#immortality in fiction

[mask131]

I think I posted about this before, but since people have been talking about "Blood of Zeus" this whole subject is being thrown back at me again...

What is it with American media and its obsession with having the Greek gods die?

Because that's this sort of big trend everywhere, from Blood of Zeus to Wonder Woman, it is always about how turns out the Greek gods can die and they do so on a regular basis? And... I mean why are they so adamant and insistant about this?

Don't get me wrong, I do understand the whole "death of the old gods" trope and "American Gods" is one of my favorite novels (or "Small Gods" to take a more fantasy example). But I am not speaking about works that explore the idea that gods fade out with their worship. I am speaking about these specific works that just always introduce the idea that "Oh yeah gods are not immortal, they're just hard to kill" or "Oh yeah turns out there IS a weapon that can kill the gods, it just never came up until now".

Because... that reflects already how people today do not get Greek mythology. Greek mythology is NOT Norse mythology, for example. Norse mythology DOES have mortal gods. Gods that not only are wounded - like the Greek gods - or poisoned - like the Egyptian gods - but who also have to be faced with mortality, with aging, with the eventual end of all things... The entire idea of the "death of the gods" is woven in Norse beliefs and in the depiction of Scandinavian gods. It is a key part of this mythology - to the point when the gods DID find an entity that seemingly would not die despite all of their efforts, they FREAKED OUT.

And then... You have Greek mythology. Where the gods do not age, are immortal, cannot die, do not know in the slightest what mortality is (or rather do not know it on a personal level). There is no "death of the gods" in Greek mythology, and this explains a lot about the gods' behavor and depiction. It is precisely BECAUSE the gods are immortal and endless that they must get VERY inventive to deal with each other (from the "vore technique" to the castration passing by all sorts of chaining, imprisonment and enslavment). It also explains why they have such bizarre love-hate relationships with each other, precisely because they are stuck with each other for ever, and thus they can't have the same relationships mortal beings such as us human can have with each other.

This is integral to understanding how the Greeks conceived the gods, and how the myths worked - and not only that but is part of the spice of Greek mythology retellings, because to have characters that cannot die is a narrative challenge in itself that encourages us to work our imagination! And yet... Everytime American media just treats them as super-heroes (it doesn't help that I used "Wonder Woman" as an example) and has them be killed as if it was, you know, NORMAL? Sometimes there's not even a really big deal made out of it and... It kind of saddens me. I guess it is just the easiest way to go the "let's be edgy mode, let's killt he immortal!". Except it isn't even a big stuff like how God of War had "Let's kill the gods!", at least it made a point of it being WORLD CHANGING you know?

And against that you have so many works that treat the killing of Greek gods as just... something normal, you know? It is even worse when there are crossovers between Norse and Greek mythologies because they do not make any effort at reconciling these opposite deities.

All these medias I am refering to were PERFECT for Norse mythology - they were DESIGNED for Norse gods. Because the Norse gods are so much closer to your American super-heroes than the Greek gods, because the Norse gods are precisely about dealing with death on a regular basis, and Americans' recent love for Norse gods in media does prove the point there is something that echoes Americans' fictional expectations in ancient Scandinavia. And yet... every time it is about the Greek gods.

Is it really so hard to commit yourself to writing something about immortal gods that are ACTUALLY immortal? That's like the worldbuilding basis number 1 in Greek mythology... Anyway, that was just my cranky old man rant.

[torpublishinggroup]

This advertisement is for The Archive Undying—a debut science fantasy epic from Emma Mieko Candon, and book one in their Downworld Sequence, featuring commissioned fanart of Sunai, the book's main character. The artist is Caitlin Ono.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Plugged into his AI god when its corruption renders him unfortunately immortal, sad gay disaster Sunai takes a die-again-or-die-trying approach to his tragically unending life. Despotic police states want to leash him and giant robots want to eat him, but reuniting with the small handful of people he cares about is what’s actually horrifying.

Adrift in the wilds, Sunai makes several unwise decisions such as:

Scavenging old ruins haunted by hostile fragments of another shattered technological deity

Allowing his mind to become further compromised

Sleeping with his mysterious employer for information and fun

Joining a haphazard crew of pirates who all have different motives for hunting a feral remnant of the same god that cursed him, all those years ago

This brain-melting series-starter is like a Neon Genesis Evangelion AMV set to a bass-boosted cover of George Michael’s "Careless Whisper."

[the-modern-typewriter]

Can i get an immortal villain×mortal hero please please please🥺

I'll give you my croissants 🥐🥐🥐

"How would you like to die?" the villain asked. Their eyes were closed where they sat upon a park bench, head tipped back to the cool breeze and the clear blue sky.

The hero stopped, a little uncertain, but not exactly startled.

"I've tried every kind of death," the villain said. "I can make a recommendation if you prefer."

"I'm not going to die."

