Introduced in Fever Crumb
Fever Crumb
Fever Crumb, the central character of the book, who is part human, part Scriven mutant, and a descendant of Auric Godshawk. She is also bisexual, and falls in love with Cluny in the last book.
Dr. Crumb
Dr. Crumb, Fever's adoptive father. It is later revealed that he is actually her biological father as well.
Nikola Quercus
Nikola Quercus, Land Admiral of the nomadic Movement. After he fights Ted Swiney he becomes mayor of London. It is implied that he is the great "Quirke" who is revered as a god by Londoners in the Mortal Engines Quartet .
Charley Shallow
Charley Shallow, A boy who worked in Ted Swiney's pub until Bagman Creech, a Skinner, came and offered him a job as a Scriven slayer.
Kit Solent/Shrike
Shrike, an ancient Stalker who raised Hester after her parents were killed. In the American release of the series he is called Grike.
In the 2018 film, he is played by Stephen Lang. [1]
Ruan Solent
Ruan Solent, Kit Solent's son.
Fern Solent
Fern Solent, Kit Solent's daughter.
Wavey Godshawk
Wavey Godshawk, daughter of Auric Godshawk and Fever's mother, and the last pure Scriven.
Auric Godshawk
Auric Godshawk, deceased king of the Scriven who placed a computer storing his consciousness into Fever's brain.
Kit Solent
Kit Solent, a kind archaeologist who Fever Crumb is sent to work with. He is shot by rioters in London and dies from his wound while fleeing from the city in a hot air balloon. Afterwards he is turned into Shrike.
Ted Swiney
Ted Swiney, an unpleasant Cockney tavern owner who later becomes mayor of London. During a fight with Quercus he is crushed by a giant barrel.
Bagman Creech
Bagman Creech, a renowned "skinner" (Scriven killer) from the uprising in London. He is shot and killed by Kit Solent.
Master Wormtimber
Master Wormtimber master of devices. Killed when Godshawk's Head collapses onto him.
Introduced in Mortal Engines
Tom Natsworthy
Tom Natsworthy, a 15-year-old boy who is an apprentice Historian at the beginning of the series. Tom eventually has many diverse adventures across the world. Tom greatly admires the head of historians, Valentine. Tom possesses the trait of having a very strong sense of curiosity.
In the film version, he is older and played by Robert Sheehan. [2] [3]
Robert Michael Sheehan is an Irish actor. He is best known for television roles such as Nathan Young in Misfits, Darren in Love/Hate, and Klaus Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy, as well as film roles such as Tom Natsworthy in Mortal Engines and Simon Lewis in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
Hester Shaw
Hester Shaw, later known as Hester Natsworthy, is the central character of Mortal Engines Quartet. A fierce young woman who has horrible scars across her face, Hester has the motivation to seek revenge on Valentine for the murder of her mother.
Hester was born on Oak Island, and she didn't live near traction-cities so she grew up as an Anti-tractionist. When Hester was 7 Thaddeus Valentine killed her mother in order to get MEDUSA, a weapon that can destroy the whole world.
In the film version, she is older, her scar is toned down as she retains both eyes. [2] She is the protagonist of the film. She was 8, rather than 7, when she witnesses her mother die. She is played by Icelandic actress Hera Hilmar as an adult and New Zealand child actress Poppy Macleod as a child. [4] Despite the actress wore the scar proudly, Christian Rivers, the director of the film, addresses the fan criticism over Hester's scar, elaborating that audiences would be "put off the film" if it were more true to the books. Sadly, her character development was absent. [5] [6] [7] [8]
Hera Hilmarsdóttir is an Icelandic actress. She is most famous for her role as Vanessa in the television series Da Vinci's Demons and as Eik in the Icelandic film Life in a Fishbowl.
Christian Rivers is a New Zealand storyboard artist, visual effects supervisor, special effects technician, and director. He first met Peter Jackson as a 17-year-old, and storyboarded all of Jackson's films since Braindead. He made his directing debut in the film adaptation of Mortal Engines, and planning a remake of The Dam Busters, both produced by Peter Jackson.
