Action/Adventure: The Ultimate Antagonist

Action/Adventure: September 30, 2026 Issue [#13945]


 


The Ultimate Antagonist
       Editor: sgcardin
                   More Newsletters By This Editor  


Table of Contents
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions


About This Newsletter
My banner for the Action/Adventure Newsletter.


“Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature's inexorable imperative.” – HG Wells

Action: The state of doing; organized activity to accomplish an objective.
Adventure: An undertaking of a hazardous nature; an unusual or exciting experience.

Man versus Nature is a raw, gritty theme that you find throughout literature, and involves man taking on the hostile forces of the natural world to include the weather, animals, and even the environment. Some movies that blend action/adventure with the Man versus Nature are: Cast Away, Jaws, Gravity, Wild, and Everest.

In this newsletter, we’ll look at what the Man versus Nature theme brings to Action/Adventure writing and how you can add tools to your toolbox for writing success.

I’m sgcardinMail Icon and I’ll be your guest editor this week.

Letter from the editor
Why does man take on nature? Because there’s a select pursuit of knowledge only gained by these activities – what can man find out about himself? It all starts by transforming nature (weather, animals, environment) into a physical antagonist that forces man into a race for survival which answers the following question: How powerful is the human spirit in the face of nature’s adversity?

Man versus Nature using the Action/Adventure genre strives to discover that answer.

Here are some examples of the types of stories involving man versus nature:
Environment: skydiving, hiking, camping, scuba diving, and river rafting
Animals: Sharks, Whales, Bears,
Weather: tornadoes, storms, snow & blizzards

Movies that capture these types of stories: Twister, The Perfect Storm, Everest, Wild, Jaws

CROSSING THE LINE:
What makes these stories cross the threshold from being just an experience to an adventure? The adventure must be worthy enough to talk about, involve high risk, and bring about personal growth in a person.

Man versus nature demonstrates the futility of human ambition against a hostile power, turning nature into the Ultimate Antagonist. The appeal of these action/adventure stories highlight the power of the human spirit when confronted by the unpredictable ultimate villain.

Question for you: Do you have a favorite man versus nature movie? Why is it your favorite? If you have any of these stories in your portfolio, please share.

ASIN: B005IQZB14
ID #113144
Product Type: Kindle Store
Reviewer: joycag
Review Rated: E
 
  Setting:
  Story Plot:
  Length of :
  Overall Quality:
Amazon's Price: $ 7.99



Editor's Picks
 Desperate for Sunlight  (ASR)
A man is stuck in a cabin at the mercy of nature.
#2072807 by ion_7Mail Icon
 A Solitary Hunt  (13+)
A hunter and a jaguar face off in 1890's Venezuela.
#1474996 by ghostwriter999Mail Icon
Arkansas: Storms Are Different  (E)
AR thunder storms are a bit different from MD storms. The difference is:
 The Bear  (13+)
Civilization confronts nature; man meets an ultimate challenge
#905876 by dancooperMail Icon
 Morning Kayak  (E)
Musings & thoughts when in the Great Outdoors
#1280547 by bwolfeMail Icon
 Wind Talker  (E)
Alaska's Mother Nature, a dog team and their musher- A spiritual non-fiction short story
#2141116 by kobukMail Icon
 
WRITING
The Burning Man - Ch. 2  (E)
A father and daughter get caught in a blizzard, CONT'D.
#2113362 by ap3491Mail Icon
 
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Word from Writing.Com
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Ask & Answer
Feedback from my last Action/Adventure NL dated 2 SEP 2026.
The Question was: What are some of your favorite movie chase scenes?

 daveryanMail Icon
I guess I've a preference for the absurd when it comes to movie chases: Raising Arizona and Midnight Run to name two.

 mikewritesMail Icon
A lot of moviegoers my age will claim "Bullitt" first time, every time, and I don't disagree with them. My current favorite is the "chase scene" in "Unstoppable", with Chris Pine's character in the back of a pickup truck trying to get to pull even with the front of the train... so Chris can jump from the truck to the train *Shock* and get it under control. The stakes aren't just Chris's life, but the risk to an entire community if the train derails.

 One of my favorites is from the movie “Duel” because the thing doing the chasing is an 18 wheeler!

sgcardinMail Icon is a 911 dispatcher with LAPD. Her story, "Night of Magic" is available on Amazon Kindle. Finn has the adventure of a lifetime when he tries to save Aithne from the "otherworld."

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