Line #14 Literature/LastMage


1	[[quoteright:260:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TitanWordPressTheme_4216.jpg]]
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3	->''"The world is always in danger. The question is: At any given moment, just how much?"''
4	--> -- Elijah Valentine, Mage
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6	''Last Mage'' is an UrbanFantasy WebSerialNovel written by Andrew Eckhart. [[FramingDevice A man in custody is being interviewed]], [[TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture sometime in the future]], about a world-changing "Event". The man, Elijah Valentine, tells [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep the Writer]] [[HowWeGotHere he must start at the beginning]], and proceeds to, with some breaks where he explains his reasoning or discusses philosophy with the Writer.
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8	Or, Last Mage is a tale about [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin the last Mage]] on Earth, who must save the human race ([[TheMasquerade and the other beings on Earth]]) from a tyrannical sorceress using nothing but his wits and powers. Though many of the things he accomplishes seem like magic, [[MagicfromTechnology they aren't]]. The site also hosts some B stories taking place within the same universe and completely unrelated one-shots.
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10	The original website is down, but the whole book is available on [[https://www.amazon.com/Last-Mage-Interview-Andrew-Eckhart-ebook/dp/B00MLCFIO8 Kindle]] and [[https://www.audible.com/pd/Last-Mage-The-Interview-Book-1-Audiobook/B00PJDU0KI Audible.]]
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12	----
13	!!Last Mage provides examples of:
14	* AllLovingHero: Elijah really does love humans, while fully admitting their faults. He's not [[{{Glurge}} cutesy]] about it, but even his snarks towards [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters people who done him and the world wrong]] are rather mild.
15	* ArrestedForHeroism: Why Elijah is in jail.
16	* {{Atlantis}}: Gets several mentions, along with other lost cities.
17	* BatmanGambit: Rhianna delights in outwitting Elijah.
18	* BoringButPractical: Elijah's opinion on military planes. His [[CoolPlane Concorde]] is much cooler, if considerably less practical.
19	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Elijah's an odd cookie and he [[LampshadeHanging knows it]]. At the same time being a definite GeniusBruiser with shades of GuileHero.
20	* CreateYourOwnVillain: [[spoiler: Elijah blames himself for Rhianna's rise to power, having failed to kill her when he had the chance]].
21	* ChronicHeroSyndrome: He's normally able to control it by being [[ComesGreatResponsibility reasonable]], but once or twice Elijah just flips under stress and goes on a roaring rampage of helping people.
22	* ComesGreatResponsibility: As Elijah [[LogicalWeakness can't (or at least shouldn't)]] [[NecessaryDrawback break the laws of physics]], he tends to avoid overt use of his powers in favour of helping in mundane ways. [[MugglesDoItBetter Muggle ways may not be perfect]], but at least they run no risk of breaking ecosystems. Or reality.
23	* DarkIsEvil: Some of Rhianna's minions are shadows, others are [[EldritchAbomination black otherworldly things]].
24	* DeadpanSnarker: Elijah is smart and bored. What did you expect?
25	* DefaceOfTheMoon: Because nothing says "villain" quite as loud.
26	* TheDeterminator: Elijah. And Michelle.
27	* DoomedMoralVictor: Elijah is absolutely fine with taking the sadder consequences of world-saving upon himself. He'd like his friends and helpers spared, though.
28	* ExpendableAlternateUniverse: [[SubvertedTrope Not in this verse, they aren't]]. However, Elijah's responsibility is this reality [[spoiler: other worlds have their own protectors - Elijah's special ability is a telepathic link to them, which he uses to get advice]].
29	* EverythingIsOnline: And Revolution Will Be Televised.
30	* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: The Writer. Until the ending of the first book, anyway.
31	* TheFettered: Elijah, but very much not [[TheUnfettered Rhianna]].
32	* FirstPersonSmartass: Surprisingly understated, but it's there whenever Elijah narrates.
33	* FramingDevice: Interview in the first book, psychiatric evaluation in the second.
34	* FriendOnTheForce: Michelle, for Elijah, in the first book. In the second she's quit to become a PrivateDetective, but they still consider each other friends.
35	* ForegoneConclusion: We know from the FramingDevice that Valentine survives and has saved the Earth-at-large.
36	* GodSaveUsFromTheQueen: Rhianna already rules one dimension, whose people are incapable of making a decent LaResistance.
37	* KungFuClairvoyance: [[spoiler: All the mages have (had) some sort of a special ability - Rhianna's is calculating the possible outcomes of a situation quickly and accurately, giving her the benefits of this trope.]]
38	* HealingFactor: All mages. They can be killed, though, it's just very difficult.
39	* HiddenElfVillage: Shambala, ''very'' well hidden, [[spoiler:but it's been abandoned for a while now]].
40	* HonestCorporateExecutive: Elijah's day job.
