History Literature / Eric

* VerbalTic: Eric's parrot, who constantly substitutes the catchall metasyntactic variable "wossname" for random words, along with, to a lesser extent, "Polly want a biscuit," described in the narration as being in the same tone that a human would say "Err...".

* VerbalTic: Eric's parrot, who constantly substitutes the catchall metasyntactic variable "wossname" for random words, along with, to a lesser extent, "Polly want a biscuit,", described in the narration as being in the same tone that a human would say "Err...".

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* CoolTank: Not spelled out, but at the end, Lavaeolus' soul in Hell has the idea for using one of the conveyor belt treadmills as the basis for a new war machine...

** This has hints of a MythologyGag, considering it echoes Crowley's own attitude to being a demon. ''Literature/GoodOmens'' and ''Eric'' were published in the same year, which suggests that they were written at roughly the same time...

* ObstructiveBureaucrat: and King of Hell...

* [[TrojanHorse Tsortean Horse]]: DoublySubverted. The Ephebians build a wooden horse and leave it outside the Tsortean city gates. The Tsorteans bring the horse inside their walls...except they saw right through the ruse, and when night falls, they're wide awake and waiting outside the horse to ambush whoever comes out...''except'' the horse was only a distraction so that the Ephebians could sneak in a different way.

http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Eric-cover_1853.jpg
'''[[strike:Faust]] Eric'''

Contains examples of:

Sometimes counted as the ninth ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel, although this is where numbering gets tricky as some prefer to count ''Eric'' as a special. It's shorter than most Discworld novels, was published by a different publisher, and was originally intended to be an illustrated work. The title is officially simply ''Eric'', but on most covers it is preceded by the struck-through title ''Faust'', a reference to how the title character is a [[TwiceToldTale parody]] of DoctorFaustus.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: Eric's wishes are (1) to rule all the kingdoms of the world, (2) to meet the most beautiful woman ever, and (3) to live forever. He and Rincewind first visit the Tezumen Empire [[spoiler: which sacrifices its rulers]], then meet Helen of Tsort [[spoiler: about 20 years past her prime]], and finally get to live forever [[spoiler: starting from the Creation of the Discworld, meaning it will be quite a few millenia before any people show up]].

Sometimes counted as the ninth {{Discworld}} novel, although this is where numbering gets tricky as some prefer to count ''Eric'' as a special. It's shorter than most Discworld novels, was published by a different publisher, and was originally intended to be an illustrated work. The title is officially simply ''Eric'', but on most covers it is preceded by the struck-through title ''Faust'', a reference to how the title character is a [[TwiceToldTale parody]] of DoctorFaustus.

** This has hints of a MythologyGag, considering it echoes Crowley's own attitude to being a demon. GoodOmens and Eric were published in the same year, which suggests that they were written at roughly the same time...

<<|{{Discworld}}|>>

* FalseReassurance: Lavaeolus, an [[TheOdyssey Odysseus]] parody, asks Rincewind if he'll get home all right. Rincewind figures that YouCantFightFate and tells him yes, and they'll write stories about him getting home.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: This book is sometimes considered one with respect to the Discworld series, given its short length, different publisher, unusual themes (more at home in ''GoodOmens'' in some ways) and the fact that the events therein are never referred to again (except for a ContinuityNod in ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'' when Rincewind mentions in passing that he's met the Creator).

Sometimes counted as the ninth {{Discworld}} novel, although this is where numbering gets tricky as some prefer to count ''Eric'' as a special. It's shorter than most Discworld novels, was published by a different publisher, and was originally intended to be an illustrated work. The title is officially simply ''Eric'', but on most covers it is dwarfed in size by the struck-through title ''Faust'', a reference to how the title character is a [[TwiceToldTale parody]] of DoctorFaustus.

Sometimes counted as the ninth {{Discworld}} novel, although this is where numbering gets tricky as some prefer to count ''Eric'' as a special. It's shorter than most Discworld novels, was published by a different publisher, and was originally intended to be an illustrated work. The title is officially simply ''Eric'' but is often quoted as it is written on most covers, a reference to how the title character is a [[TwiceToldTale parody]] of DoctorFaustus.