The villain's lips twisted - a smile, of sorts. "All mortals die. It is the linchpin of their condition."

"I won't die because of you."

The villain's smile broadened. "Drowning, perhaps. Or maybe suffocation. I don't want to disturb the ducks."

"Why those in particular?"

The villain finally deigned to open their eyes at the question, considering the hero where they stood. The hero couldn't quite read the villain's expression, but their voice remained casual. "Everyone always thinks they can survive those ones. If they just thrash, just fight, hard enough. Then they go very still and very quiet when they realise they can't. You have time to realise what's going to happen to you, see."

"Nice to see you at least put thought into your craft."

"What can I say, I'm a sweetheart. You only get one death."

"But you don't."

"You've done some research. Not enough," the villain added, tipping their head, "seeing as you're still standing there talking to me. But some. Kudos. I guess we'll see if you're brave or stupid."

"I'm not trying to kill you."

"Contain me. Incapacitate me." The villain waved a dismissive hand. "You might save your generation, perhaps, if you get lucky. Are you feeling lucky?"

"I'm not trying to do that either."

"Oh?" The villain sat up a little, finally tuning in properly to the conversation. "Are you not a hero? You dress like one."

"I'm hoping to find a more peaceful, effective solution."

The villain slumped, bored, again. "Mm. This should be good."

"Because I have done my research," the hero said, taking another step closer. "You're immortal. You only kill people when they attack you or are in the way of you wanting something."

"As I said, I'm a sweetheart and a saint."

The hero's jaw tightened. The villain had slaughtered thousands across the decades after all. They were many things, and had lived many lives, but in none of them had they ever been a sweetheart or a saint.

"And what you want most," the hero ploughed on, "other than your comfortable life, is not to be bored. There's no end, after all. So you need distraction. Diversion. Something to make time a little less of of a prison."

The villain was silent for a long moment, watching the hero. "I take it back," they said, finally. "I'm going to drive a knife through your ribs. Nice and slow. You know it's much harder to die from a stab wound than people think? Often it's the blood loss that gets ya."

"And then what?"

The villain shrugged. "Feed the ducks. Go back to my book. Make Christmas lights out of your bones. The possibilities are endless!"

"Sounds lonely."

"You think you're the first to try this, don't you?"

"I think you haven't met me before."

"Maybe I will entertain myself with you," the villain said. "Maybe I'll destroy your life and the live of everyone you talk to from now on. That could be fun. It's been a while since I've been so personal a devil."

Despite themselves, the hero swallowed. Despite their resolve, they considered walking away. Just for a moment.

The villain pushed to their feet, tossing their paperback carelessly aside.

The hero squared their shoulders. They felt their suddenly-fragile feeling heart begin to race. They let the villain stop in front of them, they tried not to let out a desperate shudder as the villain's fingers wrapped around their throat.

"Pick an option," the villain said, caressing their pulse. "Lose air. Lose blood. Or lose everything, but get a few more years before you go. If you ask really nicely, I might even make it quick. "

The hero shifted. They passed through the villain's fingers as if it were nothing, as if the villain were nothing. A ghost. Untouchable.

When the villain turned, the hero sat on the bench the villain had vacated. They made a show of picking up the villain's book, willing their once-more solid fingers not to tremble.

The villain raised an eyebrow. "Phasing. Cute."

"I don't age when I'm in ghost mode. Any injuries I have heal. If someone kills me, I stay dead, presumably. I'm mortal, as you say, but..."

"Hard to kill."

"Hardest you'll find. Or does the challenge scare you?"

"Determined little martyr, aren't you?"

"Not like you have anything to lose experimenting. You have all the time in the world."

"You realise I don't have to honour any deal now that you've revealed your hand? I could just hunt you and continue hurting other people, especially now I know how much it bothers me."

"I'll disappear."

"I have all the time in the world. I'd find you eventually."

"I guess then I'd just vanish again, if you don't want to play ball."

"You really are just the cutest, aren't you?"

"Is that a yes?"

"Maybe." The villain held out a hand for their book. "I haven't decided. Buy me lunch. See if you can keep my interest for more than five minutes."

"Lunch."

"There's a new cafe I haven't tried. Apparently they make their own croissants."

"You want to go to lunch with me?"

"No, I want to go to lunch. All this talk of bloodshed is giving me the munchies! But I'm assuming you're currently planning to haunt me, so you may as well pay. Unless you want me to just...kill anyone who tries to charge me."

"No! No."

"That's what I thought. Great minds."

The hero pushed to their feet, as the villain had, tentatively offering them their book back. They weren't entirely sure if that encounter had gone well or not.

The villain smiled, full of teeth, eyes gleaming.

"For your sake, little hero, do try not to be boring."

And, so, they went for lunch.

