Gladiatorial contests: Difference between revisions
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* [[Elizabeth Bear]], ''[[Carnival (novel)|Carnival]]'' (2006) (men win glory by athletic and martial competitions) | * [[Elizabeth Bear]], ''[[Carnival (novel)|Carnival]]'' (2006) (men win glory by athletic and martial competitions) | ||
* [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]] books | * [[Marion Zimmer Bradley]] books | ||
* [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], "[[The Matter of Seggri]]" (1994) | * [[Ursula K. Le Guin]], "[[The Matter of Seggri]]" (1994) | ||
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* ''[[Birds of Prey (TV series)]]'' episode [[Gladiatrix]] 1x10 (2003) (meta-humans) | * ''[[Birds of Prey (TV series)]]'' episode [[Gladiatrix]] 1x10 (2003) (meta-humans) | ||
* ''[[Blood Ties (TV series)]]'' episode 1x10 (2007) "[[Necrodrome]]" (former boxers resurrected zombie-style) | * ''[[Blood Ties (TV series)]]'' episode 1x10 (2007) "[[Necrodrome]]" (former boxers resurrected zombie-style) | ||
* [[Diana Wynne Jones]], ''[[Dark Lord of Derkholm]]'' (Kit and Blade are forced to fight for entertainment) | |||
* pretty sure there was at least one [[Star Trek]] with these plot, and maybe a [[Xena]] | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 18:38, 12 March 2009
Gladiatorial contests are a recurrent theme of fascination in fiction and in SF.
Typically works that feature societies with gladiatorial contests are intended to suggest thmes associated with the fall of the Roman Empire: a debased and inhumane populace, with the wealthy able to satisfy any vices, the poor subject to slavery or abuse, a lack of ethics protecting the weak and disenfranchised, and a lack of religious codes restricting various sexual or other codes.
Characters may be sent to compete in gladiatorial contests, to show their nobility of spirit, strength, fighting skills, etc.
In a number of works featuring gender division, men are disempowered directly or indirectly, but have a major role as athletic competition.
examples
- Elizabeth Bear, Carnival (2006) (men win glory by athletic and martial competitions)
- Marion Zimmer Bradley books
- Ursula K. Le Guin, "The Matter of Seggri" (1994)
- Modesty Blaise in the Those About to Die arc
A bunch of stories feature people (sometimes, "people") kidnapped, brainwashed, or in some other way enslaved and forced to compete in gladiatorial-style contests:
- Angel (TV series) episode 1x16 "The Ring" (2000) (demons)
- Birds of Prey (TV series) episode Gladiatrix 1x10 (2003) (meta-humans)
- Blood Ties (TV series) episode 1x10 (2007) "Necrodrome" (former boxers resurrected zombie-style)
- Diana Wynne Jones, Dark Lord of Derkholm (Kit and Blade are forced to fight for entertainment)
See also
- pouty slave boys
- Gladiator Games at TV Tropes wiki