From the beginning, crafting these stories, I’ve felt it important — despite being a writer of “just pulp literature” — to invest the characters I portray with as much human richness as I can. As writers and readers, I believe that people who love stories are uniquely open to perspectives of respect and understanding of one another, and if a pulp story can touch any part of that openness within us, I believe that is valuable…in fact precious.
So much around us today feels deeply hurtful — and in some cases even hateful — but I believe with absolute conviction that compassion, understanding, shared dignity and kindness, are the forces that truly move the world. When we can recognize and respect the beauty in our own individuality and extend that recognition to everyone we meet, seeing our incalculable value together as fellow human beings…there is hope.
– R. Paul Sardanas
Damaris Emem, West African, pansexual — Appearing in almost every book of the Talos Chronicle, Damaris is a towering figure, influencing an astonishing degree of historical, creative and spiritual events and endeavors. As Ruha, the “Archdemoness” of the Gnostic Archons, she sets into motion tapestries of life and death; as Damaris Emem, 20th century film producer and star, she beguiles a world audience. Her personality is a labyrinth, at turns charismatic, hyper-intellectual, playful, cruel, loving, dangerous and visionary.
Devina Sharma, Indian/Cambodian, trans — Devina, elevated to the Elite Seven of the Gnostic Archons in 1935, is one of the few survivors of that powerful group to reach the 21st century, where she wields considerable influence in the Talos world. She is brilliant, elegant, and skilled at forging alliances between sometimes bitter enemies. Known by her Archon name Nekbael, she has appeared in the stories “Smiling, to the Death”, and “Felicity”. She will have a major part in the upcoming Doc Talos novel “Thousand/Heads”.
Miriam Small Cloud, Haisla (Native American), bisexual — Miriam, from the Canadian Pacific Northwest, helped manage the estate of Alec Talos throughout the early 1930’s, and became Rickie Talos’ first lover. Though often self-deprecating, Miriam is fiercely loyal in friendship, kind, and courageous.
Miriam appeared in the novel “Wolves”, and the stories “Moon of Skulls” and “On the Bella Coola”.
Suzanne Jensen, American, trans — One of the earliest public American transgender women, Suzie endured intolerance, harassment and even hate, but persevered in a spirit of joy and positivity. Professionally she became a respected businesswoman, managing the beauty and fitness establishment owned by Rickie Talos, and personally, became a touchstone of strength and hope. Suzie appeared in the stories “Bright Forever” and “Each Day of Summer”.
Concetta Romasanta, Latina, lesbian — Dr. Romasanta, great-granddaughter of the infamous “werewolf” fought by James and Rickie Talos in the 1930’s, was also the winner of the Archon Xanadu Death Tournament, and as a doctor of psychology, is an insightful, innovative clinician.
Concetta appeared in the stories “Smiling, to the Death”, and “Not Madness”. She will have a central role in the upcoming Doc Talos novel “Depths”.
Thomas Davies, English, gay — Thomas is the son of Victorian actress Catherine Davies, and she believes his father to be James Wilder (AKA James Talos, Sr.) and thus also the grandson of the Archon Demiurge, Saklas. Thomas joins the French Foreign Legion and is posted to Africa to serve under the senior officer who may be his grandfather. He has both horrifying and transcendent experiences, but conducts himself with both honor and compassion. Thomas appeared in the novella “We Are Connected by Invisible Links”.
Janne Andreassen, Scandinavian, bisexual — Janne was for many years the companion/protégé of Damaris Emem, the female leader of the Gnostic Archons — both as primary agent and lover in a dom/sub relationship. Also powerfully attracted to men, Janne had an intense intimate encounter with John Grersoun and his wife Helen, and also with James Talos. James and Janne later became good friends. A spy during WWI and a skilled lieutenant within the Archon organization before becoming a free agent, Janne appeared in the novels “Towers”, “Savages” and “Passages”, and in the story “Smiling, to the Death”.
Tom White, American, gay — Tom, a brilliant electrical engineer, was an aide to James Talos Jr. from WWI to the 1950’s. Closeted for his entire life, and emotionally distant and harsh even in intimate relationships, he nevertheless had numerous encounters with other men, including Isao Kimitake in pre-WWII Japan, and his friend and associate John Renner. Tom appeared in the novel “Fear”, and the short stories “Waves of Death” and “Taller Far Than a Tall Man”.
J.R. King, Mixed ethnicity, polyamorous — J.R., born on a remote Caribbean cay, later became an infamous outlaw in 1930’s Miami. Charming with a mad, frenetic personal energy, he was at all times openly involved in multiple relationships with both men and women. He died on the cay in 1935, after breaking with the anarchistic Dead Sun Mob. J.R. appeared in the novel “Fear”.