[lampyri]

Hi! I finally have the capacity to be doing something like this so I'll be drawing a sketchy headshot (see above) in exchange for $7+ donations to any of the gfms linked below:

Donation campaigns - May 20

Vetted fundraisers from Gaza & Sudan

Gazafunds

Gazaesims (1 9$ eSim = 1 headshot, 1 $16 eSim = 2 headshots)

All I'll require is a receipt/proof along with the timestamp sent through DM and I'll draw you a headshot of any character of your choice!

In case you're unable to donate please reblog this post to spread the word!!!

[reality-detective]

Immortality of the Soul is spooky shit 🤔

[im-trying-guys]

Listen you can dislike any ship you want but please don’t come out here saying sonadow is a proship please tell me y’all know what cryosleep is

[the-brutal-hymn-of-gunpowder]

So very normal about the mechanisms relationship with immortality, the distinct difference between "being immortal" and "not being able to die" they much more often state that they just cant die, the emphasis of so many of their characters being stuck in a tortures half alive state being keept alive and locked up against their will, the emphasis that time not might but will drive you mad if you have enough of it, Rose, King Cole, the City, Odin etc. the gentle emphasis in Elysian fields and in the whole of bifrost about how death, true death can be relieve, especially when the alternative is living hell, the mechs own deaths being so much just...them and in so many cases in the end one way or another...by their own free will, or at least in a desperate atempt to find something, anything new, the toy solider deciding to stop pretending, just driving home again and again and again that immortality is so much more grand and horrorfying than eternal life

[rosecorcoranwrites]

You make it all the way to the Second Act of the notorious, accursed play, The King in Yellow, only to find that it opens with a monologue by The Stranger that begins, "Hi my name is Yellow Dark’ness Demhe Hyades Way and I have long yellow kingly robes (that’s how I got my name) with scolloped tatters and orange tips that reaches my mid-calf and icy blue eyes like limpid tears and a lot of people tell me I look like Aldones (AN: if u don’t know who she is get da hell out of here!).

[whereserpentswalk]

Vampires living in the 31st century who were bitten in the late 20th century or early 21st century.

War on terror era soldier constantly paranoid about terrorist excursions within humanity's empires. Dresses in Kevlar when going into battle during the age of power armor and force fields.

"Amercian psycho" looking businessman from silicon valley who hangs out with space nobility. Everyone is very uncomfortable with his ties to brutal systems of exploitation, and even more so how he draws a connection between modern systems of exploitation and 21st century capitalism.

Environmental activist who travels with colonization crews and is obsessed with terriforming empty planets. Gets a weird sort of euphoria seeing empty words become lush when to everyone else it's normal. They either only drink animal blood due to pacifism, or only drink human blood due to vaganisn.

If you have ideas for more reblog or comment with them.

[frodo-of-the-nine-fingers]

i do think izzy's "the only retirement we get is death" line is so funny because like the thing he's most famous for is being a b list villain in one of the most popular children's books of all time where he gets killed by a preteen. so like yes, the only retirement in store for him is death, but on the other hand, he can never actually die (or never stop dying depending on how you look at it) because he's been immortalized in one of the most well known and most adaptated fictional works of all time

[torpublishinggroup]

This advertisement is for The Archive Undying—a debut science fantasy epic from Emma Mieko Candon, and book one in their Downworld Sequence.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT

Plugged into his AI god when its corruption renders him unfortunately immortal, sad gay disaster Sunai takes a die-again-or-die-trying approach to his tragically unending life. Despotic police states want to leash him and giant robots want to eat him, but reuniting with the small handful of people he cares about is what’s actually horrifying.

Adrift in the wilds, Sunai makes several unwise decisions such as:

Scavenging old ruins haunted by hostile fragments of another shattered technological deity

Allowing his mind to become further compromised

Sleeping with his mysterious employer for information and fun

Joining a haphazard crew of pirates who all have different motives for hunting a feral remnant of the same god that cursed him, all those years ago

This brain-melting series-starter is like a Neon Genesis Evangelion AMV set to a bass-boosted cover of George Michael’s "Careless Whisper."

[the-modern-typewriter]

ah, could you write something about a vampire x mortal who always reincarnates

The vampire recognised the scent of them immediately. Part of them thought it might be wishful thinking. The other part burned with thirst and longing and too many raw things for any one person - supposedly soulless vampire or not - to cope with.

If they needed to breathe, they would have been breathless.

It wasn't them.

It couldn't be them.

"Jesus," they heard their lovely and inexplicable love murmur. "What have they done to you?!"

The sounds of the world grew a little louder as the human began to tear down the wall around them, inch by cold and concrete inch. The vampire felt like they had been trapped for a very long time.

(They suspected that they might have been trapped for a very long time).

The sound of that blood, that impossibly familiar blood, roared in their ears. A heartbeat. A lifeline. A hangman's noose.

