History Literature / TheLastHero

The 27th ''{{Discworld}}'' story, the text is roughly the length of a short novel, but each page features lavish illustrations by Paul Kidby, providing much amusing side info (such as a breakdown of different breeds of swamp dragon) and very, ''very'', epic images that capture almost every detail of the characters ever mentioned.

They kidnap a [[NoNameGiven bard]] to write their saga, and meet up with Evil Harry Dread and his [[SurroundedByIdiots hilariously ineffectual minions]] and Vena the Raven-Haired, the last barbarian heroine (and now grey with age), both of whom are also the last of their kind. All three parties are now obsolete in the world, a world where no one follows The Code, the rules of barbarian heroing. Cohen and company, on the other hand, are people who live and die by The Code, who [[GenreSavvy know in their hearts]] that the [[ConservationOfNinjutsu more outnumbered you are, the better your odds]], that [[CardboardPrison jailers fall asleep next to the door with their keys in easy reach]], and who would never, EVER, follow the EvilOverlordList. You live by The Code, or it kills you. All three parties (The horde, Harry Dread and Vena) have all come across maps to Dunmanifestin, the home of the gods, a journey from which no one has ever returned.

So, Discworld's nations tell Lord Vetinari to sort it out (as he and the city both have a reputation for getting things done). The solution is devised by the Wizards (after the usual heated debate) and Leonard of Quirm. They build the Kite, Discworld's [[Discworld/TheColourOfMagic second known spacecraft]], powered by Swamp Dragons, to slingshot under the Disc and to try and beat the Horde to Cori Celesti. The craft is intended for three, Captain Carrot (by the logic that a policeman can find a reason to arrest anyone), Leonard (because the ship will need working on even after take off) and Rincewind (because he's met Cohen before and survived, and [[GenreSavvy because he knows he will end up going anyway]]). There are a few mishaps along the way (mostly because The Librarian stowed away, altering the weight and air consumption rate of the craft) and arrive just after the horde, crashing through the main doors of Dunmanifestin.

* ConservationOfNinjutsu: The Silver Horde are a bunch of old seasoned warriors that are willing to and capable of blowing up Dunmanifestin, and they could easily kill anyone who stands in their way - unless someone is a single truly brave hero like Carrot Ironfoundersson.

** Maybe. Cohen ''is'' The Last Hero. The last hero of his type, that is. Carrot is the first of a ''new'' kind of Hero on the Disc.

* VillainExitStageLeft: Parodied.

** Ironically, he seems to be inspired by [[ClassicMythology Orpheus]] "famous of name."

* CrowningMomentOfAwesome: See {{CrowningMoment.Discworld}}

*** Probably because of the imagery, as well as the way the ''{{Discworld}}'' novels keep inserting anachronistic real world elements into them like that. Still, it probably would have been mentioned if it was indeed heavy metal. And besides, how you do metal music without drums and electric guitars, anyway?

** [[PerverseSexualLust A few of us didn't mind]], even though he ''is'' quite alarmingly skinny.

** [[PerverseSexualLust A few of us didn't mind]], even though he ''is'' worryingly close to emaciation.

** [[PerverseSexualLust A few of us didn't mind]], even if he ''is'' worryingly close to emaciation.

** TheOtherWiki says that it was heavy metal, although it doesn't say why it thinks this.

** Ponder Stibbons looks a ''hell'' of a lot like HarryPotter.

** And on the next page, [[NightmareFuel a full-page spread of the burnt-out Disc and skeletal Great A'tuin and elephants.

* HesJustHiding: The Bard so wants to believe that The Horde is still alive, somehow. Evil Harry Dread and Vena know better, but keep quiet about it.