So here they are. Five of the biggest ways to wrap-up a story in half a page or less, if you want to skip the descriptive passages.
http://io9.com/381892/the-5-types-of-scifi-deus-ex-machinas
You’ve got everything from “It’s all a dream/virtual reality” ending to “God shows up and fixes everything.” God can also take the form of omnipotent computers, or people who briefly gain godhood, fix the world with a wave of their hand, and then lose their powers so they don’t have to deal with the responsibility of them in the sequel.
I do think the “one big weakness” solution gets overused a lot in stories. I mean, we’ve already got Superman and kryptonite, and invading aliens that are allergic to water. Why is it villains always seem to have one tiny flaw that must be exploited, while the rest of us have a dozen different ways we could be taken down? Does a fatal weakness come bundled with the bad guy package, along with the goatee and maniacal laughter?
And where can I pick it up on discount?
I see that smile.