
* SirSwearsalot: Todd. ''"The effs, Todd? And the geedees? God hears..."''
to:
* SirSwearsalot: SirSwearsALot: Todd. ''"The effs, Todd? And the geedees? God hears..."''"''
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]]. {{Justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]]. {{Justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were the first ones to have the Noise.
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* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were the first ones to have the Noise.
* TheBarnum: Mayor Prentiss.
* TheDogBitesBack: Manchee, who [[spoiler: takes Aaron's nose off. He doesn't just bite it, he bites it o-f-f bites it off!]]
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* TheHerosBirthday: Though it doesn't start on his ''actual'' birthday, the catalyst for the series is Todd's approaching 13th birthday, at which time he'll be considered a man.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
* TheMutiny: First starts in New Elizabeth, [[spoiler: which is now Prentisstown]], when the women tried to escape. Happens again in New Prentisstown, but no one knows what to do. Except Todd, who [[spoiler: organizes a team to go after the Mayor]].
* TheOnlyOneITrust: Viola and Todd trust each other completely without question, but do not trust anyone else.
* ThePlague: The Noise germ. Haven had developed a cure for it, [[spoiler: but the Mayor burned it all]].
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]]. {{Justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheWarRoom: A rather crappy version exists [[spoiler: after the Mayor's palace gets blown up.]] There's a campfire in the middle, but the army's just ''laying around in there''. For God's sake, it's almost its own town!
* TheBarnum: Mayor Prentiss.
* TheDogBitesBack: Manchee, who [[spoiler: takes Aaron's nose off. He doesn't just bite it, he bites it o-f-f bites it off!]]
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* TheHerosBirthday: Though it doesn't start on his ''actual'' birthday, the catalyst for the series is Todd's approaching 13th birthday, at which time he'll be considered a man.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
* TheMutiny: First starts in New Elizabeth, [[spoiler: which is now Prentisstown]], when the women tried to escape. Happens again in New Prentisstown, but no one knows what to do. Except Todd, who [[spoiler: organizes a team to go after the Mayor]].
* TheOnlyOneITrust: Viola and Todd trust each other completely without question, but do not trust anyone else.
* ThePlague: The Noise germ. Haven had developed a cure for it, [[spoiler: but the Mayor burned it all]].
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]]. {{Justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheWarRoom: A rather crappy version exists [[spoiler: after the Mayor's palace gets blown up.]] There's a campfire in the middle, but the army's just ''laying around in there''. For God's sake, it's almost its own town!
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* TookALevelInBadass: Viola. Once when [[spoiler: she blows up the bridge]], again when [[spoiler: she [[ShockAndAwe electrocutes Davy]]]], and several more times besides. [[spoiler: For the explosion and electricity, she pulled apart [[ChekhovsGun her fire box and her ship signal.]]]]
to:
* TookALevelInBadass: Viola. Once when [[spoiler: she blows up the bridge]], again when [[spoiler: she [[ShockAndAwe electrocutes Davy]]]], and several more times besides. [[spoiler: For the explosion and electricity, she pulled apart [[ChekhovsGun her fire box and her ship signal.]]]]signal]].]]
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheWarRoom: A rather crappy version exists [[spoiler: after the Mayor's palace gets blown up.]] There's a campfire in the middle, but the army's just ''laying around in there''. For God's sake, it's almost its own town!
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* WhewThatWasBoom: Frequently.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: This questions comes up constantly for Todd in terms of fighting the Spackle.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: This questions comes up constantly for Todd in terms of fighting the Spackle.
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* WhewThatWasBoom: Frequently.
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** Subverted. Todd's actions reflect the moral gray area the author has been trying to get at. Do desperate times really call for desperate measures, or are they when we most need to uphold our morals?
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Adding an entry to \"Beserk Button.
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* BerserkButton: Viola and Todd both have this when the other is in trouble, to the point that Viola [[spoiler: fires a huge missile towards the Spackle and involves a fourth party in the war]] to save Todd's life.
to:
* BerserkButton: Viola BerserkButton:
**Viola and Todd both have this when the other is in trouble, to the point that Viola [[spoiler: fires a huge missile towards the Spackle and involves a fourth party in the war]] to save Todd's life.
**Viola and Todd both have this when the other is in trouble, to the point that Viola [[spoiler: fires a huge missile towards the Spackle and involves a fourth party in the war]] to save Todd's life.
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**Todd will instantly flare up if you even mention the fact that he never learned to read.
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One day, while avoiding the Noise in the outskirts of town, he makes a discovery. An important discovery, something world changing, something that simply cannot be: silence-- a hole in the Noise. In minutes, everything changes. The world he trusted is turned upside down, and he is forced out of his home to flee from Prentisstown with an army at his heels.
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is available online for free. [[http://www.booktrust.org.uk/usr/library/documents/short-stories/the_new_world.pdf]]
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is available online for free. [[http://www.booktrust.org.uk/usr/library/documents/short-stories/the_new_world.pdf]]
to:
One day, while avoiding the Noise in the outskirts of town, he makes a discovery. An important discovery, something world changing, something that simply cannot be: silence-- a silence--a hole in the Noise. In minutes, everything changes. The world he trusted is turned upside down, and he is forced out of his home to flee from Prentisstown with an army at his heels.
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is availableonline for free. [[http://www.booktrust.org.uk/usr/library/documents/short-stories/the_new_world.pdf]]
pdf online for free.]]
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is available
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* ActionGirl: Viola after {{TakingALevelInBadass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played with}} regarding Lee.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played with}} regarding Lee.
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* ActionGirl: Viola after {{TakingALevelInBadass}}.
{{Taking A Level In Badass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Playedwith}} With}} regarding Lee.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played
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* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome crowning moments of awesome]].
to:
* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome crowning moments of awesome]].Crowning Moments Of Awesome]].
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** For the record, those who do not make it to the end of the series are [[spoiler: Cillian, Manchee, Aaron, Maddie, Mr. Hammar, Ivan Farrow, Simone, Davy, Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle to name a few]]
to:
** For the record, those who do not make it to the end of the series are [[spoiler: Cillian, Manchee, Aaron, Maddie, Mr. Hammar, Ivan Farrow, Simone, Davy, Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle to name a few]] few]].
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* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[spoiler: Todd and Viola finally kiss in Monsters of Men.]] Viola risks her life for Todd's several times, the first being on the bridge. Throughout the rest of the books, they're always saving each other.
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* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[spoiler: Todd and Viola finally kiss in Monsters ''Monsters of Men.Men''.]] Viola risks her life for Todd's several times, the first being on the bridge. Throughout the rest of the books, they're always saving each other.
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** The Mayor seems to lack one until [[spoiler: Ben arrives towards the very end of Monsters of Men and Todd is reminded that he already has a father. It doesn't help that Todd tells him there was never a choice to be made]].
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** The Mayor seems to lack one until [[spoiler: Ben arrives towards the very end of Monsters ''Monsters of Men Men'' and Todd is reminded that he already has a father. It doesn't help that Todd tells him there was never a choice to be made]].
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** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from Monsters of Men brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, men broacast their thoughts to everyone around them, women emit silence. Humans are the only species to do so.
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, men broacast their thoughts to everyone around them, women emit silence. Humans are the only species to do so.
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** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from Monsters ''Monsters of Men Men'' brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, menbroacast broadcast their thoughts to everyone around them, women emit silence. Humans are the only species to do so.
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, men
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** [[spoiler: for Manchee this trope is very [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literal]] ]]
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** [[spoiler: for Manchee this trope is very [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literal]] ]]literal]]]].
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* ComatoseCanary: [[spoiler: Todd. He hears Viola's voice and the end of Monsters of Men is him talking. In his mind.]]
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* ComatoseCanary: [[spoiler: Todd. He hears Viola's voice and the end of Monsters ''Monsters of Men Men'' is him talking. In his mind.]]
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* DividedWeFall: ''If one of us falls, we all fall.'''
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back in Monsters of Men, though.]]
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back in Monsters of Men, though.]]
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* DividedWeFall: ''If one of us falls, we all fall.'''
''
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back inMonsters ''Monsters of Men, Men'', though.]]
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back in
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Todd is in a coma after being attacked by 1017 at the end of Monsters of Men.]]
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* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Todd is in a coma after being attacked by 1017 at the end of Monsters ''Monsters of Men.Men''.]]
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* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: Monsters of Men.]]
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* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: Monsters ''Monsters of Men.Men''.]]
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** Is also implied in Monsters of Men that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.
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** Is also implied in Monsters ''Monsters of Men Men'' that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.
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** Also, the years are longer there,so Todd, at least, is older than 14, though not by much.
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** Also, the years are longer there,so there, so Todd, at least, is older than 14, though not by much.
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* Space Amish: The first settlers try his - they left Earth for a simpler, more religious life, which explains their primitive technology level for a sci-fi set on another planet. And the they get into a few wars. But the intention was there.
