The Last Hero (The Saint)

The Last Hero (The Saint), often shortened to The Last Hero, is a fantasy novel by Terry Pratchett, published in 2001. It is the 27th book in the Discworld series, and a significant installment focusing on the aging barbarian hero Cohen the Barbarian and his Silver Horde.

The story centers around the Horde's audacious plan to return fire to the gods on Cori Celesti, the Discworld's mountain home of the deities. This is motivated by Cohen's belief that the gods have grown complacent and out of touch with humanity. Their actions have far-reaching consequences, threatening to upset the fundamental laws of physics and potentially unravel the Discworld.

Key characters include:

• Cohen the Barbarian: An elderly but still formidable barbarian hero leading the Silver Horde.
• The Silver Horde: A group of similarly aged and experienced barbarian heroes, each with unique skills and quirks.
• Leonard da Quirm: Discworld's resident genius inventor, loosely based on Leonardo da Vinci. He designs and builds various contraptions, including a rudimentary flying machine and a bomb to deliver to the gods.
• Lord Vetinari: The Patrician of Ankh-Morpork, attempting to manage the escalating crisis with his usual political maneuvering and understanding of human nature.
• Rincewind: The cowardly and inept wizard, inadvertently drawn into the events and tasked with a crucial mission to prevent the gods' wrath from destroying the Discworld.

The novel explores themes of heroism, aging, mortality, the nature of gods, and the consequences of progress and technological advancement. It utilizes Pratchett's trademark wit and satire to examine these complex ideas within the fantastical setting of Discworld. The narrative structure is complex, interweaving the journeys of the Horde, Leonard da Quirm's inventions, Vetinari's political machinations, and Rincewind's reluctant involvement in the grand scheme.

The title itself is a play on the heroic archetype, contrasting the idealized image of the young, strong hero with the reality of Cohen and his aging companions, suggesting that heroism can manifest in unexpected ways and at any stage of life. The alternative title addition, "(The Saint)", is less commonly used but highlights the paradoxical nature of Cohen's quest, blurring the line between heroic rebellion and potentially sacrilegious action.