41	* HonorBeforeReason: Michelle's [[spoiler: quitting her job between books.]]
42	* HopelessWithTech: Elijah can do the impossible with [[MagicFromTechnology his own wonderful toys]], but an iPhone? Beyond him.
43	* IdealIllnessImmunity: Aiden might have it, as a result of the SuperSerum
44	* IntrepidReporter: The Writer is a down and out one. He hopes for this interview to change his luck. [[spoiler: And it does, just not the way Writer expected]].
45	* MadOracle: Delores. Makes her a bit of a GeniusSlob, since in her depressive phase she's a SleepyDepressive, while in her manic phase she's well. Really brilliant. Sort of DistaffCounterpart to Sherlock Holmes, just for science instead of detecting.
46	* MarriedToTheJob: Michelle is and warns Jason about inevitability of this in their current [[OccultDetective line of work]].
47	* TheMasquerade: "Demons" from other dimensions have lived in secret on Earth for quite some time.
48	* TheMenInBlack: They lurk around.
49	* MexicanStandoff: Michelle claims the only way she can handle [[OurDemonsAreDifferent Charles]], [[SuperStrength Aiden]] and Elijah is having them keep each other in check. This way she can be sure none of them'll be taken off her team.
50	* TheMultiverse
51	* MultiversalConqueror: Rhianna, the evil mage. Mostly out of boredom, no less.
52	* LastOfHisKind: See title.
53	* LossOfIdentity: In the second book [[spoiler: Jason is surprised to learn he's lost his]]. Cue QuestForIdentity.
54	* OmniscientHero: Elijah (who knows exactly how good he is) [[SubvertedTrope is not one]]. And quite tired of [[BeAllMySinsRemembered explaining]] this to people.
55	%%* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Boy, aren't they.
56	* OurDemonsAreDifferent: They're [[DimensionalTraveler tourists from parallel worlds]]. They do look [[AnimalisticAbomination more]] or less weird and display shades of BlueAndOrangeMorality, but are mostly just tourists.
57	* ObfuscatingStupidity: Elijah's favoured mode of communication, at least when there's nothing too important going on.
58	* ThePhilosopher: Elijah, but the [[TheCynic Writer]] tries his hand too.
59	* PlayAlongPrisoner: Elijah ''could'' escape, but he has [[TheFettered multiple]] [[SelfRestraint reasons]] not to. [[ProtectorBehindBars He still has a hand in things]].
60	* PlotCoupon: The Towers can do awesomely cool stuff in the right hands. Which is why they have to be secured against [[BigBad Rhianna]].
61	* PowerStrainBlackout: It takes a lot to knock Elijah out, but [[HealingMagicIsTheHardest trying to heal two people at once]] does the trick.
62	* {{Protectorate}}: Elijah's is the world in its entirety. It's right there in the blurb.
63	* Really700YearsOld: Valentine is old, but he won't give an exact age. Given the [[UsefulNotes/AbrahamLincoln people]] he [[BeenThereShapedHistory namedrops]]... [[spoiler: He seems well able to give [[Webcomic/GunnerkriggCourt Jones]] a run for her money]].
64	* RayGun: Some are built to prepare for the invasion.
65	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Michelle, whose leadership skills are sincerely admired by Elijah.
66	* SealedGoodInACan: The King. Technically good. [[KnightTemplar Technically]].
67	* SuperSerum: Both Aiden's parents took it, and... [[SubvertedTrope remained entirely non-super]]. Their [[SuperStrength son]], though...
68	* SwissArmyWeapon: Elijah has a shapeshifting one.
69	* TheyWouldCutYouUp: Aiden's parents are scared of this for him. [[spoiler:They are scared rightly.]]
70	* TheTrickster: Valentine gets called that. Possibly rightly, though his actions in the story proper are quite straightforward.
71	%%* TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture
72	* TheUnmasquedWorld: [[spoiler:After the Event, with rampant FantasticRacism towards demons.]]
73	* UnusualUserInterface: Crystals. Running Windows 95, [[HopelessWithTech bec]][[RunningGag ause]]...
74	* UrbanFantasy
75	* WeaponizedTeleportation: Rhianna, of PortalCut variety as well as [[spoiler: stealing Tokyo]] and sending mooks places by means of portals.
76	* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: The demons in the second book. FantasticRacism just doesn't cover it.
77	* WhereDoesHeGetAllThoseWonderfulToys: The ''official'' budget of Michelle's RagTagBunchOfMisfits can't stretch to a projector. Their actual budget... if they need it, they're gonna have it. Just like that.
78	* YearOutsideHourInside: [[spoiler: The Gardener's base]].
79	* VirtualGhost: The team's hacker, Lorenzo, has a [[PlayfulHacker virtual assistant]]. Who flirts.

Context Literature / LastMage