IF WE LIVE

Major Characters

Note that ages are given in what you might call “Earth years lived.” The Spacers have been traveling at relativistic speeds. The Uman year is longer than ours. So no simple correspondence.

In order of appearance:

David Richard, 27, grew up in the Hudson’s Bay area. His parents were physicians, and he went to medical school. He dropped out after two years, realizing medicine was not a good means of leaving the broken, desolate earth of his time. He was accepted into a noted exo-agronomy program, and realized his ambition to leave Earth when his research team was recruited to establish genetically modified crops on New Kashmir.

Richard is a polyglot. He grew up speaking English, French, and Cree. He learned Spacers Lingo quickly, picked up Japanese from Ema, and spoke enough Italian to exchange greetings with Thea Mele. By the time he reached Valen, he spoke their language with native fluency and accent.

Karel (Kel) Malin, 52, was born in Avenshan, the northernmost county of Valen. He was the namesake nephew of Senator Karel Malin, the political boss of Avenshan. His uncle got him an appointment to the School Guards, the training academy for horse soldiers and lawmen in Valen. Kel aimed to get an appointment to a police position in his native Hallen. But his uncle Keral died; the Malins lost influence as the economy of Avenshan turned from sheep farming to iron mining. He never got an appointment. At the same time his girlfriend Ella died in childbirth. He left Valen to become a mercenary soldier.

Miry, 25, and Morik, 29, were both born in  the Kwal band in the far northwest of the Hastab. Morik was the son of the chief and a Sister. Miry was the daughter of the chief’s brother and a captive girl. Miry’s mother died when she was two. She was raised in her father’s tent but seemed destined for life as a servant, without status in the band. Morik’s status was also equivocal. Sister’s sons were raised in their father’s tent, but Morik had several older half-brothers. He and Miry were thrown together. Both were beautiful, charming, and charismatic, exciting the jealousy of their half siblings. When Morik’s father became aware that they had become lovers, he spitefully forced Miry to marry his hapless youngest son Kevy. Morik was infuriated. He left the band, vowing to return and take Miry.

Laury Malin, 20, was the youngest daughter of Sissy Malin, elder sister of Kel and niece of Senator Karel Malin. Her father was Larens Laughlin, Judge of Hallen. Her upbringing was privileged. But in the matrilineal system of Hallen, to be a younger sister is awkward. The mother’s land is supposed to be divided among sisters, but the elders usually get the best parts. Laury was left to raise horses she didn’t really own.  She is clever, passionate, and loving. Also arrogant, hot tempered, and jealous.