You can’t save the world

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https://leahmusic.bandcamp.com/track/save-the-world

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It is common in modern epic fantasy for the protagonist to be saving the world from a powerful force of evil. While I am still formalizing my ideas around this, I am increasingly reaching the conclusion that world-saving-stories are a practice that is both unhelpful and unhealthy.

World-saving-stories have several essential premises that are false:

• The world is mostly good
• The world can be comprehensively conquered or destroyed
• The world can be saved by someone other than Christ

That is humanism.

Alternative

An alternative setting style is Christian Gothic.

Christian Gothic emphasizes and dramatizes the fallen state of humanity.

The world is fallen and wicked.

A remnant of good is trying to uphold virtue amidst a sea of vice.

Yet the heroes need not fear, for good cannot be snuffed out, and is the true foundation of the world.

The wicked are dependent upon a Creator they reject.

Rules

No world saving

The protagonist should never be trying to save the world.

With the possible exception for that goal to ultimately be subverted.

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With the further caveat that subverting primary story goals tends to result in conflicted stories and dissatisfied audiences

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