Last Call (novel)


Last Call is a fantasy novel by American writer Tim Powers. It was published by William Morrow & Co in 1992. It is the first book in a loose trilogy called Fault Lines; the second book, Expiration Date, is vaguely related to Last Call, the third book, Earthquake Weather, acts as a sequel to the first two books.

Major themes

Like many of Powers' novels, Last Call features a detailed magic system, here based on divinatory tarot, and draws on mythical or historical events and characters, in this case Bugsy Siegel and the development of Las Vegas casinos as well as the legend of the Fisher King. Powers makes use of T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land throughout, which also features the Fisher King legend.

Awards

Last Call won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel in 1993.