The Stone Sky

N. K. Jemisin, 2017

book

Quadrant Scores

Time Structure
LinearFractured
Pacing
Action-DrivenObservational
Threat Scale
IndividualSystemic
Protagonist Fate
VictoryAssimilation
Conflict Style
Western CombatKishōtenketsu
Price Type
PhysicalIdeological
Todorov's Stages
equilibrium
Description of the starting status quo.
disruption
The inciting incident or protocol failure.
recognition
When the protagonist realizes the disruption.
repair
The attempt to fix or survive it.
new equilibrium
The new, altered status quo.

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Characters24

EssunProtagonist (Essun storyline) / addressee of Hoa's narration

Reaches Corepoint, reunites briefly and bitterly with Nassun, kills nearly a thousand Guardians to summon the onyx, catches the Moon, and is fully transformed to stone — then reborn as a stone eater in the coda.

SyeniteDamayayou
HouwhaNarrator / stone eater / Essun's companion

One of six tuners in Syl Anagist; the narrator's past self; takes unilateral control of the Plutonic Engine sabotage and redirects catastrophic energy into the Moon, causing the Shattering; transformed into a stone eater as punishment.

Hoa
YkkaComm leader / helper

Leader of the surviving Castrima comm; furious with Essun for destroying the geode; demands everyone carry their weight or be left behind; pragmatic and resolute.

TonkeeHelper / comic foil

Deduces Nassun's cubiform obelisk lattice plan; shelters with the group during the climax; finds Nassun grieving beside Essun's body.

LernaPhysician / Companion

Physician traveling with Essun; tends her during recovery; emotionally conflicted but remains attached to her.

HjarkaCompanion / Strongback

Traveling with Essun and the comm; bitter about the destruction of Castrima; has a side bet with Ykka about Essun's recovery.

NassunEssun's daughter / Secondary protagonist

Young orogene of exceptional power traveling to Corepoint; commits to destroying the world after understanding the systematic engineering of orogene oppression; bonds with Schaffa as surrogate father; confronts the Earth's core directly.

SchaffaGuardian / surrogate father to Nassun

Ancient Guardian who genuinely loves Nassun; corestone in his neck causes worsening agony near the Earth's core; subjected to the Earth's seizure during the core approach; accepts Nassun's redefinition of their relationship as family.

Schaffa Guardian Warrant
SteelStone eater / original tuner / antagonist

Stone eater guiding Nassun to Corepoint; warns that bringing Schaffa is a mistake; directs Nassun to power the transit station; his warning proves prophetic when the Earth seizes Schaffa.

RemwhaGray Man
KelenliMentor figure (Syl Anagist flashback)

Prototype tuner who serves as mentor to Hoa and the others; orchestrates their visit to see the sinklines; uses dismissive tone strategically to protect the tuners from further punishment.

GaewhaTuner (Syl Anagist flashback)

Joins Hoa in offering reconciliation to Remwha/Steel; participates in the Earth negotiation; present briefly during Essun's rebirth before departing.

Antimony
DeshatiFound Moon orogene child

One of the Found Moon orogene children receiving Schaffa's survival advice; visibly shaken but resolute; Schaffa's instructions will cost her something inside.

ShirkFound Moon orogene child

One of the Found Moon children; gasps in shock at Schaffa's instructions.

LasharFound Moon orogene child

One of the Found Moon children; jaw tightens with intent — she means to take Schaffa's words to heart.

MaxixeSecondary character / foil to Essun

Former Fulcrum-trained six-ring orogene, now commless and physically devastated (no legs below thighs, scarred); leads a small group of raiders and is dying from ash inhalation.

GallatAntagonist / overseer (Syl Anagist flashback)

Conductor who oversees the tuners with impatience; humiliated by fellow conductors; leads the tuners to the sinklines and explains their function in a tone of unconcealed impatience.

Conductor Gallat
DanelHelper / Strongback general

Former Rennanis general who fights with exceptional skill during the raider attack, wielding a sharpened stake.

JijaAntagonist (deceased)

Nassun's father, a knapper; killed by Nassun; his crystallized remains are viewed by Essun at Found Moon.

Jija Resistant Jekity
Esniminor helper

Member of Castrima leadership coordinating runners during the node facility seizure.

Stahnynminor antagonist/gatekeeper

A caretaker or attendant at the Syl Anagist compound who is manipulated by Houwha's knowledge of her attraction to Gallat into taking him to the garden.

Bimniwhahelper (deep past)

One of the six tuners; alert and attentive to mood; agrees to the sabotage with resignation.

Salewhahelper (deep past)

One of the six tuners; agrees to the sabotage with righteousness.

Dushwhahelper (deep past)

One of the six tuners; comforts self through the ordeal; agrees to the sabotage in weariness; senses the Earth's hostile intent during the activation.

Alabasterabsent presence

Essun's former mentor and lover, previously petrified; revealed to potentially exist as a nascent stone eater made from his remains by Antimony, choosing his own shape but not yet ready for contact.