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* Space Amish: SpaceAmish: The first settlers try his this - they left Earth for a simpler, more religious life, which explains their primitive technology level for a sci-fi set on another planet. And the they get into a few wars. But the intention was there.
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** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]] {{justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
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** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]] {{justified|Trope}} war]]. {{Justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
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* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Happens a lot in The Ask and the Answer.
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* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Happens a lot in The ''The Ask and the Answer.Answer''.
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* WomenAreWiser: {{Played with}} regarding Mistress Coyle and the Answer, seemingly played straight Viola [[spoiler: until Monsters of Men]]
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* WomenAreWiser: {{Played with}} regarding Mistress Coyle and the Answer, seemingly played straight Viola [[spoiler: until Monsters ''Monsters of Men]]Men'']].
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* {{Yandere}}: Todd seems to be really threatening whenever Mayor Prentiss or anyone tries to question Viola. His face went blank when [[spoiler: Viola "left" him]]. He also refers to Viola as "Good girl" or "That's my girl".[[spoiler: He'd also "do anything" for the Mayor to keep Viola safe.]] To be fair, Viola acts the exact same way in terms of him.
to:
* {{Yandere}}: Todd seems to be really threatening whenever Mayor Prentiss or anyone tries to question Viola. His face went blank when [[spoiler: Viola "left" him]]. He also refers to Viola as "Good girl" or "That's my girl". [[spoiler: He'd also "do anything" for the Mayor to keep Viola safe.]] To be fair, Viola acts the exact same way in terms of him.
** The Mayor can be seen as this with Todd. Specifically, when Ben is involved.
** The Mayor can be seen as this with Todd. Specifically, when Ben is involved.
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*** Except now it just means that they're both willing to do terrible things in the name of the other. Example: [[spoiler: Viola admits that she would have been willing to commit genocide against the Spackle if it meant saving Todd.]]
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*** Except for the way the final book actually ends, which has him [[spoiler: killing himself for Todd and the good of the world, having realized what a terrible person he is.]]
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* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds:
** Todd, every time he loses Viola, who has the same BerserkButton.
** The Mayor, once you find out just what exactly his problem is. He does a pretty good job of that world-destroying part, too-- especially when he thinks he's lost Todd to Ben.
** Todd, every time he loses Viola, who has the same BerserkButton.
** The Mayor, once you find out just what exactly his problem is. He does a pretty good job of that world-destroying part, too-- especially when he thinks he's lost Todd to Ben.
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* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Cillian, the tough-love [[PapaWolf dad]].
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* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Cillian, [[spoiler:Cillian]], the tough-love [[PapaWolf dad]].
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* DeclarationOfProtection: Todd to Viola. He spends a good deal of time threatening to kill anyone who dares look at her wrong. Also, works in reverse.
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* IWillProtectHer: Todd to Viola. He spends a good deal of time threatening to kill anyone who dares look at her wrong. Also, works in reverse.
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[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/chaos_walking_300px_1593.png]]
->"''The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, man is just [[TitleDrop chaos walking]].''"
''Chaos Walking'' is the collective term for Patrick Ness's books ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'', ''The Ask and the Answer'', and ''Monsters of Men''. It is a series set on a [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CrapsackWorld Earth-like planet called New World]], which human settlers from "Old World" colonised in the hope of starting a new life.
Todd Hewitt knows all too well the history of this plantation. Humanity quickly became engaged in a war with the local sentient species, the Spackle, who released germs that killed all of the women, half the men, and left every living, breathing thing that survived with a condition that causes their thoughts, fantasies, hopes and dreams to be broadcasted in a flood of information known as Noise. This Noise is an inescapable rush of pictures and words that you can't get away from, and it is ever-present and everywhere. Men, without comfort and with this newfound insanity, picked up a gun and ended the war.
Todd is the last boy in in Prentisstown, last settlement on the New World, sole surviving town of the war, largely because of its militaristic mayor. Though the war is over, humanity is far from saved-indeed, with no women to repopulate, humanity is going to die a slow death here, in this small place with a population of "146 men and one almost-man", Todd Hewitt is the only one who has yet to become a man. Men don't associate with boys, and so Todd is alone for the final month leading up to the important occasion, with only Manchee, the dog he never wanted, for company.
One day, while avoiding the Noise in the outskirts of town, he makes a discovery. An important discovery, something world changing, something that simply cannot be: silence-- a hole in the Noise. In minutes, everything changes. The world he trusted is turned upside down, and he is forced out of his home to flee from Prentisstown with an army at his heels.
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is available online for free. [[http://www.booktrust.org.uk/usr/library/documents/short-stories/the_new_world.pdf]]
All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
!! This series provides examples of:
* ActionGirl: Viola after {{TakingALevelInBadass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played with}} regarding Lee.
* AChatWithSatan: Happens when [[spoiler: the Mayor tells Todd that he has the capability to be as cruel as he is]].
* AGodAmI: In the scene in the waterfall church, Aaron comes out and says that he is a saint. However, we know that Aaron is, in fact, delusional and is DrunkWithPower.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Just why is he being chased? [[spoiler: To become a man there, you must kill someone. Todd is unable to kill anyone.]] The Mayor says in ''Monsters of Men'' that until a boy experiences war, he is still a child.
* AffablyEvil: Mayor Prentiss is a genuinely nice guy to Todd, whom he considers a [[TermsOfEndangerment son]], but [[spoiler: he treats his real son like garbage, and kills him the instant he starts to wriggle out of his father's control]]. The Mayor also does a great job justifying most of the horrible things he does, one notable exception is [[spoiler: killing all the women in Prentisstown, which he never adequately explains]].
** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too [[AffablyEvil affable.]]]]
* AfterActionPatchUp: Frequently.
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Viola and Todd are like this concerning each other. It leads to the question of whether saving the person you love is more important than the lives of thousands of other people.
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The Answer.]]
* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome crowning moments of awesome]].
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he cannot face losing her as he lost Manchee.]]]] Angharrad saves Viola when [[spoiler: a half-crazed 1017, bent on revenge, attacks her with a knife.]]
* AnyoneCanDie: And HOW.
** For the record, those who do not make it to the end of the series are [[spoiler: Cillian, Manchee, Aaron, Maddie, Mr. Hammar, Ivan Farrow, Simone, Davy, Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle to name a few]]
* ApologisesALot: Manchee, [[spoiler: after Matthew Lyle hacks off half his tail in a fit of MacheteMayhem.]]
* ArchnemesisDad: [[OffingTheOffspring Mayor Prentiss]] to [[JerkassWoobie Davy]]. Really, they don't even like each other.
* ArentYouGoingToRavishMe: A fairly creepy version crops up at the end of ''The Ask and the Answer''. [[spoiler: Todd has the Mayor tied up and at his mercy, but does nothing to him.]] To be fair, the Mayor is a bit distracted. But that doesn't make it any less creepy.
* ArmchairMilitary: Mayor Prentiss for the first book and most of the second.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[spoiler: Todd and Viola finally kiss in Monsters of Men.]] Viola risks her life for Todd's several times, the first being on the bridge. Throughout the rest of the books, they're always saving each other.
* TheBaroness: Mistress Coyle.
* BadassPreacher: Aaron. He slaps people around for the hell of it. And has a staff.
* BaddieFlattery: Mayor Prentiss constantly praises Todd for being "humble" and "a good son" and all that. He calls Todd the "truer son" right before [[spoiler: he shoots Davy]].
* BattleCouple: Todd and Viola.
* BeastOfBattle: The Spackle ride what are called [[WeaponizedAnimal "battlemore"]]. Which are rhinos.
* BerserkButton: Viola and Todd both have this when the other is in trouble, to the point that Viola [[spoiler: fires a huge missile towards the Spackle and involves a fourth party in the war]] to save Todd's life.
** The Mayor seems to lack one until [[spoiler: Ben arrives towards the very end of Monsters of Men and Todd is reminded that he already has a father. It doesn't help that Todd tells him there was never a choice to be made]].
* BigBadassBattleSequence: Happens several times: [[spoiler: the battle in Farbranch]], the Spackle mutiny, and [[spoiler: the bloody war against the Spackle]] in ''Monsters of Men''. A common motif in this series.
* BigBulkyBomb: The Answer, especially when [[spoiler: they blow up the signal tower]] and [[spoiler: they launch a Thrace bomb into the monastery where Todd is working]].
** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from Monsters of Men brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, men broacast their thoughts to everyone around them, women emit silence. Humans are the only species to do so.
* BondVillainStupidity: Todd. I mean, [[spoiler: he has the Mayor tied up ''right there'']] and doesn't do a thing about it. Instead, he bargains with the guy!
* BreakTheCutie: Todd gets his first taste of killing when he [[spoiler: attacks a Spackle on the basis that its species "killed all the women"]] and consequently freaks out and pukes. Viola gets this twice: once when [[spoiler: her scout ship crashes, killing her parents]] and [[spoiler: when she stabs Aaron to death]] in the waterfall church and throws up.
