top ten most memorable secondary characters

Tuesday, August 27, 2013 |
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish, where we all get to exercise our OCD tendencies and come up with bookish lists.  If you’d like to play along, check out this post.

top ten tuesday

When I think about the stories I love, I usually remember the hero, the heroine, or perhaps a particularly effective antagonist (in the case of the best stories, all three!).  It is rarer that a secondary character comes to mind, but I think when one does it is the mark of good storytelling.  Below is a list of characters that are memorable in their own right, even if they aren’t the focus of the stories and worlds they inhabit.

Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters


1. Mogget from the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix – What is Mogget, after all?  Mysterious, cat-like, more-powerful-than-he-appears, with a helping of sharp humor on the side, for a start.  One of the most memorable parts of a fantastic world and series.

2. Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – Everyone remembers Luna, if only because she’s so… quirky!  Radish earrings, missing shoes and all. 

3. Ell the Wyverary from the Fairyland books by Catherynne M. Valente – September’s dragon-library cross of a friend from Fairyland is a wonderful bit of make-believe and magic.

4. Puddleglum from The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis – My favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia was this dark tale that unpacked the power of words, of slipping into unbelief and forgetfulness, and of a depressing marsh-wiggle with more sodden humor than Eeyore.  Oh, and he had a pipe!  I remember that, too.

5. Suzy Turquoise Blue from The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix – Another Garth Nix character, and one of my favorites of all time, secondary character or no.  Suzy’s an inventive, energy-charged force of friendship and mischief.


6. Morwen from Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede – Wrede’s Enchanted Forest Chronicles began with the story of Princess Cimorene running away to live with a dragon.  But she wouldn’t have done nearly as well without the help of the witch Morwen and her numerous cats and books.  I’d like to live with Morwen for always, I think.

7. Lord Akeldama from Soulless by Gail Carriger – Akeldama is a most unusual vampire, with a keen fashion sense and a friend in that soulless creature, Alexia Tarabotti.

8. The Fairies (Cobweb, Moth, Mustard Seed and Peaseblossom) from Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev – Full of mischief and obsessed with glitter and sweets, these tiny tyrants are part of the magic and joy that fills Mantchev’s riff on Shakespearean playacting.

9. Marquis de Carabas from Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman – Neverwhere is my favorite Gaiman book, and I was tempted to put any number of character names in this list.  Trust me to pick the most shifty, mysterious and unexpectedly helpful of the lot!  The Marquis is part of a dark tale of London below, and you could say he has the most dramatic journey of anyone in the book.

10. Una from Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery – Una reminds me that L.M. Montgomery wasn’t very nice to one of her nicest characters.  I can’t think of Una without tearing up a little.  Ah, the feelings!

Which secondary characters count as your most memorable?  Do any of my picks make the list?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have Luna Lovegood on my list this week too. She's so quirky. A great character! Fab list.

Tanya Patrice said...

Oh the Marquis de Carabas - loved him!!! He's absolutely one of my fave characters (2ndary or primary) in a book.

Rina said...

Puddleglum and Morwen! Great characters. Morwen would be such a fun person to visit - and her cats too of course.
Here's my TTT.

Liviania said...

Lord Akeldama definitely - he was one of the things that kept me reading the series.

Anonymous said...

In retrospect I am ashamed I forgot to put Luna on my own list. I was also excited to see Garth Nix characters and Rilla of Ingleside mentioned here as they are personal favorites that don't seem to get a lot of attention from other readers.

carol said...

I didn't make a list today, but I do love Luna.

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I chose Luna as well. Her and Draco. They are memorable in their own ways...and as for Luna, I just want to be her best friend! Love characters like that.

Anonymous said...

I don't even know how I forgot Morwen! And I definitely cheated by using all the Harry Potter characters in one, haha.

Tales of Whimsy said...

I loved Luna too! :)

Shelly said...

Ugh, I'm so ashamed that I completely skipped over Morwen and the Dragons cast. I loved those books growing up, and now I feel a re-read coming on. I love your list.

My TTT

kayerj said...

Oh I love Luna! What a fun list.

Ryan said...

The post you did on Suzy Turquoise Blue is still one of my favorite guest posts.

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