"Don't." The words were inaudible with disuse. The whisper of cracked plaster and old bones long since desiccated.

Cool air caressed the hollow of the vampire's throat as that part of the wall was shattered through first. The vampire couldn't see them straight away, there was only the agony of hope. Glimpses.

Their love had a new haircut - something of the contemporary style, perhaps? Their eyes were so much older than their face. Their lips were pressed in a harsh, trembling, utterly livid line.

Was it truly them?

Their love looked like a strange memory, not quite accurate to the version that the vampire knew. Different. The same. Younger?

The vampire tumbled out of their broken cage less like a deadly immortal apex predator and more like a Jenga tower made out of soggy potato wedges.

The human caught them, cradled them close, pressing frantic kisses atop their no-doubt horribly greasy hair.

"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner," the human said. "I thought you were dead. If I'd known - it's going to be okay now. You're going to be okay."

Maybe it was a hallucination.

Maybe the vampire had finally died.

That blood was so close, so enticing, a siren call that they were too pathetically weak to even reach for. They didn't feel like a living thing at all.

The vampire groaned.

"Blood." The human - the hallucination, the everything because if they were dead or hallucinating than at least the vampire got to see them again - blurted the word. "You need blood. Of course you need blood! You must be starving. Shit. Okay."

The kisses stopped crowning their head.

It was possible that hallucinations were supposed to hurt less.

The scent of blood grew stronger. Something was pressed against the vampire's mouth and -

They drank.

When the vampire came to themselves again, they had only the vaguest memory of stumbling out of the tunnels and into the inky night. The human's arm was warm and secure around them. There was a bed. Soft sheets. Fresh air. A growing strength returning to their body.

The room around them was clear. The human sitting by the bed was undoubtedly there, but still impossible. Still some miracle.

"You look a lot less dead now," the human said, apparently making a remarkable effort to keep their voice light. "That's good. Dead doesn't suit you."

"You died." The vampire had processed the grief for years, as if such loss could be neatly packaged and boxed away like a vampire feral with mourning.

"I came back. I didn't realise you had too."

"You're..." The vampire's brow furrowed. They sat up, slow and careful lest they terrify their definitely not a vampire but not quite mortal love.

"And you're a vampire," the human said. "Wow. When did that happen?"

"Shortly after you died. You died."

"Sorry. I didn't do it on purpose."

They stared at each other, disbelieving and so crippled by relief that it left them both shy and faltering.

What did one say to the reincarnated version of someone they had loved more than anything? What did one say to a blood-thirsty monster who had spent the last decade or so entombed in a wall?

It felt somewhere between a second chance, beautiful and shining and everything that they had ever wanted...and an utterly sick joke.

The vampire wanted to kiss them.

"And you're back," the vampire said.

"And you're a vampire."

"I didn't do it on purpose." They would never have chosen an eternity without their love on purpose and yet...there they sat. The vampire was glad that they didn't have to blink, didn't have to tear their attention away for even a millisecond.

Their hand twitched on the bedsheet. They were abruptly aware that a long chain connected their wrist to the headboard.

Their love coloured. "I wasn't sure if you'd try and eat me again. You weren't...you weren't quite yourself."

"It's okay."

"It's not okay. What they did to you - if I hadn't come back - if I'd found you sooner -" It was so like them that it had to be real, and so the vampire had to smile.

"It's okay," they said. "You're back. You found me."

Everything would be okay because they were there.

The moment after that, the two of them were clinging to each other like they were clutching for the last life boat off the Titanic.

Everything was going to be okay.

"God," the human mumbled into their neck, "I missed you. I thought I was - I thought I was alone. I thought you were gone."

"Never." The vampire kissed them, then, claiming and tender. "I'll never be gone again. I'll wait for you forever."

Their mortal would never wake up with that shattering grief again.

The vampire grew used to the exquisite pleasure-pain of the reincarnation cycles after that.

[princesssarisa]

Tamora Pierce has been open about the celebrity facecasting she used for the main characters of The Immortals.

This is what Daine looks like (Trini Alvarado, as she appeared in the early '90s, most notably as Meg in the 1994 Little Women):

This is what Numair looks like (Jeff Goldblum in his late 20s/early 30s):

And this is Emperor Ozorne around the time of Emperor Mage (Ozzy Osbourne, circa 1980):

[hollygl125]

All I Ever Wanted Was to Stand Beside You: Costa Rica to the Ishmael, and Then Some: A How They Fell Apart & How They Came Back Together Story

[usefulquotes7]

the fact that i'm no longer the same age as the protagonists of novels and films i once connected to is so heartbreaking. there was a time when I looked forward to turning their age. i did. and i also outgrew them. i continue to age, but they don't; never will. the immortality of fiction is beautiful, but cruel.

[artemx746]

”you’re… warm.”

“yeah, you’re warm too.”

NOBODY FUCKING SPEAK TO ME