** Every main character gets a moment of this. Even minor characters display this trope at points, especially in the last two books.
** [[spoiler: for Manchee this trope is very [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literal]] ]]
** At the end of ''Monsters of Men'' [[spoiler: Todd is nearly killed by 1017 just as the Mayor finally dies.]] Poor, poor, Viola...
* BlingOfWar: The Office of the Ask requires pretty shiny uniforms that have an 'A' pinned to the chest. It, too, is shiny. Toward the beginning of ''Monsters of Men'', one of the Mayor's officers brings him his general's uniform from the Spackle War and he gloats over it.
** Todd also ends up [[spoiler: wearing a duplicate of the [[LikeFatherLikeSon Mayor's]] uniform]]. It's [[RuleOfSymbolism important.]]
* BookDumb: Todd is almost completely illiterate. This acts as a BerserkButton for him; every time anyone offers to read something for him, he gets unreasonably angry.
* BoomStick: The Spackle in the first war were unarmed. Not now, they're not. [[spoiler: They now have some sort of explosive sticks that they touch together. And they're mounted on elephant-type animals.]]
* CarryABigStick: Oh, Aaron [[SimpleStaff does]]. Todd finds this out several times.
* CantHoldHisLiquor: Inverted with Viola. [[spoiler: But it turns out that she didn't drink beer at all...]]
* CatchPhrase: Among others, "I am the Circle and the Circle is me," "TODD HEWITT," "God hears," and "I am not your enemy". However, most of those are Aaron's [[MadnessMantra teachings]].
* ChallengingTheChief: Todd does this before [[spoiler: tying the Mayor up and threatening him]]. Come to think of it, Viola does, too, after Mistress Coyle [[spoiler: abandons her in the house of healing]].
* ChastityCouple: Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: There is ''one'' kiss in the entire trilogy.]] Slightly justified by the fact that it's a book aimed at young adults and they're both about 14.
* ChekhovsGun: The knife. All Todd says is that he wants it, and it ends up being the entire first book. Also, in the prequel ''The New World'', Viola's friend Bradley gives her a campfire box [[spoiler: which she uses to blow up a bridge]].
* ChildlessDystopia: New World. Because all the women in Prentisstown are dead, there hasn't been a child there in 13 years--not since the main character Todd was born.
* ClusterFBomb: Todd employs this a lot, usually denoted by ''"and do you think I said eff?"'' Contrast with Viola's PrecisionFStrike in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go''.
* ComatoseCanary: [[spoiler: Todd. He hears Viola's voice and the end of Monsters of Men is him talking. In his mind.]]
* ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre: Aaron, looking for Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: They're hiding in a church behind a waterfall.]]
* CompellingVoice: The Mayor has one. [[spoiler: Doesn't exactly help that he can control people using his Noise, either.]]
* CorruptChurch: No one's listening to Aaron; they're all praying for help or deliverance. Nice going.
* CreepyCathedral: The Mayor lives in one in New Prentisstown.
* CreepyCleanliness: The Mayor is nearly always in pristine white clothing [[spoiler: because he's never on the front lines himself]]. He's also pretty StraightEdgeEvil.
* DarkMessiah: Aaron. He says he's a saint right before [[spoiler: Todd punches him a lot and Viola stabs him through the neck.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Todd and Viola. Also Corrine, to an extent, but she's more of an example of MyParentsAreDead.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Cillian, the tough-love [[PapaWolf dad]].
* DefinitelyJustACold: After the band on her arm makes her ill, Viola hides her illness from Todd even though she's been told the infection is [[spoiler: fatal.]] She tells him its sleep deprivation and when he asks her specifically about it, she admits that she's not feeling well but that she's fine.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Viola stabs Aaron in the waterfall church,]] but only after Todd hits him a lot.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Happens a lot in this series. Viola, at first, reacts to everything she sees in Todd's Noise. Subverted with Todd and the Mayor, whose noise is nearly always unhearable. Todd reacts to what he ''thinks'' is in the Mayor's head.
** It also happens with Bradley, who [[spoiler: arrives in the scout ship and develops the Noise for the first time]].
* DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu: The Mayor invites both Todd and Viola to dinner. He cancels just in time [[spoiler: to begin a war]].
* DirtyMindReading: Viola accidentally catches a rather racy daydream in Lee's Noise involving her.
* DividedWeFall: ''If one of us falls, we all fall.'''
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back in Monsters of Men, though.]]
* DisneyAcidSequence: This happens to Todd [[spoiler: after he contracts an infection from his knife, which is coated in Spackle blood]]. The world is all wavy and orange and yellow for a bit. He also hallucinates Aaron and Viola [[spoiler: and the Spackle he killed]].
* DoIReallySoundLikeThat: Todd asks Viola to do a Prentisstown accent and says that he doesn't sound like that.
* DoomedHometown: Prentisstown and Farbranch.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Todd is in a coma after being attacked by 1017 at the end of Monsters of Men.]]
* EasilyConqueredWorld: The citizens of Haven are ridiculed for not putting up a fight when Mayor Prentiss and his army ride through. They simply surrendered.
* EmotionlessGirl: Viola, in her non-talking phase. Shortly after she does begin speaking, she has a DidYouThinkICantFeel moment and spurns Todd for thinking that she can't hear his Noise.
* EmotionSuppression: The more time Todd spends around the Mayor, the more time he learns to "quiet" his Noise. In reality, what he's quieting is his own emotions. Even Viola notices at one point that she feels a flicker of emotion in his Noise and then nothing as he "quiets" it.
* EnemyMine: The Mayor's forces and the Answer join together [[spoiler: to promote peace among them and the Spackle.]] Too bad it doesn't go well.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: Monsters of Men.]]
* EyeScream: [[spoiler: Lee's eyes get burned out in ''Monsters of Men''.]]
* FatalFlaw: Todd and Viola's love for each other. Todd is unable to kill, much less do anything that would cause him to "lose her".
** By the end of the second book, that same flaw turns into their greatest strength.
---> '''Viola''': The Mayor’s wrong-
--->He’s wrong forever and ever-
--->It’s not that you should never love something so much it can control you.
--->It’s that you need to love something that much so you can never be controlled.
* FirstNameBasis: Todd and Davy. At first, Todd is taken aback when Davy calls him "Todd" instead of "pigpiss", but gets used to it.
** The Mayor ("Call me David") attempts to be on this with Todd. Never sticks.
** Ditto the Mayor and Viola. The Mayor calls Viola by her first name, which upsets Todd, but Viola refuses to ever call him by his.
* FisherKing: [[DrunkWithPower The Mayor]] lives in a freakin' [[spoiler: PALACE]].
** Eventually, everyone in New Prentisstown [[FisherKingdom just follows the rules]]. Except Todd and Viola.
* ForcedToWatch: Todd is forced to watch Viola being tortured for answers. [[BerserkButton He doesn't take it well.]]
* GetItOverWith: Todd tells Aaron to do this when he's lying in the mud [[spoiler: right before Aaron stabs him and takes Viola]].
* GreyAndGrayMorality: ''"There are no sides, my girl."'' No one is completely good or completely evil.
* HasTwoMommies: Inverted; Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].
** Is also implied in Monsters of Men that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Ivan always goes to the side that has more power.
* HeroicBSOD: After [[spoiler: Ben]] gets shot, Todd realizes he has nothing left; he is then snapped out of it by Viola.
* HiveMind: While capable of independent thought, action, and emotion, The Land consider themselves to be part of a greater whole with shared access to the knowledge, memories, and sight of each other. Because of this, any given individual is simply referred to as "The Land", with a few exceptions (e.g. The Sky, The Return).
* HiveQueen: The Sky is the leader of The Land, and as such is considered a separate individual. S/he's charged with making decisions for The Land, and can go so far as to force them into action against their better judgment. Naturally, this can cause problems.
* HolyHitman: Aaron.
* ICanStillFight: Viola has this attitude even though she is [[spoiler: suffering a fatal infection caused by an identification band on her arm.]]
* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: Given that Prentisstown was a CrapsackWorld, ''New'' Prentisstown ''must'' be better!
* IHaveNoSon: Subverted, because the Mayor freely acknowledges that [[spoiler: he killed Davy]] and possibly regrets it. He is convinced, though, that Todd will become his ''true'' son in all but name.
* IHaveYourWife: The Mayor often threatens Viola's safety to get Todd to do what he wants.
* ILied: The Mayor does this quite often and seems kind of happy about it.
* IWillProtectHer: Todd to Viola. He spends a good deal of time threatening to kill anyone who dares look at her wrong. Also, works in reverse.
* IllKillYou: For a guy who can't stomach death very well, Todd sure does spend an awful lot of time threatening to kill someone or other. To be fair, he usually only threatens death (and slow, ''painful'' death at that) when someone threatens [[BerserkButton Viola.]]
* IllNeverTellYouWhatImTellingYou: Happens when Todd [[spoiler: tells the Mayor when and where the attack will be]].
