# Fictional works where the revealed mystery is awesome **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225 "2012-01-30T21:04:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/1 "2012-01-30T21:04:37Z")
As a counterpoint to the other thread about fictional works where revealing the mystery ruins things, are there any where the revealing turns out to be awesome instead? I’m thinking of mystery in the broader sense, like Lost rather than just whodunnits, though we can include those too. I kind of liked the reveal in Sphere, enough so that removing it from the film ruined it for me. I thought the myth arc mysteries in Babylon 5 ended up being pretty satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/2 "2012-01-30T21:07:54Z")
Memento? The Sixth Sense (I’ll admit I may the only one who truly did not see it coming and thoroughly enjoyed the twist)? Planet of the Apes? Or are you looking for more grandiose mysteries? ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/3 "2012-01-30T21:20:26Z")
We just watched this amateurish (in the best possible way) silent _Call of Chthulu_ yesterday - I will not reveal how they did the R’lyeh scenes, but it was AWESOME. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/4 "2012-01-30T21:42:44Z")
Science Fiction “Sense of Wonder” moments fulfill your requirement. Here are a few: **Forbiden Planet** – the scenes after the wall opens in Morbius’ study, and they visit the Krel laboratory and power plants. **E.E. Smith’sd “Lensman” Series** – at the end of every volume, the scale of the epic increases **The Matrix** , after Neo takes the red pill (specifically after the “liquid mirror” pours into his mouth). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/5 "2012-01-30T21:45:04Z")
Sarah Waters’ “Fingersmith.” ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/6 "2012-01-30T21:49:20Z")
In LOTR, the West. It’s not explained very well at all in LOTR proper and I was sure it would be a disappointment once I read the Silmarillion. But it just made it that much more awesome. ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/7 "2012-01-30T23:43:50Z")
The Secret History, by Donna Tartt. You spend the first half of the book frantically trying to work out WTF has _happened_, and when you find out, it’s the only thing that could possibly live up to the buildup, and it’s brilliantly done. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/8 "2012-01-31T01:11:04Z")
I came in to mention **The Matrix** and **The Sixth Sense** as well. Was the big reveal in **Planet of the Apes** surprising? I’d already knew the “twist” before I had watched it, the movie being well before my time. There’s also the poignant “Rosebud” in **Citizen Kane.** ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/9 "2012-01-31T01:13:36Z")
Also, **Psycho.** ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/10 "2012-01-31T02:49:35Z")
Usual Suspects ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/11 "2012-01-31T05:19:07Z")
The man with the harmonica’s motive ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/12 "2012-01-31T05:24:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > Usual Suspects That’s what I was going to post when I read the OP. Certainly not you’re traditional whodunit and even if you want to treat it like one the ‘who’ is more of a puppet master. What makes it awesome is how said puppet master plays into the story. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/13 "2012-01-31T15:42:23Z")
“The Acquisitive Chuckle” and _The Caves of Steel_ by Isaac Asimov _Diplomatic Immunity_ by Lois McMaster Bujold “A Study in Emerald” by Neil Gaiman _Murder on the Orient Express_ by Agatha Christie I’ll probably post again with more… ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/14 "2012-01-31T22:05:17Z")
Ira Levin scored twice with Rosemary’s Baby (He has His Father’s eyes) and A Kiss Before Dying. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/15 "2012-01-31T22:30:01Z")
**Oldboy**. I don’t need to say anymore. The reveal to William Hurt’s character (and us) about the nature of the city in **Dark City**. I still get chills to this day during **Vertigo** when “Judy Barton” has convinced Scottie that she’s not who he thinks she is, then suddenly it shows a flashback to the bell tower in the Mission church. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/16 "2012-01-31T22:51:05Z")
Jean De Florette / Manon Des Source. The reveal took two movies to develop, and turned on just one lost letter to a solider, but it had the power to completely devastate the main character. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/17 "2012-02-01T01:59:39Z")
Only Forward by Michael Marshall Smith. > **[Only Forward: A Novel: Smith, Michael Marshall: 9780553579703: Amazon.com: Books](https://www.amazon.com/Only-Forward-Michael-Marshall-Smith/dp/0553579703)** > > Only Forward: A Novel \[Smith, Michael Marshall\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Only Forward: A Novel I found the big reveal to be very well done and somewhat devastating. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/18 "2012-02-01T03:22:30Z")
It was recommended to me by Dopers for this very reason. **Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson** The reveals, twists, and resolutions were great and satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/19 "2012-02-01T06:58:56Z")
Another Lovecraft one: I saw the twist in “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward” coming from a mile away, but I STILL had to take a minute to spazz the hell out after I’d read it. Actually, most of Lovecraft’s twists are like that; modern audiences have seen them all before (and most probably even predate HPL himself), but they’re still perfect. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225/20 "2012-02-01T14:35:41Z")
Though everyone knows about it know, I would imagine the “she’s my daughter, she’s my sister” reveal in **Chinatown** was probably a gobsmacker when it first ran. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-works-where-the-revealed-mystery-is-awesome/611225.md?page=2)