History Literature / TheWindupGirl

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Kanya has her followers massacre the [=AgriGen=] executives and move the seedbank elsewhere, preventing the calorie companies from trying to fix the mess they've made of the world.]]

* NoodleIncident: Whatever mess happened in Finland when the Calorie Men tried to seize the seedbank there.

* AsskickingEqualsAuthority: Jaidee was a ''muay thai'' fighter before he became a White Shirt, and he makes sure to always take the lead in fighting, rather than leave it to his subordinates.

* FloodedFutureWorld: This is a major background element and plot point. The novel takes place in 23rd century Bangkok, which is actually below sea level after ClimateChange has taken its toll and only survives thanks to enormous sea-walls and powerful pumps that work throughout the monsoon season.

The events of the novel take place in 23rd century UsefulNotes/{{Thailand}}. ClimateChange has raised the ocean levels to the point where pumps work continuously to keep UsefulNotes/{{Bangkok}} above water. Fossil fuels have all but been exhausted; the main sources of portable energy are hand-wound "kink-springs". [[MegaCorp Megacorps]] dominate the world through biotechnology -- the crops they sell are engineered to be resistant to diseases both natural and man-made, but they're also sterile so their customers become reliant, with some countries like India and Burma run as virtual puppet states for the "calorie companies". Reckless genetic engineering has led to the destruction of the natural ecosystem. The few plants and animals which have been modified to survive are constantly under threat from the latest viral mutations, as is the entire human race.

* TheImmune: Windups are immune to all diseases, [[spoiler: so Emiko takes care of the dying Anderson with no ill effects and at the end of the story, Emiko thrives in the flooded Bangkok and can keep from overheating by drinking and swimming in the dirty water.]]

* EvilChancellor: The Somdet Chaopraya, who rules as regent as [[AChildShallLeadThem Thai's queen is still a child]]. While the young queen is presented as well-meaning--offering sanctuary to the Yellow Card refugees and supporting Jaidee's efforts--the Somdet Chaopraya is in alliance with Trade Minister Akkarat who plans to usurp the Environment Ministry's power in a CivilWar, and arranges for Jaidee to be framed and killed to further this scheme.

* EvilChancellor: The Somdet Chaopraya, who in alliance with Trade Minister Akkarat plans to usurp the Environment Ministry's power by launching TheCoup. He forms an EnemyMine alliance with Anderson, even though he makes no secret of his contempt for the "Calorie Man".

** Everyone hates the Calorie Men, meaning Anderson is basically a secret agent posing as a Western businessmen to stop himself from being lynched. Even the conspirators make no secret of their desire to have his head squashed under a megodont's foot.

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The calorie companies control of sterile grain is taken from the so-called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Terminator_seeds "terminator seed"]].

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Terminator_seeds"terminator seed"]] though it's been since been [[http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/terminator-seeds.aspx dismissed as a myth]].

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: [[spoiler:Kanya has her followers massacre the [=AgriGen=] executives and move the seedbank elsewhere.]]

** Anderson dismisses his coughing up blood as a side effect of the torture he went through at Akkarat's hands... even though the audience knows that [[spoiler:he's been exposed to a new and deadly disease from the algae baths]].

* RippedFromTheHeadlines: The "terminator seed", though it's been [[http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/terminator-seeds.aspx http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto#Terminator_seeds dismissed as myth]].

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Trade Minister Akkarat isn't willing to hand over his country's seed bank to the calorie companies, as it's the only guarantee of his country's independence. [[spoiler:And when the Somdet Chaopraya is murdered all Thais -- no matter how villainous -- are outraged by this attack on royalty.]]

* {{Fingore}}: [Akkarat tortures Anderson by breaking his fingers.

* ChekhovsGun: In a small paragraph early on, it mentioned how Hock Seng has his hopes riding on the new kink-springs, which only have a 75% rate of working. So without its inventor's knowledge, he introduces pig DNA into the algae bath (in his culture, pigs are good luck). Later on in the story, this is likely the cause of the new plague outbreak once the baths are left to spoil.

* CoolCar: By virtue of being the only car seen in the story. Akkarat's coal-diesel limousine is an [[ConspiciousConsumption obscene display of wealth and luxury]] in a world of depleted fossil fuels where most transport is powered by humans, animals, or wind.

“And we all know windups have no souls.” Gibbons grins. “No rebirth for them. They will have to find their own gods to protect them. Their own gods to pray for their dead.” His grin widens. “Perhaps I will be that one, and [[Foreshadowing your windup children will pray to me for salvation]].”