* ImplacableMan: Aaron, getting eaten by a crocodile? Drowning in the swamp? No, it takes [[spoiler: a knife through the neck and falling off a waterfall to finally kill him.]]
* ImprobableAge: The entire premise of the book fits into this, but it's explicitly stated at one point that the adults expect Viola and Todd to run the New World once the war is over. They're ''14''.
** It is partially justified in-universe that the threshold for adulthood is much lower, which may have been the result of the original settlers needing more workers. Viola and Todd meet a four-year-old boy whose father asks him to milk the goats. Viola thinks this is odd...he's too young to be milking goats by himself. Todd points out that it's not that unusual in the New World. But to readers, the extreme responsibility shoved onto two young teenagers is a little weird.
** Also, the years are longer there,so Todd, at least, is older than 14, though not by much.
* InfoDump: Can't help it in Noise, can ya? This happens after Todd comes back from the swamp, thinking about the patch of silence there, [[spoiler: which starts this whole war process rolling]].
* ItsPersonal: Todd, when Aaron comes after him and [[spoiler: kidnaps Viola]]. Also a little bit of [[TheHunterBecomesTheHunted when Todd is chasing him down]].
* JerkAss: The Mayor, Mistress Coyle and Davy come to mind as well as Viola and Todd at times.
* KickTheDog: Aaron and the Mayor, and to an extent, Davy; he later does an almost complete HeelFaceTurn when he realizes that he and Todd [[spoiler: are VitriolicBestBuds]]. Also both Aaron and Davy kick Manchee in the face.
* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: Aaron and Mayor Prentiss.
* KnifeNut: Todd, but only for the first book; [[spoiler: the knife goes over the waterfall, stuck in Aaron's neck]].
* LastVillainStand: [[spoiler: Mayor Prentiss' death. Mistress Coyle's as well.]]
* LeftHanging: [[spoiler: How ''Monsters of Men'' ends. We have no idea if Todd ever comes out of his coma.]]
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Todd and Viola to each other, though it's played in a positive rather than a negative way.
* LoveIsAWeakness: The Mayor, after figuring out Viola is Todd's weakness, tells him never to love something so much it can be used to control you.
* LoveTriangle: Todd, Viola, and Lee.
** This is more of an ImaginaryLoveTriangle. Lee never stood a chance in the first place.
* MacheteMayhem: Let's have an honorable mention for Matthew Lyle!
* ManipulativeBastard: The Mayor [[IAmTheTrope is this trope]].
** And the trope is him!
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Davy Prentiss, Jr.
* MoreHypnotizableThanHeThinks: Todd, during his time with the Mayor.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This is Todd's reaction after he [[spoiler: kills a Spackle]] in the first book. Viola has a similar reaction after she [[spoiler: kills Aaron.]]
* MyParentsAreDead: Viola's parents [[spoiler: died in the crash that landed her in the swamp]]. And Todd, to a degree; his mom is dead, and Cillian [[spoiler: dies protecting the farm]]. [[DotingParent Ben]] is {{MIA}}, supposedly dead. Until the end of ''Monsters of Men''; [[spoiler: he's alive and a BerserkButton for the Mayor]].
* NarrativeProfanityFilter: Todd uses this a ''lot''.
* NonHumanSidekick:
** Manchee
** Angharrad and Acorn in ''Monsters of Men'', too.
* NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow: Aaron. As stated above, [[spoiler: it takes a knife through the neck and a drop from a waterfall that's God knows how high up to kill him]].
* NotSoDifferent: The Mayor explains at the end of Monsters of Men that Todd has the potential to be as powerful and as cruel as he is, but he knows that Todd will make a different choice.
* NotQuiteHuman: The Spackle look like distorted men and grow lichen on their bodies in place of clothes.
* NoWomansLand: Prentisstown. [[spoiler: The Mayor set off a DepopulationBomb and committed {{Gendercide}}.]]
* OffingTheOffspring: The [[spoiler: Mayor]] does this to his son.
* OurAliensAreDifferent: The Spackle aren't out to kill anyone [[spoiler: until the events of ''The Ask and the Answer'' take place]]. The Noise germ was just out in the air.
* PetTheDog / KickTheDog: ''So'' many time by both Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle. With Todd and Viola being the dog, respectively. The last two books seems to be a massive competition between the two of them repeatedly blowing the dog up, picking up the pieces, petting them back into shape, and kicking them again. However, this does play off as major character development on the Mayor and Mistress's part.
* PistolWhipping: Davy seems to like doing this; he attacks Todd this way, as well as the Spackle in the monastery. Todd also uses his rifle to hit the Mayor in the ear after [[spoiler: the Spackle attack the water tank]].
* PoisonAndCureGambit: It's reveal that the Mayor poisoned the bands used to [[spoiler: identify the Spackle and the women]] of New Prentisstown. Unfortunately, these bands start an infection that cannot be stopped and the bands are designed to grow into the skin, meaning they cannot be removed without the patient bleeding to death. Miraculously, he "finds a cure" just after he wins popularity as president. He doesn't charge for it, but it's implied that he's using it as a publicity stunt.
* PoisonedWeapons: Todd's knife [[spoiler: after he kills the Spackle and gets stabbed with the same knife]].
* PowerOfLove: [[spoiler: Whenever Todd wants to hurt the crazed Mayor with his noise, he winds up his emotions and hits him with Viola's name.]]
* PreciousPuppies: Manchee. He licks Todd's face when he knows Todd is feeling down and goes to great lengths to protect him.
* PrecisionFStrike: From [[spoiler: Viola]] to Todd.
* PursuedProtagonist: Todd. Often pursued by the Mayor on [[HellishHorse Morpeth]], along with [[spoiler: a whole army]] in the first book.
* RageQuit: [[spoiler: First with Mistress Coyle's bomb for the Mayor after she knew she lost, and then the Mayor after he knew he lost Todd to Ben.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Todd and Viola.
* RomanticFalseLead: Lee.
* SayingTooMuch: Todd can't help it in the beginning, nor when [[spoiler: Viola is being Asked]]. He gives a piece of vital information to try and save her. [[spoiler: Never mind that Viola told him that in the first place...]] And Manchee, too; he burbles on and on, and sometimes [[NeverSayThatAgain things]] come out.
* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem!: President Prentiss. Sneaky, underhanded [[MagnificentBastard bastard]].
* SecretWeapon: Todd thinks that the Mayor is making one of these in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go''. He'd be right. [[spoiler: [[MagnificentBastard The Mayor]] is able to control his Noise and that of others. Oh, and he's been making bombs as well.]]
* SelectiveSlaughter: In the Mayor's case, [[spoiler: it was {{Gendercide}}]].
* SenseLossSadness: With a twist. When Todd learns to quiet his Noise, it's not him who is upset. It's ''Viola''. She's worried because she can't read him like she used to. This is made even more worrisome for her because the more time Todd spends around the Mayor, the more his personality changes. She worries at one point that "her Todd" is gone.
* ShipTease: Viola and Todd, constantly. It's actually rather odd to have such an intense romantic subplot in a young adult series, and especially one that is as teased to death as this one.
* SinisterMinister: Aaron. UpToEleven.
* SirSwearsalot: Todd. ''"The effs, Todd? And the geedees? God hears..."''
* Space Amish: The first settlers try his - they left Earth for a simpler, more religious life, which explains their primitive technology level for a sci-fi set on another planet. And the they get into a few wars. But the intention was there.
* SmugSnake: Ivan.
* StillTheLeader: Todd. He picks up the slack where Davy leaves it, and ends up [[spoiler: heading a bounty-hunting party for the Mayor on his own time]].
* StuffBlowingUp: What happens throughout the second and third books.
* SomeoneHasToDie: [[HeroicDog Manchee]], [[spoiler: when Aaron rips him in half]]. Followed almost immediately by Todd's BigNo. Well, he was [[UndyingLoyalty extraordinarily loyal]] to Todd, even though he didn't want Manchee. Also a RightHandAttackDog and the requisite TalkingAnimal.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Viola. At the outset, she seems to have no feelings whatsoever. However, when Todd thinks she isn't able to hear him, she gives him the silent treatment.
* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: [[spoiler:The Mayor, having gone completely insane from being able to hear EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, decides that he'd rather not have to hear anything anymore... but makes sure to set everything on fire and order his army to destroy what remains of the Answer and set ''what remains of his army'' up to be destroyed by the Spackle before he goes.]]
* TakingOverTheTown: Mayor Prentiss, bent on taking over the world, loves to do this. Prentisstown used to be called New Elizabeth before he took over. When he takes over Haven, he renames it New Prentisstown (which, not surprisingly, is not an improvement on the old Prentisstown).
* ThatLiarLies: Todd, mostly referring to the Mayor. Which is true; the Mayor is the ManipulativeBastard of the series...
* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were the first ones to have the Noise.
* TheBarnum: Mayor Prentiss.