Thaddeus Valentine
Thaddeus Valentine, a dashing and handsome Historian often idolised by younger Historians - though his less public image involves murder and thievery as an agent of London. He is killed in the destruction of London by MEDUSA. He is, in fact, Hester's biological father.
In the film, Valentine is an antagonist. He kills Magnus Crome in a coup, before using MEDUSA to bring down the Shield Wall. His attempts are foiled, and he is confronted onboard his airship by Hester before being shot down. He is killed when his wreckage is crushed. Played by Hugo Weaving. [9] [10]
Katherine Valentine
Katherine Valentine, Thaddeus Valentine's daughter. After uncovering her father's dark secret, she attempts to stop him with help from Bevis Pod and the Guild of Historians. She is accidentally killed by Thaddeus shortly before the destruction of MEDUSA and London.
In the film, she is played by Leila George. [1] She did not fall across the console of MEDUSA to sabotage it; instead, she survives at the end.
Chrysler Peavy
Chrysler Peavy, the pirate mayor of Tunbridge Wheels. He takes Tom and Hester to the Black Island, expecting Tom (because he is a Londoner) to teach him how to be civilised. He is betrayed and shot by the remainder of his crew shortly before they are killed by the Stalker Shrike.
Bevis Pod
Bevis Pod, a young apprentice Engineer. He works with Katherine to uncover Valentine's plans and falls in love with her. Killed when the 13th Floor Elevator crashes on London's top tier after being shot down by Tom. Son of Dr. Lavinia Childermass.
Magnus Crome
Magnus Crome, the megalomaniacal Lord Mayor of London, and the head of the city's Guild of Engineers. Killed when London is destroyed.
In the film version, he is killed by Thaddeus Valentine. He is played by Patrick Malahide.
Sathya
Sathya, an Indian Anti-Tractionist and one of the founding members of the Green Storm. Later, after losing her hand to the Stalker Fang, she retires to a hermitage on the slopes of Zhan Shan. Eventually she becomes Fishcake's foster-mother.
Captain Khora
Captain Khora, an African soldier of the Anti-Traction League, and captain of the gunship Mokele Mbembe. Later he becomes an Air Marshal and commander of the Zagwan Flying Corps.
Chudleigh Pomeroy
Chudleigh Pomeroy, a member of the Guild of Historians. He helps Katherine by giving her a place to hide Bevis Pod, and fighting off Crome's Engineers when they attempt to kidnap her. After the destruction of London, he is Lord Mayor of the surviving Londoners but passes away before New London is complete.
In the film, he is portrayed by Colin Salmon.
Clytie Potts
Clytie Potts, a member of the Guild of Historians who helps in the fight against the Engineers. After the destruction of London, she takes on the alias of Cruwys Morchard to ferry in supplies to the London survivors.
In the film, she is played by Sophie Cox.
Nils Lindstrom
Nils Lindstrom, a gloomy aviator of the Garden Aeroplane Trap.
In the film, he is portrayed by Leifur Sigurdsson. He is killed during the Anti-Tractionists’ raid on London.
Yasmina Rashid
Yasmina Rashid, an Arabian privateer of the Zainab.
In the film, he is portrayed by Frankie Adams. She sacrifices herself during the Anti-Tractionists’ raid on London.
Moira Plym
Moira Plym, a member of the Guild of Historians who helps in the fight against the Engineers. Killed in the destruction of London.
Dr. Arkengarth
Dr. Arkengarth, the curator of ceramics in the Guild of Historians. Killed in the attack by the Engineers.
In the film, he is played by Terry Norris.
Dr. Twix
Dr. Twix, a researcher in the Guild of Engineers who creates many Stalkers for Magnus Crome and one of the team who study Shrike.
In the film, she is played by Sarah Peirse.
Orme Wreyland
Orme Wreyland, the mayor of a small town who rescues Tom and Hester and then drugs them in the hope of selling them into slavery.
Mr. Ames
Mr. Ames, a former schoolteacher who is now a pirate in Peavy's band. Killed by Shrike.
Mungo
Mungo, mutinous member of Peavy's pirates. Killed by Shrike.
Maggs
Maggs, another of Peavy's pirates. Killed by Shrike.
