Line #13 Literature/TheFourthRealm


1	[[quoteright:200:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/travelercover.jpg]] ''The Fourth Realm'' is a [[{{Dystopia}} dystopian]] [[GenreBusting science fiction/fantasy/thriller]] trilogy by John Twelve Hawks, consisting of ''The Traveler'', ''The Dark River'' and ''The Golden City''. The plot revolves around Gabriel and Michael, two brothers who discover that they are the last Travelers: a group of people throughout history who have the ability to travel between different dimensions, or "realms", of which our world is the fourth one. Using the insights they gain on these journeys, they inspire people and keep the fight for freedom alive against those who want to enslave the people, a mysterious organization known as the Brethren or Tabula, who pull the strings behind the scenes to create a virtual panopticon, in which everyone is always observed. Protecting the Travelers is a group of people called Harlequins, of which Maya, who is protecting the brothers is a member, spurred into action by the death of her father.
2
3	Just as interesting as the story within the books is that of its author. [[ReclusiveArtist No one knows who John Twelve Hawks really is]], and even his editor has never seen him face to face. He lives off the grid and lives by the message he preaches in his books.
4	----
5	!!''The Fourth Realm'' provides examples of:
6	* ActionGirl: Maya.
7	* AnotherDimension: The Realms.
8	* TheArkOfTheCovenant: The Ark turns up at one point.
9	* AuthorFilibuster: There are many, many discourses on invasion of privacy and loss of freedom, but [[spoiler:Gabriel]]'s speech near the very end of the story stands out.
10	* AuthorTract: This story exists to alert readers to invasion of their privacy.
11	* BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy: Various philosophers and religious figures are identified as Travelers, including Plato, Jesus and Buddha.
12	* ConfusionFu: To fight the Brethren, Harlequins "cultivate randomness". They are deliberately unpredictable in battle and go so far as to use random number generators to make decisions in order to confound predictive tracking algorithms.
13	* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Vicky, Gabriel (sort of -- he's still alive, but it's unknown if he will ever be able to return).]]
14	* MeaningfulRename: When someone becomes a Harlequin, they shed their old identity and take on a new name. [[spoiler:Near the end of the trilogy, Hollis renames himself Priest.]]
15	* PublicSecretMessage: This is how the Harlequins communicate with each other and with Travelers. They leave graffiti or other notes in public places that have easily detectable second meanings decodable only by other Harlequins or Travelers.
16	* ShoutOut: When visiting the Third Realm of the animals, Gabriel reflects that he does not meet an [[Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia allegorical lion]].
17	* SkyscraperCity: The eponymous city from ''The Golden City'' is actually just three gigantic, terraced towers.
18	* SuperpowerfulGenetics: Travelers pass down their abilities genetically.

Context Literature / TheFourthRealm