* TheDogBitesBack: Manchee, who [[spoiler: takes Aaron's nose off. He doesn't just bite it, he bites it o-f-f bites it off!]]
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* TheHerosBirthday: Though it doesn't start on his ''actual'' birthday, the catalyst for the series is Todd's approaching 13th birthday, at which time he'll be considered a man.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
* TheMutiny: First starts in New Elizabeth, [[spoiler: which is now Prentisstown]], when the women tried to escape. Happens again in New Prentisstown, but no one knows what to do. Except Todd, who [[spoiler: organizes a team to go after the Mayor]].
* TheOnlyOneITrust: Viola and Todd trust each other completely without question, but do not trust anyone else.
* ThePlague: The Noise germ. Haven had developed a cure for it, [[spoiler: but the Mayor burned it all]].
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]] {{justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheWarRoom: A rather crappy version exists [[spoiler: after the Mayor's palace gets blown up.]] There's a campfire in the middle, but the army's just ''laying around in there''. For God's sake, it's almost its own town!
* TheyHaveTheScent: Right before [[spoiler: Todd goes to find Viola again,]] Manchee claims to know where she is. Todd is skeptical at first, but [[TheNoseKnows Manchee is sure]].
* ThinkingOutLoud: Noise is unavoidable, [[spoiler: but you can suppress it like the Mayor is so good at doing]].
* TimeBomb: [[DrunkWithPower The Answer]]'s only form of offensive power.
* TookALevelInBadass: Viola. Once when [[spoiler: she blows up the bridge]], again when [[spoiler: she [[ShockAndAwe electrocutes Davy]]]], and several more times besides. [[spoiler: For the explosion and electricity, she pulled apart [[ChekhovsGun her fire box and her ship signal.]]]]
* TriggerHappy: Davy in [[spoiler: the battle for Farbranch]]. Todd sees him firing his gun into the air ''"when there's nothing else for him to shoot"''. If you look at who his father is, [[TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether it's not a big surprise]].
* {{Tsundere}}: Todd, when he first met Viola in the first book and when he started working with Davy in the second book. [[spoiler: He's also rather deredere with Davy.]]
** Viola too. A type B, rather.
* TwangHello: There are several variants: Aaron with his staff, Viola with her [[spoiler: ship signal]], the Spackle, the Mayor's [[spoiler: Noise weapon]], the Answer's [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], and Manchee.
* TyrantTakesTheHelm: See TheMutiny, above. [[spoiler: The Mayor does this to New Elizabeth, which results in a DepopulationBomb and {{Gendercide}}.]]
* UnbrokenVigil: Todd and Viola with each other at various points in the series.
* UnderNewManagement: See TheMutiny, above.
* WarIsHell: It seems to be swinging this way, but it's more of a cautionary tool against war.
* WeComeInPeaceShootToKill: The settlers, upon discovering the Spackle and just generally being asshats, slaughter them and almost completely annihilate the species. They start fighting back in The Ask and the Answer, 1017 especially.
* WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk: The point of the Mayor's Ask organization. They torture people suspected of helping the "terrorists." Viola is tortured at one point and comes away with two broken ankles and more.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Davy just wants his dad to like him. Oh well, at least he expresses pride in his son several times [[spoiler: before shooting him]].
* WhewThatWasBoom: Frequently.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: This questions comes up constantly for Todd in terms of fighting the Spackle.
* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Happens a lot in The Ask and the Answer.
* WickedCultured: Mayor Prentiss. Mistress Coyle could also be an example.
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Happens ''all the time'' with Todd and Viola.
* WomenAreWiser: {{Played with}} regarding Mistress Coyle and the Answer, seemingly played straight Viola [[spoiler: until Monsters of Men]]
* {{Yandere}}: Todd seems to be really threatening whenever Mayor Prentiss or anyone tries to question Viola. His face went blank when [[spoiler: Viola "left" him]]. He also refers to Viola as "Good girl" or "That's my girl".[[spoiler: He'd also "do anything" for the Mayor to keep Viola safe.]] To be fair, Viola acts the exact same way in terms of him.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Every time the Mayor says that Todd is LikeASonToMe, or even that he is [[SoProudOfYou proud]] of his actions, Todd usually follows up with [[ShutUpHannibal denial and then just ignores it]].
----
->"''The Noise is a man unfiltered, and without a filter, man is just [[TitleDrop chaos walking]].''"
''Chaos Walking'' is the collective term for Patrick Ness's books ''The Knife of Never Letting Go'', ''The Ask and the Answer'', and ''Monsters of Men''. It is a series set on a [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[CrapsackWorld Earth-like planet called New World]], which human settlers from "Old World" colonised in the hope of starting a new life.
Todd Hewitt knows all too well the history of this plantation. Humanity quickly became engaged in a war with the local sentient species, the Spackle, who released germs that killed all of the women, half the men, and left every living, breathing thing that survived with a condition that causes their thoughts, fantasies, hopes and dreams to be broadcasted in a flood of information known as Noise. This Noise is an inescapable rush of pictures and words that you can't get away from, and it is ever-present and everywhere. Men, without comfort and with this newfound insanity, picked up a gun and ended the war.
Todd is the last boy in in Prentisstown, last settlement on the New World, sole surviving town of the war, largely because of its militaristic mayor. Though the war is over, humanity is far from saved-indeed, with no women to repopulate, humanity is going to die a slow death here, in this small place with a population of "146 men and one almost-man", Todd Hewitt is the only one who has yet to become a man. Men don't associate with boys, and so Todd is alone for the final month leading up to the important occasion, with only Manchee, the dog he never wanted, for company.
One day, while avoiding the Noise in the outskirts of town, he makes a discovery. An important discovery, something world changing, something that simply cannot be: silence-- a hole in the Noise. In minutes, everything changes. The world he trusted is turned upside down, and he is forced out of his home to flee from Prentisstown with an army at his heels.
A prequel, called ''The New World'', is available online for free. [[http://www.booktrust.org.uk/usr/library/documents/short-stories/the_new_world.pdf]]
All three books were shortlisted for the CarnegieMedal, with ''[[ThirdTimesTheCharm Monsters of Men]]'' winning it in 2011. It was also the second YoungAdult novel ever to be shortlisted for the [[ArthurCClarkeAward Arthur C. Clarke]] science fiction award. In late 2011, LionsGate bought the rights to bring the trilogy to [[TheFilmOfTheBook the big screen]].
!! This series provides examples of:
* ActionGirl: Viola after {{TakingALevelInBadass}}.
* ActionSurvivor: {{Played with}} regarding Lee.
* AChatWithSatan: Happens when [[spoiler: the Mayor tells Todd that he has the capability to be as cruel as he is]].
* AGodAmI: In the scene in the waterfall church, Aaron comes out and says that he is a saint. However, we know that Aaron is, in fact, delusional and is DrunkWithPower.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Todd is the last boy in Prentisstown. Just why is he being chased? [[spoiler: To become a man there, you must kill someone. Todd is unable to kill anyone.]] The Mayor says in ''Monsters of Men'' that until a boy experiences war, he is still a child.
* AffablyEvil: Mayor Prentiss is a genuinely nice guy to Todd, whom he considers a [[TermsOfEndangerment son]], but [[spoiler: he treats his real son like garbage, and kills him the instant he starts to wriggle out of his father's control]]. The Mayor also does a great job justifying most of the horrible things he does, one notable exception is [[spoiler: killing all the women in Prentisstown, which he never adequately explains]].
** [[spoiler: The Mayor seems to be a deconstruction of this, because despite how likable he seems at times, and [[LoveRedeems his love for Todd]], he is still a selfish monster when the final book ends. Additionally, as Todd notes, he could have stopped the Mayor from doing some of the horrible things he's done by killing him when he got the chance, which he didn't, because the Mayor was too [[AffablyEvil affable.]]]]
* AfterActionPatchUp: Frequently.
* AlwaysSaveTheGirl: Viola and Todd are like this concerning each other. It leads to the question of whether saving the person you love is more important than the lives of thousands of other people.
* AncientConspiracy: [[spoiler: The Answer.]]
* AnimalAssassin: Manchee. He protects Todd every chance he gets, even [[spoiler: going after a guy with a machete in Farbranch]]. And Aaron at least three times, but this ends in [[spoiler: Aaron snapping his neck]]. Has several [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome crowning moments of awesome]].
** Also Angharrad, Todd's horse in Monsters of Men, who [[spoiler: he will not leave to die because [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming he cannot face losing her as he lost Manchee.]]]] Angharrad saves Viola when [[spoiler: a half-crazed 1017, bent on revenge, attacks her with a knife.]]
* AnyoneCanDie: And HOW.
** For the record, those who do not make it to the end of the series are [[spoiler: Cillian, Manchee, Aaron, Maddie, Mr. Hammar, Ivan Farrow, Simone, Davy, Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle to name a few]]
* ApologisesALot: Manchee, [[spoiler: after Matthew Lyle hacks off half his tail in a fit of MacheteMayhem.]]
