The Merely Mortal

***The Merely Mortal*** is a novel by J.P. Leck and is the first installment in his Endless Elsewhere multimedia meta-narrative. It is the first Endless Elsewhere novel. It was released in hardcover on May 22, 2013. It is also available in paperback and on Amazon Kindle.

## Synopsis

A mortal detective finds himself assembling a team of extraordinary individuals on behalf of his shadowy employer in order to explore a hitherto undiscovered realm.

## Characters

* **Agent Bertram** - a Pinkerton detective and the titular 'merely mortal,' who finds himself the leader of a mysterious expedition.
* **Dr. Edwin Lydell Pendergast** - a young scientist who, despite his age, has demonstrated a great aptitude in the field of automation.
* **The Illuminated Luminista** -
* **Gustavo Platon Delmar Eneas Valverde** - a sea captain and sole survivor of a battle at sea against a horrible sea monster. He is also known as El Matador del Mar ("The Sea Killer")
* **Nidawi Skysong** - a Native American with an uncanny aim who joins Bertram's expedition after having been a part of a traveling wild west show.
* **Felix McKlintock** -
* **Charlie Winston** -
* **Theodore Emory** -
* **Jacquelyn Isley** -
* **Clarence Grindle** -

## Locations

* **The Asylum for Ascendant Alleviation** - a mental institution in Kentucky where Valverde has been committed following his encounter at sea.

* **Sgt. Sorrells' Sojourning Spectacle** - a traveling wild west show currently outside of Wichita, KS from which Bertram recruits Skysong to join his team.

## Artifacts

* ***The Merely Mortal*** - the manuscript written by Agent Bertram
* **The Orb** - the subject of Grindle's painting which soon becomes an object of desire for Dr. Pendergast.

## References

*The Merely Mortal* is referenced in the following Endless Elsewhere stories:

* *The Strangely Undying*
	+ Dr. Pendergast, a member of Bertram's team, is one of the principle characters of *The Merely Mortal.*
	+ The unoccupied grave of Charlie Winston in the Circle City Cemetery serves as the resting place for the Orb.
	+ The Widower finds a copy of *The Merely Mortal* manuscript on Dr. Pendergast's bookshelf.
	+ Clarence Grindle, who briefly appears in *The Merely Mortal*, also appears in *The Strangely Undying*, this time as a child.
* "The Welievers"
	+ The True Welievers take to ghost hunting in the Asylum for Ascendant Alleviation, the same mental institution to which Valverde was once committed.
* *The Lantern*
	+ In his research into the inventor of the Lantern, Ryan Tolliver uncovers evidence that Dr. Hardesty was, at one time committed to a mental institution.
		- A brief mention in "The Welievers" confirms that he was committed to the Asylum for Ascendant Alleviation.
* "The Acolytes"
	+ In conversation with his partner, Alex, Keith Sorrells recounts the history of a family keepsake - a Civil War sharpshooter's bullet which failed to take the life of his ancestor, who ran a Wild West show. This proves to be the same Wild West show from which Bertram recruits Nidawi Skysong.
* *The Should-Not-Be*
	+ Hardesty mentions that the initial inspiration for his Brain Box came while in an asylum, which turns out to have been the same asylum to which Valverde was committed.
* "The Invoked"
	+ Hardesty recounts his inspiration for the Brain Box as happening while walking past a room full of brains in jars while a patient at the Asylum for Ascendant Alleviation.
* "The Goners"
	+ The unoccupied grave of Charlie Winston now holds something of value from 'Frankenstein.'

## Links

* *The Merely Mortal*on Amazon
* *The Merely Mortal*on Goodreads