Sometimes counted as the ninth {{Discworld}} novel, although this is where numbering gets tricky as some prefer to count ''Eric'' as a special. It's shorter than most Discworld novels, was published by a different publisher, and was originally intended to be an illustrated work. The title is officially simply ''Eric'' but is often quoted as it is written on most covers, ''[[strike:Faust]] Eric'', a reference to how the title character is a [[TwiceToldTale parody]] of DoctorFaustus.

* IdenticalGrandson: In an extreme example, Rincewind's distant ancestor Lavaeolus bears a passing resemblance. He also shares Rincewind's keen survival instinct as well as, judging by his ten-year journey home, Rincewind's bad luck. Not to mention his name, [[BilingualBonus if you speak]] [[strike:Latin]] Latatian.

* VerbalTic: Eric's [[strike:wossname]] parrot, who constantly substitutes the catchall metasyntactic variable "wossname" for random words, along with, to a lesser extent, "Polly want a biscuit,", described in the narration as being in the same tone that a human would say "Err...".

* IdenticalGrandson: In an extreme example, Rincewind's distant ancestor Lavaeolus bears a passing resemblance. He also shares Rincewind's keen survival instinct as well as, judging by his ten-year journey home, Rincewind's bad luck.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: This book is sometimes considered one with respect to the Discworld series, given its short length, different publisher, unusual themes (more at home in ''GoodOmens'' in some ways) and the fact that the events therein are never referred to again (except one brief mention in ''Discworld/TheLastContinent'' when Rincewind mentions he's met the Creator).
* TheChessmaster:[[spoiler: Vassenego.]]
** Which is appropriate, as [[spoiler:he's a parody of Vassago, generally considered the wisest demon in Hell.]]

* EvenEvilHasStandards: Most of the demons are unhappy because Astfgl found the ultimate torture weapon: [[spoiler:boredom.]]
** This could just be because it affected them as well.
* FalseReassurance: Lavaeolus, an Odysseus parody, asks Rincewind if he'll get home all right. Rincewind figures that YouCantFightFate and tells him yes, and they'll write stories about him getting home.
* FountainOfYouth: What Ponce da Quirm is searching for. In a typically Pratchett subversion, he actually finds it - but his soul in Hell muses that someone should've told him 'boil the water first'.

* TheKidWithTheRemoteControl: Subverted with Eric himself, whose attempt to summon a fearsome demon that will grant him his every desire lands him with the ineffectual and very human Rincewind instead.

* RealDreamsAreWeirder: Discussed in the narration when describing the demon guarding the gates of hell.

* TheStarscream:[[spoiler: Vassenego.]]

* TrojanHorse: The Tsortean analogue (see ''{{Discworld/Pyramids}}'')
** The Tsoteans see right through it, but the Odysseus analog was expecting them to and it was it was just a decoy.
* VerbalTic: Eric's [[strike:wossname]] parrot, who constantly substitutes the catchall metasyntactic variable "wossname" for random words.
** Along with "Polly want a biscuit,", to a lesser extent, described in the narration as being in the same tone that a human would say "Err...".

* BatmanGambit:[[spoiler: Vassenego's plan against Astfgl.]]

Rincewind was trapped in the Dungeon Dimensions at the end of ''{{Discworld/Sourcery}}'', but is now summoned back to the Disc by Eric, a young demonologist who was trying to summon a demon with a similar name. For much of the book he's convinced Rincewind ''is'' a demon. They end up being blasted across space and time to the Tezumen Empire (an Aztec parody), the creation of the Discworld (in which Rincewind becomes inadvertently responsible for the origin of life by throwing an egg and cress sandwich into a pool of primordial soup) and the Tsortean War (the Disc's version of the Trojan War, previously referenced in ''{{Discworld/Pyramids}}'').

In the end Eric and Rincewind end up in Hell (along with the souls of all the historical characters they met on the way) but manage to escape to parts unknown, while Astfgl is KickedUpstairs by one of his lieutenants, who takes over and restores Hell to its former glory.

* IdenticalGrandson: In an extreme example, Rincewind's distant ancestor Lavaeolus bears a passing resemblance.

* WeHaveReserves: The usual attitude of the Ephebian and Tsortean generals - Lavaeolus is considered a bit of a cheater because he actually tries to win battles without huge casualties.