* ArchnemesisDad: [[OffingTheOffspring Mayor Prentiss]] to [[JerkassWoobie Davy]]. Really, they don't even like each other.
* ArentYouGoingToRavishMe: A fairly creepy version crops up at the end of ''The Ask and the Answer''. [[spoiler: Todd has the Mayor tied up and at his mercy, but does nothing to him.]] To be fair, the Mayor is a bit distracted. But that doesn't make it any less creepy.
* ArmchairMilitary: Mayor Prentiss for the first book and most of the second.
* AwLookTheyReallyDoLoveEachOther: [[spoiler: Todd and Viola finally kiss in Monsters of Men.]] Viola risks her life for Todd's several times, the first being on the bridge. Throughout the rest of the books, they're always saving each other.
* TheBaroness: Mistress Coyle.
* BadassPreacher: Aaron. He slaps people around for the hell of it. And has a staff.
* BaddieFlattery: Mayor Prentiss constantly praises Todd for being "humble" and "a good son" and all that. He calls Todd the "truer son" right before [[spoiler: he shoots Davy]].
* BattleCouple: Todd and Viola.
* BeastOfBattle: The Spackle ride what are called [[WeaponizedAnimal "battlemore"]]. Which are rhinos.
* BerserkButton: Viola and Todd both have this when the other is in trouble, to the point that Viola [[spoiler: fires a huge missile towards the Spackle and involves a fourth party in the war]] to save Todd's life.
** The Mayor seems to lack one until [[spoiler: Ben arrives towards the very end of Monsters of Men and Todd is reminded that he already has a father. It doesn't help that Todd tells him there was never a choice to be made]].
* BigBadassBattleSequence: Happens several times: [[spoiler: the battle in Farbranch]], the Spackle mutiny, and [[spoiler: the bloody war against the Spackle]] in ''Monsters of Men''. A common motif in this series.
* BigBulkyBomb: The Answer, especially when [[spoiler: they blow up the signal tower]] and [[spoiler: they launch a Thrace bomb into the monastery where Todd is working]].
** The [[spoiler: scout ship]] from Monsters of Men brings more of this. There are chapters revolving around [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], usually accompanied by a large BOOM!
* BizarreSexualDimorphism: Humans. On New World, men broacast their thoughts to everyone around them, women emit silence. Humans are the only species to do so.
* BondVillainStupidity: Todd. I mean, [[spoiler: he has the Mayor tied up ''right there'']] and doesn't do a thing about it. Instead, he bargains with the guy!
* BreakTheCutie: Todd gets his first taste of killing when he [[spoiler: attacks a Spackle on the basis that its species "killed all the women"]] and consequently freaks out and pukes. Viola gets this twice: once when [[spoiler: her scout ship crashes, killing her parents]] and [[spoiler: when she stabs Aaron to death]] in the waterfall church and throws up.
** Every main character gets a moment of this. Even minor characters display this trope at points, especially in the last two books.
** [[spoiler: for Manchee this trope is very [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin literal]] ]]
** At the end of ''Monsters of Men'' [[spoiler: Todd is nearly killed by 1017 just as the Mayor finally dies.]] Poor, poor, Viola...
* BlingOfWar: The Office of the Ask requires pretty shiny uniforms that have an 'A' pinned to the chest. It, too, is shiny. Toward the beginning of ''Monsters of Men'', one of the Mayor's officers brings him his general's uniform from the Spackle War and he gloats over it.
** Todd also ends up [[spoiler: wearing a duplicate of the [[LikeFatherLikeSon Mayor's]] uniform]]. It's [[RuleOfSymbolism important.]]
* BookDumb: Todd is almost completely illiterate. This acts as a BerserkButton for him; every time anyone offers to read something for him, he gets unreasonably angry.
* BoomStick: The Spackle in the first war were unarmed. Not now, they're not. [[spoiler: They now have some sort of explosive sticks that they touch together. And they're mounted on elephant-type animals.]]
* CarryABigStick: Oh, Aaron [[SimpleStaff does]]. Todd finds this out several times.
* CantHoldHisLiquor: Inverted with Viola. [[spoiler: But it turns out that she didn't drink beer at all...]]
* CatchPhrase: Among others, "I am the Circle and the Circle is me," "TODD HEWITT," "God hears," and "I am not your enemy". However, most of those are Aaron's [[MadnessMantra teachings]].
* ChallengingTheChief: Todd does this before [[spoiler: tying the Mayor up and threatening him]]. Come to think of it, Viola does, too, after Mistress Coyle [[spoiler: abandons her in the house of healing]].
* ChastityCouple: Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: There is ''one'' kiss in the entire trilogy.]] Slightly justified by the fact that it's a book aimed at young adults and they're both about 14.
* ChekhovsGun: The knife. All Todd says is that he wants it, and it ends up being the entire first book. Also, in the prequel ''The New World'', Viola's friend Bradley gives her a campfire box [[spoiler: which she uses to blow up a bridge]].
* ChildlessDystopia: New World. Because all the women in Prentisstown are dead, there hasn't been a child there in 13 years--not since the main character Todd was born.
* ClusterFBomb: Todd employs this a lot, usually denoted by ''"and do you think I said eff?"'' Contrast with Viola's PrecisionFStrike in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go''.
* ComatoseCanary: [[spoiler: Todd. He hears Viola's voice and the end of Monsters of Men is him talking. In his mind.]]
* ComeOutComeOutWhereverYouAre: Aaron, looking for Todd and Viola. [[spoiler: They're hiding in a church behind a waterfall.]]
* CompellingVoice: The Mayor has one. [[spoiler: Doesn't exactly help that he can control people using his Noise, either.]]
* CorruptChurch: No one's listening to Aaron; they're all praying for help or deliverance. Nice going.
* CreepyCathedral: The Mayor lives in one in New Prentisstown.
* CreepyCleanliness: The Mayor is nearly always in pristine white clothing [[spoiler: because he's never on the front lines himself]]. He's also pretty StraightEdgeEvil.
* DarkMessiah: Aaron. He says he's a saint right before [[spoiler: Todd punches him a lot and Viola stabs him through the neck.]]
* DeadpanSnarker: Todd and Viola. Also Corrine, to an extent, but she's more of an example of MyParentsAreDead.
* DeceasedParentsAreTheBest: Cillian, the tough-love [[PapaWolf dad]].
* DefinitelyJustACold: After the band on her arm makes her ill, Viola hides her illness from Todd even though she's been told the infection is [[spoiler: fatal.]] She tells him its sleep deprivation and when he asks her specifically about it, she admits that she's not feeling well but that she's fine.
* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: [[spoiler: Viola stabs Aaron in the waterfall church,]] but only after Todd hits him a lot.
* DidIJustSayThatOutLoud: Happens a lot in this series. Viola, at first, reacts to everything she sees in Todd's Noise. Subverted with Todd and the Mayor, whose noise is nearly always unhearable. Todd reacts to what he ''thinks'' is in the Mayor's head.
** It also happens with Bradley, who [[spoiler: arrives in the scout ship and develops the Noise for the first time]].
* DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu: The Mayor invites both Todd and Viola to dinner. He cancels just in time [[spoiler: to begin a war]].
* DirtyMindReading: Viola accidentally catches a rather racy daydream in Lee's Noise involving her.
* DividedWeFall: ''If one of us falls, we all fall.'''
* DisappearedDad: Ben, for most of the series. [[spoiler: He comes back in Monsters of Men, though.]]
* DisneyAcidSequence: This happens to Todd [[spoiler: after he contracts an infection from his knife, which is coated in Spackle blood]]. The world is all wavy and orange and yellow for a bit. He also hallucinates Aaron and Viola [[spoiler: and the Spackle he killed]].
* DoIReallySoundLikeThat: Todd asks Viola to do a Prentisstown accent and says that he doesn't sound like that.
* DoomedHometown: Prentisstown and Farbranch.
* DownerEnding: [[spoiler: Todd is in a coma after being attacked by 1017 at the end of Monsters of Men.]]
* EasilyConqueredWorld: The citizens of Haven are ridiculed for not putting up a fight when Mayor Prentiss and his army ride through. They simply surrendered.
* EmotionlessGirl: Viola, in her non-talking phase. Shortly after she does begin speaking, she has a DidYouThinkICantFeel moment and spurns Todd for thinking that she can't hear his Noise.
* EmotionSuppression: The more time Todd spends around the Mayor, the more time he learns to "quiet" his Noise. In reality, what he's quieting is his own emotions. Even Viola notices at one point that she feels a flicker of emotion in his Noise and then nothing as he "quiets" it.
* EnemyMine: The Mayor's forces and the Answer join together [[spoiler: to promote peace among them and the Spackle.]] Too bad it doesn't go well.
* EveryoneCanSeeIt: Everyone has commented on Todd and Viola's relationship at least once, though they don't resolve much of anything until [[spoiler: Monsters of Men.]]
