Author’s Note: Esen would like to point out this is a tiny sampling of the many beloved, semireasonable, or outright unpleasant beings in her memory and she sincerely hopes no feelings are hurt by omission.
Web-beings (in order of arrival in known space)
Ersh
Lesy
Ansky
Mixs
Skalet
Esen-alit-Quar, Esen in a hurry, Es between friends
Death Author’s Note: Esen wishes you to know the stranger was named by those attacked. A Web-being not of Ersh’s Web.
The Trusted Few (who know of Esen, her abilities, and the Web)
Author’s Note: Don’t blame me. Esen wants their loyalties made abundantly clear for you.
Paul Antoni Ragem—Human; former First Contact Specialist, Survey, Esen’s first and best friend; went by the alias Paul Cameron while pretending to be dead for fifty years to protect Esen’s secret
Lionel Kearn—Human; Paul’s boss while in Survey, former First Contact Specialist; led the hunt for the so-called Esen Monster (Death) while Paul was pretending to be dead to—you know the rest. Now in Paul’s Group and dedicated to protecting Esen’s secret
Rudy Lefebvre—Botharan Human; Paul’s cousin; former patrol; searched for the truth while Paul was pretending to be dead, etc., now captain of the Largas Loyal and in the Group, etc.
Staff of the All Species’ Library of Linguistics and Culture
(those named in this book, in order of responsibility)
Director: Paul Ragem
Curator/Head Gardener—Esen-alit-Quar (Esen as Lanivarian)
Assistant Curator/Gardener—Esolesy Ki (Esen as Lishcyn.)
Author’s Note: Esen hopes you’ve noticed this means she does twice the work. Oh. Now Paul points out she’s only one of these at a time and leaves the conclusion to you. Also, the staff wish to add that while they adore Esolesy, she’s more a big softie than boss.
Assessment Desk—Henri Steves (Botharan)
Response Room—Ally Orman (Botharan)
Greeter/Coordinator of Intersystem Passage—Carwyn Sellkirk (Botharan)
The Anytime Chow Inc. Food Dispenser Operator—Lambo Reomattatii (Carasian)
Head Contractor—Duggs Pouncey, Botharan who built the Library and remains on staff and in charge of structural maintenance/repair. Author’s Note: Esen’s convinced Duggs stayed to make sure no one—especially Skalet—messes with her work. Paul agrees.
Head of Security—Skalet (as Kraal but doesn’t use S’kal-ru among non-Kraal). Author’s Note: Skalet is in no doubt that Duggs remained in order to make her life more difficult.
Train Operator—Rhonda Bozak (Botharan)
Greeter—Quin (Botharan)
Paul’s Family
(those named in this book, in alphabetical order)
Char Largas—Paul’s temp contract partner, mother of their twins, Tomas and Luara
Delly Ragem—Paul’s grandmother on his mother’s side, now a sofa in Sam’s attic
Jan Terworth—cousin
Kevin Ragem—cousin
Luara Largas—daughter of Paul Cameron and Char Largas, sister of Tomas
Sam Ragem—Paul’s uncle on his mother’s side
Stefan Gahanni—Paul’s contracted father; drive machinist; lives on Senigal III
Tomas Largas—son of Paul Cameron and Char Largas, brother of Luara
Veya Ragem—Paul’s mother, starship navigator: died on the Smokebat 18 years before Paul stopped pretending to be dead. Author’s Note: Esen reminds us Human relationships are complicated.
People of Importance to Evan Gooseberry
(those named in this book, in alphabetical order) Author’s Note: Evan adds those from his first adventure* with Paul and Bess as set out in the e-novella “The Only Thing To Fear.”
Bess*—Human; the “Esen” Evan meets and befriends on Urgia Prime. Author’s Note: Esen wants to remind everyone this seemed an excellent choice of form when she picked it.
Aka M’Lean—Human; Senior Political Officer, Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na and Evan’s boss
Ekwueme-ki—Dokeci; Leader of the Mariota Valley Project on Dokeci-Na
Evan Gooseberry—Human; Political Officer, Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na; one of the few accredited Gooseberrys of his generation. Author’s Note: His Great Gran wishes everyone to know Evan is the most eligible and sweetest Gooseberry. Interested parties should get in touch with her directly.
Gooseberry—The only surname with an unbroken legal line of descent from fabled Earth, as set out in The Lore.