Pewsey and Gench
Jasper Pewsey and Silas Gench, two reformed air pirates who are the sole crew of Valentine's airship, the 13th Floor Elevator. Killed by Tom when he shoots them down over London from the Jenny Haniver.
In the film, Pewsey and Gench are played by Aaron Jackson and Stephen Ure.
Introduced in Predator's Gold
Nimrod Pennyroyal
Nimrod Beauregard Pennyroyal, a supposed historian and author who is actually a fraud. He is selfish, narcissistic and cowardly, but has a knack for surviving dangerous experiences, and often shares adventures with the Natsworthy family. After surviving the events of A Darkling Plain , Pennyroyal writes a truthful book about what happened, but is ironically rebuffed due to his previous fraudulent actions being revealed.
Renowned author of adventure books, he pays Tom and Hester to give him a lift to America. He later steals the Jenny Haniver to escape Anchorage. His published exploits are almost entirely made up, and in the context of Predator's Gold he has no idea how to get to America.
Freya Rasmussen
Freya Rasmussen, The young margravine of Anchorage, she read Pennyroyal's book about America, and steers the city towards it, only to find it a fraud., she later finds a habitable zone for the city and Anchorage becomes a static settlement. She is later married to Caul and becomes a schoolteacher.
Søren Scabious
Søren Scabious, chief engineer of Anchorage. He considers Tom similar to his late son, and often tries to help him. He dies sometime before Infernal Devices .
Piotr Masgard
Piotr Masgard, chief of Arkangel's Huntsmen: a band of warriors who capture cities by airship and then steer them into Arkangel's jaws. Despite his bravado, he is a coward and unused to a fair fight. He is killed by Hester during the attack on Anchorage.
Mr. and Mrs. Aakiuq
Mr. and Mrs. Aakiuq, Anchorage's harbour officers.
Wrasse
Wrasse, Uncle's deputy among the Lost Boys. He is killed by the Stalker Fang during the raid on Rogue's Roost.
Widgery Blinkoe
Widgery Blinkoe, a resident of Arkangel who kidnaps Hester and sells her to the Green Storm. In return they kill him, so he won't tell anyone their secrets. His body is converted into a Stalker.
Caul
Caul, a Lost Boy who leads the Screw Worm crew sent to pillage Anchorage. He breaks several Lost Boy rules and becomes fond of its inhabitants, occasionally being seen and interacting with them. Later in the books he helps Tom and Anchorage, specially Freya, eventually leaving the Lost Boys and marrying her.
Gargle
Gargle, a Lost Boy who (when he was very young), was a member of Caul's Anchorage crew. He later becomes the de facto leader of the Lost Boys, but when he comes to Anchorage-in-Vineland for the Tin Book, he is shot and killed by Hester as she tries to rescue Wren from him.
Smew
Smew, a dwarf retainer of the Rasmussen family.
Windolene Pye
Windolene Pye, an old member of Anchorage's Steering Committee who marries Søren Scabious, Anchorage's Engine Master.
Introduced in Infernal Devices
Wren Natsworthy
Wren Natsworthy, Tom and Hester's daughter who is kidnapped from their home and as a result, finds herself experiencing the same sort of adventures as her parents had.
Theo Ngoni
Theo Ngoni, an African aviator who runs away from his home to join the Green Storm, and later becomes very close to Wren. A former Green Storm tumbler pilot, now a slave aboard Brighton, he later escapes with Wren at the end of the book. They are married at the end of the quartet.
Boo-Boo Pennyroyal
Boo-Boo Pennyroyal, the wife of Nimrod Pennyroyal and Mayoress of Brighton. She does little except shop and attend operas, but encourages Wren and Theo's non-existent secret romance, allowing them more freedom than other slaves which facilitates their eventual escape.
Nabisco Shkin
Nabisco Shkin, the man behind the Shkin Corporation (a slave dealer in Brighton). He is killed while attempting to escape Brighton during the Green Storm's attack on the city.
Mr. Plovery
Mr. Plovery, an antiques dealer in Brighton with an expensive elderly mother to look after. He is killed by a Stalker Bird when he tries to steal the Tin Book, however his death is mistakenly attributed to Pennyroyal's security system.
Remora
Remora, a sadistic Lost Girl and Gargle's girlfriend. She is killed by Hester early in the novel, but later referred to several times by Uncle who is unaware she is a girl.