* EyeScream: [[spoiler: Lee's eyes get burned out in ''Monsters of Men''.]]
* FatalFlaw: Todd and Viola's love for each other. Todd is unable to kill, much less do anything that would cause him to "lose her".
** By the end of the second book, that same flaw turns into their greatest strength.
---> '''Viola''': The Mayor’s wrong-
--->He’s wrong forever and ever-
--->It’s not that you should never love something so much it can control you.
--->It’s that you need to love something that much so you can never be controlled.
* FirstNameBasis: Todd and Davy. At first, Todd is taken aback when Davy calls him "Todd" instead of "pigpiss", but gets used to it.
** The Mayor ("Call me David") attempts to be on this with Todd. Never sticks.
** Ditto the Mayor and Viola. The Mayor calls Viola by her first name, which upsets Todd, but Viola refuses to ever call him by his.
* FisherKing: [[DrunkWithPower The Mayor]] lives in a freakin' [[spoiler: PALACE]].
** Eventually, everyone in New Prentisstown [[FisherKingdom just follows the rules]]. Except Todd and Viola.
* ForcedToWatch: Todd is forced to watch Viola being tortured for answers. [[BerserkButton He doesn't take it well.]]
* GetItOverWith: Todd tells Aaron to do this when he's lying in the mud [[spoiler: right before Aaron stabs him and takes Viola]].
* GreyAndGrayMorality: ''"There are no sides, my girl."'' No one is completely good or completely evil.
* HasTwoMommies: Inverted; Todd has two fathers in [[SoProudOfYou Ben]] and [[PapaWolf Cillian]].
** Is also implied in Monsters of Men that Ben and Cillian were in fact in a relationship.
* HeelFaceRevolvingDoor: Ivan always goes to the side that has more power.
* HeroicBSOD: After [[spoiler: Ben]] gets shot, Todd realizes he has nothing left; he is then snapped out of it by Viola.
* HiveMind: While capable of independent thought, action, and emotion, The Land consider themselves to be part of a greater whole with shared access to the knowledge, memories, and sight of each other. Because of this, any given individual is simply referred to as "The Land", with a few exceptions (e.g. The Sky, The Return).
* HiveQueen: The Sky is the leader of The Land, and as such is considered a separate individual. S/he's charged with making decisions for The Land, and can go so far as to force them into action against their better judgment. Naturally, this can cause problems.
* HolyHitman: Aaron.
* ICanStillFight: Viola has this attitude even though she is [[spoiler: suffering a fatal infection caused by an identification band on her arm.]]
* IDontLikeTheSoundOfThatPlace: Given that Prentisstown was a CrapsackWorld, ''New'' Prentisstown ''must'' be better!
* IHaveNoSon: Subverted, because the Mayor freely acknowledges that [[spoiler: he killed Davy]] and possibly regrets it. He is convinced, though, that Todd will become his ''true'' son in all but name.
* IHaveYourWife: The Mayor often threatens Viola's safety to get Todd to do what he wants.
* ILied: The Mayor does this quite often and seems kind of happy about it.
* IWillProtectHer: Todd to Viola. He spends a good deal of time threatening to kill anyone who dares look at her wrong. Also, works in reverse.
* IllKillYou: For a guy who can't stomach death very well, Todd sure does spend an awful lot of time threatening to kill someone or other. To be fair, he usually only threatens death (and slow, ''painful'' death at that) when someone threatens [[BerserkButton Viola.]]
* IllNeverTellYouWhatImTellingYou: Happens when Todd [[spoiler: tells the Mayor when and where the attack will be]].
* ImplacableMan: Aaron, getting eaten by a crocodile? Drowning in the swamp? No, it takes [[spoiler: a knife through the neck and falling off a waterfall to finally kill him.]]
* ImprobableAge: The entire premise of the book fits into this, but it's explicitly stated at one point that the adults expect Viola and Todd to run the New World once the war is over. They're ''14''.
** It is partially justified in-universe that the threshold for adulthood is much lower, which may have been the result of the original settlers needing more workers. Viola and Todd meet a four-year-old boy whose father asks him to milk the goats. Viola thinks this is odd...he's too young to be milking goats by himself. Todd points out that it's not that unusual in the New World. But to readers, the extreme responsibility shoved onto two young teenagers is a little weird.
** Also, the years are longer there,so Todd, at least, is older than 14, though not by much.
* InfoDump: Can't help it in Noise, can ya? This happens after Todd comes back from the swamp, thinking about the patch of silence there, [[spoiler: which starts this whole war process rolling]].
* ItsPersonal: Todd, when Aaron comes after him and [[spoiler: kidnaps Viola]]. Also a little bit of [[TheHunterBecomesTheHunted when Todd is chasing him down]].
* JerkAss: The Mayor, Mistress Coyle and Davy come to mind as well as Viola and Todd at times.
* KickTheDog: Aaron and the Mayor, and to an extent, Davy; he later does an almost complete HeelFaceTurn when he realizes that he and Todd [[spoiler: are VitriolicBestBuds]]. Also both Aaron and Davy kick Manchee in the face.
* KickThemWhileTheyAreDown: Aaron and Mayor Prentiss.
* KnifeNut: Todd, but only for the first book; [[spoiler: the knife goes over the waterfall, stuck in Aaron's neck]].
* LastVillainStand: [[spoiler: Mayor Prentiss' death. Mistress Coyle's as well.]]
* LeftHanging: [[spoiler: How ''Monsters of Men'' ends. We have no idea if Todd ever comes out of his coma.]]
* LivingEmotionalCrutch: Todd and Viola to each other, though it's played in a positive rather than a negative way.
* LoveIsAWeakness: The Mayor, after figuring out Viola is Todd's weakness, tells him never to love something so much it can be used to control you.
* LoveTriangle: Todd, Viola, and Lee.
** This is more of an ImaginaryLoveTriangle. Lee never stood a chance in the first place.
* MacheteMayhem: Let's have an honorable mention for Matthew Lyle!
* ManipulativeBastard: The Mayor [[IAmTheTrope is this trope]].
** And the trope is him!
* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: Davy Prentiss, Jr.
* MoreHypnotizableThanHeThinks: Todd, during his time with the Mayor.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: This is Todd's reaction after he [[spoiler: kills a Spackle]] in the first book. Viola has a similar reaction after she [[spoiler: kills Aaron.]]
* MyParentsAreDead: Viola's parents [[spoiler: died in the crash that landed her in the swamp]]. And Todd, to a degree; his mom is dead, and Cillian [[spoiler: dies protecting the farm]]. [[DotingParent Ben]] is {{MIA}}, supposedly dead. Until the end of ''Monsters of Men''; [[spoiler: he's alive and a BerserkButton for the Mayor]].
* NarrativeProfanityFilter: Todd uses this a ''lot''.
* NonHumanSidekick:
** Manchee
** Angharrad and Acorn in ''Monsters of Men'', too.
* NormallyIWouldBeDeadNow: Aaron. As stated above, [[spoiler: it takes a knife through the neck and a drop from a waterfall that's God knows how high up to kill him]].
* NotSoDifferent: The Mayor explains at the end of Monsters of Men that Todd has the potential to be as powerful and as cruel as he is, but he knows that Todd will make a different choice.
* NotQuiteHuman: The Spackle look like distorted men and grow lichen on their bodies in place of clothes.
* NoWomansLand: Prentisstown. [[spoiler: The Mayor set off a DepopulationBomb and committed {{Gendercide}}.]]
* OffingTheOffspring: The [[spoiler: Mayor]] does this to his son.
* OurAliensAreDifferent: The Spackle aren't out to kill anyone [[spoiler: until the events of ''The Ask and the Answer'' take place]]. The Noise germ was just out in the air.
* PetTheDog / KickTheDog: ''So'' many time by both Mayor Prentiss and Mistress Coyle. With Todd and Viola being the dog, respectively. The last two books seems to be a massive competition between the two of them repeatedly blowing the dog up, picking up the pieces, petting them back into shape, and kicking them again. However, this does play off as major character development on the Mayor and Mistress's part.
* PistolWhipping: Davy seems to like doing this; he attacks Todd this way, as well as the Spackle in the monastery. Todd also uses his rifle to hit the Mayor in the ear after [[spoiler: the Spackle attack the water tank]].
* PoisonAndCureGambit: It's reveal that the Mayor poisoned the bands used to [[spoiler: identify the Spackle and the women]] of New Prentisstown. Unfortunately, these bands start an infection that cannot be stopped and the bands are designed to grow into the skin, meaning they cannot be removed without the patient bleeding to death. Miraculously, he "finds a cure" just after he wins popularity as president. He doesn't charge for it, but it's implied that he's using it as a publicity stunt.
* PoisonedWeapons: Todd's knife [[spoiler: after he kills the Spackle and gets stabbed with the same knife]].