Great Gran Gooseberry—Human; keeper of The Lore and responsible for assessing the legal status of claimants to being real Gooseberrys; raised Evan
Hymna Burtles—Human; manager for Burtles-Mautil Intersystems Holdings on the Mariota Valley Project on Dokeci-Na
Justin Gooseberry—Human; Evan’s cousin, eldest son of his Aunt Melan
Lisam Horner—Human; security at the Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na; friend of Evan’s
Lucius Whelan—Human; acquaintance of Great Gran; friend of Justin Gooseberry
Lynelle Owell—Human; security at the Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na; friend of Evan’s
Malcolm (Mal) Lefebvre—Botharan; retired patroller and now constable for the Hamlet of Hillsview; Rudy’s uncle
Melan Gooseberry—Human; Evan’s aunt
Ne-sa Kamaara—Human; Commander of the security detail of the Survey Ship Mistral
Ny Wimmerly*—Human; Ambassador at the Commonwealth Embassy on Urgia Prime
Petara Clendon—Human; Captain of the Survey Ship Mistral
Petham Erilton—Human; Admin Staff at the Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na
Pink Popeakan*—Popeakan; nickname Humans give Prela on Urgia Prime
Pre-!~!-la Acci-!~!-ari*—Popeakan; also known as Prela or the Pink Popeakan; Evan encounters this individual on Urgia Prime
Prela—Popeakan; Esen’s nickname for Pre-!~!-la Acci-!~!-ari; she and Evan encounter this individual on Urgia Prime
Sammy Litten—Human/Modified; xenopathologist at the Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na
Sendojii-ki—Dokeci; artist particularly famous in capital of Dokeci-Na
Simone Arygle Feen*–Human; Senior Political Officer at the Commonwealth Embassy on Urgia Prime; Evan’s first boss
Snead—Human; Comm Officer on the Survey Ship Mistral
Teganersha-ki–“Dokeci”; historical figure: the infamous leader who united Dokeci-Na and established their moral system as well as plumbing; in reality: Ersh’s name in this form. Author’s Note: Esen has her doubts Ersh would appreciate Evan carrying her image—a small bust—with him for inspiration, but she has yet to figure out how to tell him.
Terry Koyak*—Human; Evan’s coworker and friend at the Commonwealth Embassy on Urgia Prime
Trili Bersin—Human; Political Officer at the Commonwealth Embassy on Dokeci-Na; Evan’s closest friend there.
Warford—Human; Senior Med-tech on the Survey Ship Mistral
Others Who Appear
Author’s Note: Esen wishes several didn’t, but admits every past has its trouble spots.
Bob*—Human; alias Diale gives his Sweat Provider and colleague
Celivliet Del—Anatae who refuses to leave the Library. Author’s Note: Esen firmly intends not to let another being hide in her Garden. Firmly.
Cieter-ro—Kraal; Captain of the Septos Ank, a ship affiliated with S’kal-ru
Cureceo-ki—Dokeci; curator of the museum on Dokeci-Na about to host a show of Lesy’s artwork
Diale—Hurn; security tech specialist from Minas XII; worked with Paul to set up the Library; has history with Cameron & Ki, Paul and Esolesy’s company
Elfien—Vlovax
Janet Chase—Human; was captain of the Vegas Lass while Paul was pretending to be dead, but turned out to be a criminal; alias used by Victory Johnsson
Jumpy Lyn—Ervickian; henchbeing of Chase
Lance Largas—Human; crew on the Largas Regal
Osmaku Del—Anatae; “head of off-world inquiry” who led delegation to the Library
Palrander Todd—Human; henchbeing of Chase
Pearl—Vlovax
Pearlesen—Esen’s name as a Mareepavlovax
Rampo Tasceillato the Wise—Carasian; philosopher quoted by Lionel Kearn
Riosolesy-ki–“Dokeci”; Lesy’s name in this form
Ses-ki–“Dokeci”; Esen’s name in this form
Siokaletay-ki—“Dokeci”; Skalet’s name in this form
S’kal-ru—“Kraal”; Skalet’s name in this form
Sly Nides—Human; henchbeing of Chase
Tallo—Iedemad; Library client and entrepreneur
Thielex—Lexen; Library client and musical prodigy
Tory—Human; alias of Victory Johnsson
Vanekaelfien—Mareepavlovax
Victory Johnsson—Human; birthname of Janet Chase/Tory