Eleanor Vaughn, English, non-binary — Eleanor, ruthlessly used and manipulated throughout childhood in Victorian England, possessed a unique sensitivity which illuminated the perceptions of others to both their positive and negative behaviors and actions. Toward abusive people, prompted to acknowledge and take responsibility for their crimes, Eleanor often acted as an avenger. Eleanor appeared in the novel “Alleys”, and in the story “Midnight in the House of Endings”.
Umaru, Congolese, gay — A 19th century African transplanted to Victorian London, Umaru considered the Western World to be a place of utter insanity. A formidable warrior, he retained a tremendous personal dignity even while carrying out the violent underground activities of his employers, the Gnostic Archons. On his death, he received the singular honor of a soul-freeing ritual conducted by the Archon Demiurge himself.
Umaru appeared in the novel “Abyss” and the story “The Scripture of Ghost and Lion”.
Patricia “Rickie” Talos, Canadian, bisexual — Though the two closest relationships in her life were with men, Rickie also enjoyed passionate and loving encounters with women, including her first lover, Native American Miriam Small Cloud. She also had brief but intense sensual experiences with occultist Leah Hardwicke, and Gnostic Archon “archdemoness” Damaris Emem. Strong-willed, exuberant, irrepressible, Rickie is one of the two central characters of the Talos stories, appearing in the novels “Towers”, “Savages”, “Passages”, “Madonnas”, “Wolves”, “Fear” and “Yesterday”, as well as the story “The Hills of the Unconsoled Dead”, and the anthology “Rickie”.
Radhika Jamarayan and Amelia Fotheran, Indian and English, couple — Radhika and Amelia jointly ran the Solon brothel in Southwark, London in the late 19th century. The establishment was in fact a secret enclave opposed to the Gnostic Archon sect of that time, and in an era when women loving women were far from accepted, the two shared a powerful bond and devotion to one another. Radhika and Amelia appeared in the novel “Abyss”, and the stories “Midnight in the House of Endings”, and “In Destruction’s Dance”.
Grace Xavier AKA Grace X, English/West African ancestry, bisexual — Grace, a powerful 19th century revolutionary, was also an albino, and suffered from nystagmus, which caused extreme light sensitivity as well as the pupils of her eyes to rove. As a young woman she took part in violent uprisings in Jamaica, and later opposed the Gnostic Archons, attempting to wipe out their sect and repurpose their mysticism into scientific applications for the benefit of common people. In England, she dyed her hair jet black — in Africa, she returned it to its natural white. In her personal life she most often bonded with men, but in Africa, embodying the moon goddess Erzulie, she performed feminine rituals with the Fon warrior-women of Dahomey. Grace appeared in the novels “Abyss” and “Madonnas”, and the stories “Midnight in the House of Endings” and “The Scripture of Ghost and Lion”.
Corto and Cere Romasanta, Spanish, non-binary — Twins Corto and Cere were heirs to an agricultural empire left by their father, but were also descendants of notable Spanish serial killer Manuel Romasanta, who claimed innocence regarding his crimes due to his belief that he was possessed by a werewolf. The twins have an ambiguous sexual identity (the brother, Corto, has an exceedingly feminine face, and the sister, Cere, identifies as having wolf-like qualities of her own). The two were manipulated into conflict with Alec Talos in Canada in 1935, a struggle which not only resulted in his death, but their own. Corto’s granddaughter Concetta, raised in Mexico and America, would become a prominent doctor of psychology. Corto and Cere appeared in the novel “Wolves”.
Sergei Morosov (Illumus), Russian, bisexual dom/sub switch — Sergei was a very powerful post-Revolution figure in Russia. A passionate idealist, he was appalled at the brutality that followed in the wake of the revolution, and worked to subvert those in power toward a more just system. Ultimately purged by Stalin, he spent time in a Siberian gulag, before being set free in an operation to penetrate the Greenland retreat of James Talos, Jr. Immensely charismatic with the demeanor of a poet, Sergei attracted devoted followers throughout his life, and he used sexuality as a political tool among both sexes, practicing dominance and submission to potent effect. Upon learning more about the private life of James Talos, he was attracted to him erotically, equating passion as an expression of conflict, both internal and external — though the attraction would go unconsummated. He acquired the nickname “Illumus” during his time in the gulag, prompted by his habit of taking a single lantern out into the freezing night to meditate. Ultimately he married a woman from the British secret service, and was by all accounts devoted to his wife. Sergei appeared in the novel “Fortress”, and the stories “Dawn of the Abaddon” and “The Man Who Was Scared”.
Doc Talos 