* PowerOfLove: [[spoiler: Whenever Todd wants to hurt the crazed Mayor with his noise, he winds up his emotions and hits him with Viola's name.]]
* PreciousPuppies: Manchee. He licks Todd's face when he knows Todd is feeling down and goes to great lengths to protect him.
* PrecisionFStrike: From [[spoiler: Viola]] to Todd.
* PursuedProtagonist: Todd. Often pursued by the Mayor on [[HellishHorse Morpeth]], along with [[spoiler: a whole army]] in the first book.
* RageQuit: [[spoiler: First with Mistress Coyle's bomb for the Mayor after she knew she lost, and then the Mayor after he knew he lost Todd to Ben.]]
* RedOniBlueOni: Todd and Viola.
* RomanticFalseLead: Lee.
* SayingTooMuch: Todd can't help it in the beginning, nor when [[spoiler: Viola is being Asked]]. He gives a piece of vital information to try and save her. [[spoiler: Never mind that Viola told him that in the first place...]] And Manchee, too; he burbles on and on, and sometimes [[NeverSayThatAgain things]] come out.
* ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem!: President Prentiss. Sneaky, underhanded [[MagnificentBastard bastard]].
* SecretWeapon: Todd thinks that the Mayor is making one of these in ''The Knife of Never Letting Go''. He'd be right. [[spoiler: [[MagnificentBastard The Mayor]] is able to control his Noise and that of others. Oh, and he's been making bombs as well.]]
* SelectiveSlaughter: In the Mayor's case, [[spoiler: it was {{Gendercide}}]].
* SenseLossSadness: With a twist. When Todd learns to quiet his Noise, it's not him who is upset. It's ''Viola''. She's worried because she can't read him like she used to. This is made even more worrisome for her because the more time Todd spends around the Mayor, the more his personality changes. She worries at one point that "her Todd" is gone.
* ShipTease: Viola and Todd, constantly. It's actually rather odd to have such an intense romantic subplot in a young adult series, and especially one that is as teased to death as this one.
* SinisterMinister: Aaron. UpToEleven.
* SirSwearsalot: Todd. ''"The effs, Todd? And the geedees? God hears..."''
* Space Amish: The first settlers try his - they left Earth for a simpler, more religious life, which explains their primitive technology level for a sci-fi set on another planet. And the they get into a few wars. But the intention was there.
* SmugSnake: Ivan.
* StillTheLeader: Todd. He picks up the slack where Davy leaves it, and ends up [[spoiler: heading a bounty-hunting party for the Mayor on his own time]].
* StuffBlowingUp: What happens throughout the second and third books.
* SomeoneHasToDie: [[HeroicDog Manchee]], [[spoiler: when Aaron rips him in half]]. Followed almost immediately by Todd's BigNo. Well, he was [[UndyingLoyalty extraordinarily loyal]] to Todd, even though he didn't want Manchee. Also a RightHandAttackDog and the requisite TalkingAnimal.
* SugarAndIcePersonality: Viola. At the outset, she seems to have no feelings whatsoever. However, when Todd thinks she isn't able to hear him, she gives him the silent treatment.
* SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum: [[spoiler:The Mayor, having gone completely insane from being able to hear EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME, decides that he'd rather not have to hear anything anymore... but makes sure to set everything on fire and order his army to destroy what remains of the Answer and set ''what remains of his army'' up to be destroyed by the Spackle before he goes.]]
* TakingOverTheTown: Mayor Prentiss, bent on taking over the world, loves to do this. Prentisstown used to be called New Elizabeth before he took over. When he takes over Haven, he renames it New Prentisstown (which, not surprisingly, is not an improvement on the old Prentisstown).
* ThatLiarLies: Todd, mostly referring to the Mayor. Which is true; the Mayor is the ManipulativeBastard of the series...
* TelepathicSpacemen: The Spackle, who were the first ones to have the Noise.
* TheBarnum: Mayor Prentiss.
* TheDogBitesBack: Manchee, who [[spoiler: takes Aaron's nose off. He doesn't just bite it, he bites it o-f-f bites it off!]]
* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: The Mayor's entire philosophy. He uses MoreThanMindControl to achieve his ends a lot of the time.
* TheHerosBirthday: Though it doesn't start on his ''actual'' birthday, the catalyst for the series is Todd's approaching 13th birthday, at which time he'll be considered a man.
** Though as Viola points out, it's sort of an arbitrary thing...since New World years are slightly longer than Old World years, he's already 13. In fact, he's 14.
* TheMutiny: First starts in New Elizabeth, [[spoiler: which is now Prentisstown]], when the women tried to escape. Happens again in New Prentisstown, but no one knows what to do. Except Todd, who [[spoiler: organizes a team to go after the Mayor]].
* TheOnlyOneITrust: Viola and Todd trust each other completely without question, but do not trust anyone else.
* ThePlague: The Noise germ. Haven had developed a cure for it, [[spoiler: but the Mayor burned it all]].
* TheSociopath:
** Davy begins as this.
** [[spoiler: Viola]] can come off as this at her worst moments [[spoiler: most notably choosing to bomb the Spackle and include a fourth party in the war]] {{justified|Trope}} considering her age and situation.
* TheTower: It's where Todd and Con Ledger end up living. And it smells; not exactly a bastion of strength. [[spoiler: Considering it gets blown all to hell, ''really'' not an icon of strength.]]
* TheWarRoom: A rather crappy version exists [[spoiler: after the Mayor's palace gets blown up.]] There's a campfire in the middle, but the army's just ''laying around in there''. For God's sake, it's almost its own town!
* TheyHaveTheScent: Right before [[spoiler: Todd goes to find Viola again,]] Manchee claims to know where she is. Todd is skeptical at first, but [[TheNoseKnows Manchee is sure]].
* ThinkingOutLoud: Noise is unavoidable, [[spoiler: but you can suppress it like the Mayor is so good at doing]].
* TimeBomb: [[DrunkWithPower The Answer]]'s only form of offensive power.
* TookALevelInBadass: Viola. Once when [[spoiler: she blows up the bridge]], again when [[spoiler: she [[ShockAndAwe electrocutes Davy]]]], and several more times besides. [[spoiler: For the explosion and electricity, she pulled apart [[ChekhovsGun her fire box and her ship signal.]]]]
* TriggerHappy: Davy in [[spoiler: the battle for Farbranch]]. Todd sees him firing his gun into the air ''"when there's nothing else for him to shoot"''. If you look at who his father is, [[TheFamilyThatSlaysTogether it's not a big surprise]].
* {{Tsundere}}: Todd, when he first met Viola in the first book and when he started working with Davy in the second book. [[spoiler: He's also rather deredere with Davy.]]
** Viola too. A type B, rather.
* TwangHello: There are several variants: Aaron with his staff, Viola with her [[spoiler: ship signal]], the Spackle, the Mayor's [[spoiler: Noise weapon]], the Answer's [[BigBulkyBomb Big Bulky Bombs]], and Manchee.
* TyrantTakesTheHelm: See TheMutiny, above. [[spoiler: The Mayor does this to New Elizabeth, which results in a DepopulationBomb and {{Gendercide}}.]]
* UnbrokenVigil: Todd and Viola with each other at various points in the series.
* UnderNewManagement: See TheMutiny, above.
* WarIsHell: It seems to be swinging this way, but it's more of a cautionary tool against war.
* WeComeInPeaceShootToKill: The settlers, upon discovering the Spackle and just generally being asshats, slaughter them and almost completely annihilate the species. They start fighting back in The Ask and the Answer, 1017 especially.
* WeHaveWaysOfMakingYouTalk: The point of the Mayor's Ask organization. They torture people suspected of helping the "terrorists." Viola is tortured at one point and comes away with two broken ankles and more.
* WellDoneSonGuy: Davy just wants his dad to like him. Oh well, at least he expresses pride in his son several times [[spoiler: before shooting him]].
* WhewThatWasBoom: Frequently.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: This questions comes up constantly for Todd in terms of fighting the Spackle.
* WhyDidYouMakeMeHitYou: Happens a lot in The Ask and the Answer.
* WickedCultured: Mayor Prentiss. Mistress Coyle could also be an example.
* WillTheyOrWontThey: Happens ''all the time'' with Todd and Viola.
* WomenAreWiser: {{Played with}} regarding Mistress Coyle and the Answer, seemingly played straight Viola [[spoiler: until Monsters of Men]]
* {{Yandere}}: Todd seems to be really threatening whenever Mayor Prentiss or anyone tries to question Viola. His face went blank when [[spoiler: Viola "left" him]]. He also refers to Viola as "Good girl" or "That's my girl".[[spoiler: He'd also "do anything" for the Mayor to keep Viola safe.]] To be fair, Viola acts the exact same way in terms of him.
* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: Every time the Mayor says that Todd is LikeASonToMe, or even that he is [[SoProudOfYou proud]] of his actions, Todd usually follows up with [[ShutUpHannibal denial and then just ignores it]].
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