While I don't object to the premise (and even find some validity to it, unseen worlds of which the general populace is ignorant/unaware)...
Magic as a Big Secret isn't at all unusual in urban fantasy. What's more rare is the urban fantasy world explaining how/why magic is a Big Secret. When magic is a Big Secret they tend to either leave it's being a Big Secret in the background, not even having anyone question it, or they acknowledge it simply to assert that that's the way it is. I think it's cool that Elliot James has an explanation for how it's a Big Secret. I can't help wondering if he also has an explanation of why.
If the MC is still processing this new worldview when we as readers join the story, I can imagine that attitude from them (the MC)...
I think the lines, "you’re not going to believe me when I point it out to you," and "...all real. Well, except for Orcs and Hobbits. Tolkien just made those up," imply that the character knows what he's talking about. He's simply explaining things to the reader as someone newly in a position where he can make those explanations to them. His saying, "you’re not going to believe me," and "I know it sounds ridiculous," are about giving "you" as the reader the feeling of how you would react to "The Truth" he's imparting if you were part of his fantasy world. It's all about set up.
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Magic as a Big Secret isn't at all unusual in urban fantasy. What's more rare is the urban fantasy world explaining how/why magic is a Big Secret. When magic is a Big Secret they tend to either leave it's being a Big Secret in the background, not even having anyone question it, or they acknowledge it simply to assert that that's the way it is. I think it's cool that Elliot James has an explanation for how it's a Big Secret. I can't help wondering if he also has an explanation of why.
If the MC is still processing this new worldview when we as readers join the story, I can imagine that attitude from them (the MC)...
I think the lines, "you’re not going to believe me when I point it out to you," and "...all real. Well, except for Orcs and Hobbits. Tolkien just made those up," imply that the character knows what he's talking about. He's simply explaining things to the reader as someone newly in a position where he can make those explanations to them. His saying, "you’re not going to believe me," and "I know it sounds ridiculous," are about giving "you" as the reader the feeling of how you would react to "The Truth" he's imparting if you were part of his fantasy world. It's all about set up.