Writer's Fallout Shelter

So, Lori, do you think the two examples I chose could legitimately be called deus ex machina or just "coincidence that strains all credibility"? (I'll be the first to say that Wikipedia is hardly an academic resource worthy of an English major, but it's quick and convenient and sort of helps make the point, at times.) I agree with you that some of those examples are stretching a point; I didn't really see or agree with them all. But I think the two I chose probably qualify by modern literary standards. Unless you're insisting on us actually lowering GOD from a crane, center stage. I'd have to agree there's precious little call for that in modern fiction, unless it's Comedy.