Troll Bridge by Terry Pratchett

Trip, trap, trip, trap!

Here is another pick from Levar Burton Reads. 

Terry Pratchett has a knack for poking fun at fantasy tropes in his stories and Troll Bridge is no exception. This time around, he sets his sights on the wandering barbarian archetype—but not the usual brawny, brainless brute on a quest for blood and glory. Well… sort of. Our hero does set out on an adventure, talking horse in tow, determined to cement his legacy in bardic songs by slaying a troll under a bridge.

In classic Pratchett fashion, things quickly take a turn for the ridiculous. Instead of a fierce, earth-shaking battle of steel and stone, our battle-hardened barbarian finds himself face-to-face with… an enthusiastic fan. The troll under the bridge isn’t looking for a fight; he’s looking for an autograph. Normally, trolls demand a toll for safe passage, but there’s just one problem—nobody’s crossed his rickety old bridge in years. The poor guy is down on his luck, struggling to make ends meet, and barely scraping by to support his family. It’s less terrifying bridge guardian and more “underpaid toll booth operator waiting for customers who never show up.

Surprisingly, the barbarian finds himself sympathizing with the troll’s plight. After all, both of them are relics of a world that’s moving on without them. By helping out the troll with his financial troubles as opposed to killing him, they can continue fulfilling their expected fantasy roles. Pratchett has a lot of fun in his retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff fairy tale but with his signature absurdity. Yet, beneath all the humor, irony, and parody lies a surprisingly poignant story. As the world shifts away from magic and myth, even the most legendary heroes risk fading into obscurity. It’s a bittersweet reminder that with the inevitable passage of time, even famous barbarians with talking horses will be forgotten.