Krill
Krill, a senior Lost Boy captured by Brighton's WOPCART scheme. Hester frees him and the other captured Lost Boys to create a diversion while rescuing Wren.
Fishcake
Fishcake, a young Lost Boy who kidnaps Wren and ends up giving Grimsby's location away after the two are captured by Brighton, an act for which he is branded a traitor by the other captured Lost Boys. He later flees from Brighton when the Lost Boys escape from captivity, finding the remains of the Stalker Fang and repairing her over the course of several months. He eventually ends up being adopted by Sathya.
Oenone Zero
Oenone Zero, a Green Storm mechanic who appears in the last two books of the quartet. She plays an important role in creating and maintaining their Stalkers, including Shrike and the Stalker Fang, but she becomes disillusioned with the war after being forced to turn her brother into a Stalker, and plots to assassinate the Stalker Fang. She later marries General Naga, becoming Lady Naga and co-leader of the Green Storm.
General Naga
General Naga, the commander of the Green Storm's air legion who appears in the last two books of the quartet. A high-ranking member of the Green Storm, Naga is privately disgusted with the Stalker Fang's tactics in the war, using kamikaze tactics. After the Stalker Fang's supposed death at the hands of Shrike, Naga takes command of the Green Storm and helps negotiate a truce with the Traktionstadtgesellschaft.
Introduced in A Darkling Plain
Kriegsmarshal von Kobold
Kriegsmarshal von Kobold, the leader of Marnau, and Wolf Kobold's father. He wants peace for his city and has a soft spot for certain members of the Green Storm.
Wolf Kobold
Wolf Kobold, the German commander of a small harvester suburb called Harrowbarrow. He resents his parents and their high position. He leads Tom and Wren to the wreckage of London on a somewhat false pretext, and escapes with the knowledge of New London, intending to return and devour it with Harrowbarrow. He is killed accidentally by Wren during a sword fight atop his suburb, in which he is impaled and falls under the tracks.
Napster Varley
Napster Varley, an aspiring trader who buys Lady Naga and tries to sell her to the Traktionstadtsgesellschaft. He has a wife (bought at an auction) who he frequently beats; and a son, Napster Varley, Jr. He is shot and killed by his wife as Hester and Theo attempt to rescue Lady Naga.
Dr. Lavinia Childermass
Dr. Lavinia Childermass, an elderly Engineer who survived the MEDUSA incident because she was locked in prison, having rebelled against Magnus Crome. She was head of the Engineer's magnetic levitation Research Division, and was made Deputy Mayor of the Londoners that survived in the city's wreck. She personally built the Mag-Lev engines that operated New London (known as the Childermass Engines). After the death of Chudleigh Pomeroy, she is denied the mayorship of New London, and then helps Wren and Theo escape the paranoid clutches of the new Lord Mayor, Mr. Garamond. It is revealed that she had a son, but due to Magnus Crome's new laws for the Guild of Engineers, the boy was taken away as a baby. She named him Bevis, alluding to the fact that she was the mother of Bevis Pod, who helped Katherine Valentine investigate MEDUSA in Mortal Engines .
The Ngonis
The Ngonis, Theo's family back in Zagwa which consists of his Mother, Father, and sisters, Kaelo and Miriam.
Mr. Pondicherry
Mr. Pondicherry, an Old-Tech auctioneer in Peripatetiapolis who tells Tom and Wren Natsworthy what he knows about Clytie Potts.
Grandma Gravy
Grandma Gravy, an old 'witch' of Cutler's Gulp, who temporarily enslaves both Theo Ngoni and Lady Naga.
Mr. Garamond
Mr. Garamond, New London's paranoid head of security. He distrusts Wren and Theo, when they arrive in new London, and has them imprisoned for a short time.
Brittlestar
Brittlestar, one of the Lost Boy warlords of the now anarchic Brighton. He is killed by Anna Fang/Stalker Fang when his warriors attempt to apprehend Fishcake.
Hallsworh and Henson
Will Hallsworh and Jake Henson, school children from London, who are both killed during the Green Storm/Harrowbarrow Attack. Named after real people from a school in Crediton, Devon.
