Book:The Last Hero

The Last Hero
Cover art by Paul Kidby
Co-author(s)
Illustrator(s)	Paul Kidby
Publisher	Gollancz
Publication date	October 2001
ISBN	9780575068858
Pages	160
RRP	£17.99
Main characters	Cohen Rincewind Carrot Ironfoundersson Leonard of Quirm The Librarian
Series	Rincewind Series
Annotations	View
Notes
All data relates to the first UK edition.

Blurb

He's been a legend in his own lifetime.

He can remember the great days of high adventure.

He can remember when a hero didn't have to worry about fences and lawyers and civilisation.

He can remember when people didn't tell you off for killing dragons.

But he can't always remember, these days, where he put his teeth...

He's really not happy about that bit.

So now, with his ancient sword and his new walking stick and his old friends – and they're very old friends – Cohen the Barbarian is going on one final quest. It's been a good life. He's going to climb the highest mountain in the Discworld and meet his gods. He doesn't like the way they let men grow old and die.

It's time, in fact, to give something back.

The last hero in the world is going to return what the first hero stole. With a vengeance. That'll mean the end of the world, if no one stops him in time.

Someone is going to try. So who knows who the last hero really is?

Characters

Main Characters

• Cohen the Barbarian
• Carrot Ironfoundersson
• The Librarian
• The Minstrel
• Rincewind
• Leonard of Quirm

Minor Characters

• The Dean
• Evil Harry
• The Luggage
• Hughnon Ridcully
• Mustrum Ridcully
• The Silver Horde
  • Caleb the Ripper
  • Mad Hamish
  • Truckle the Uncivil
  • Boy Willie
• Ponder Stibbons
• Vena the Raven-Haired
• Havelock Vetinari
• Fate
• Lady
• Blind Io
• Offler
• Nuggan
• Death

Cameos & Mentions

• Armpit
• Butcher
• Dats Me!
• Gak
• Slime
• Neoldian
• Patina
• Bibulous
• Topaxci
• Valkyries
• "Fingers" Mazda - The First Hero
• Carelinus

Other

• The 27th Discworld novel.
• This book is the second to feature illustrations by a cover artist for the books after Eric/The Illustrated Eric.
• The novel was illustrated by Paul Kidby.
• The 2002 paperback and subsequent editions of The Last Hero feature additional two-page spread illustrations.
• A new edition with a cover matching the Penguin 50 Years of Terry Discworld books was announced in December 2023, to be published in February 2024. According to the Gollancz website, it will also feature “a new text design”.

Gallery

First Edition Cover by Paul Kidby

Slipcase Collectors Edition

Second Edition

2nd Edition smaller paperback

2024 paperback

External Links

• The Last Hero Annotations - The Annotated Pratchett File

Previous book Thief of Time	Discworld Series	Next book The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents

Previous book The Science of Discworld	Rincewind Series	Next book The Science of Discworld II: the Globe