Not Wanted on the Voyage

Timothy Findley

Not Wanted on the Voyage

Timothy Findley
47 pages1-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 1984

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Dr. Noah Noyes is the patriarch of the Noyes family and a devoted worshipper of Yaweh. He views himself as a brilliant scientist and uses strict religious dogma to maintain dominance over his household. Prone to explosive anger, he demands absolute obedience from his wife and children. He conducts lethal experiments on animals, demonstrating a profound lack of empathy that isolates him from the rest of his family.

Key Relationships

Husband of Mrs. Noyes

Father of Shem

Father of Ham

Father of Japeth

Friend and follower of Yaweh

Father-in-law of Hannah

Father-in-law of Emma

Father-in-law of Lucy/Lucifer

Mrs. Noyes is the practical matriarch of the family who finds solace in her evening routines and her beloved animals. She works diligently to manage the household while quietly subverting her husband's strict rules to protect those she cares about. She struggles with a reliance on gin to cope with her difficult circumstances. Despite her outward submission to her husband, she harbors a deep empathy that drives her to risk her own safety for others.

Key Relationships

Mother of Shem

Mother of Ham

Mother of Japeth

Mother-in-law of Emma

Owner of Mottyl

Shem is the eldest surviving son of the family, known as "the Ox" due to his immense physical strength and singular focus on labor. He prefers tending to the harvest over engaging in intellectual pursuits or family drama. He approaches life with a straightforward, literal mindset, unquestioningly following his father's directives and prioritizing immediate physical needs like food and sleep.

Key Relationships

Husband of Hannah

Son of Mrs. Noyes

Brother of Ham

Brother of Japeth

Ham is the second-born Noyes son, recognizable by his auburn hair and angular features. Having survived chronic childhood illness, he dedicates his time to studying the stars as an astronomer. He holds a deep reverence for living creatures and practices strict pacifism, directly conflicting with his father's demands for animal sacrifice.

Key Relationships

Husband of Lucy/Lucifer

Son of Mrs. Noyes

Brother of Shem

Brother of Japeth

Japeth is the youngest Noyes son, returning from a journey to the Cities with permanently blue skin and severe trauma. Once a trusting boy, his violent encounter with a cannibalistic gang leaves him suffering from physical tremors and volatile emotional outbursts. He fixates on weapons and martial prowess, hoping to transform himself into an invulnerable warrior.

Key Relationships

Husband of Emma

Son of Mrs. Noyes

Brother of Shem

Brother of Ham

Hannah is Shem's highly intelligent and stoic wife. She spends her days working in the family's orchards and crafting flower crowns for religious rituals. Highly pragmatic, she reads the shifting power dynamics of the household carefully and aligns herself with her father-in-law to ensure her own security.

Key Relationships

Wife of Shem

Daughter-in-law of Dr. Noah Noyes

Daughter-in-law of Mrs. Noyes

Servant to Yaweh

Emma is an eleven-year-old girl married to Japeth. She spends her days assisting Mrs. Noyes in the kitchen, forming a close bond with the older woman. Fearful of her husband's expectations and the harshness of the Noyes household, she tries to remain as invisible as possible and seeks comfort in playing with her dog, Barky.

Key Relationships

Wife of Japeth

Daughter-in-law of Mrs. Noyes

Daughter-in-law of Dr. Noah Noyes

Sister of Lotte

Yaweh is the Almighty Creator, an immortal being who arrives at the Noyes estate in a damaged carriage. Suffering from profound depression and exhaustion after humanity turns against him, he seeks out Dr. Noah Noyes as his only remaining human friend. He travels with a retinue of angels and animals, fixating intensely on the idea of using water to wash away his troubles.

Key Relationships

Friend of Dr. Noah Noyes

Master of Hannah

Owner of Abraham

Owner of Sarah

Lucy/Lucifer is a towering, seven-foot-tall fallen angel with webbed fingers who disguises herself as a human woman to marry Ham. Seeking a world with varying weather and intellectual debate after growing bored of heaven's constant light, she integrates into the Noyes family. She possesses magical abilities but struggles to keep her true nature hidden from the other household members.

Key Relationships

Wife of Ham

Daughter-in-law of Mrs. Noyes

Former subordinate to Yaweh

Supporting Characters

Michael Archangelis is a dedicated warrior angel who travels as part of Yaweh's retinue. He remains constantly vigilant, obsessively oiling his weapons and scanning for threats to his weakened master. He operates on strict principles of loyalty and views any questioning of authority as an unforgivable offense.

Key Relationships

Servant to Yaweh

Sibling of Lucy/Lucifer

Idol of Japeth

Mottyl is Mrs. Noyes's twenty-year-old calico cat. Though blinded by Dr. Noah Noyes's past experiments, she navigates the estate using heightened intuition she calls "whispers." She maintains a wide network of friendships with the local woodland creatures and serves as a vital source of comfort for Mrs. Noyes.

Key Relationships

Pet of Mrs. Noyes

Victim of Dr. Noah Noyes

Friend of Crowe

Mate of Abraham

Lotte is Emma's older sister. She has a genetic abnormality that results in developmental disabilities and a hairy body. She possesses a gentle, child-like disposition and relies on others for protection from the harsh realities of her society.

Key Relationships

Sister of Emma

Dependent on Mrs. Noyes

Abraham is Yaweh's cherished pet tomcat who accompanies the Creator in his carriage and finds comfort lounging in the laps of favored humans. He serves as a quiet companion during the turbulent events surrounding the household.

Key Relationships

Pet of Yaweh

Companion of Sarah

Mate of Mottyl

Sarah is Yaweh's beloved feline companion, who fiercely protects the sacred symbols of her master and demands respect from the humans around her. She acts as a furry guard for Yaweh during his vulnerable moments.

Key Relationships

Pet of Yaweh

Companion of Abraham

Crowe is a loyal bird who serves as a close friend and guide to the blind cat Mottyl, providing her with vital assistance and shelter from the elements.

Key Relationships

Friend of Mottyl

The Unicorn is a shy, goat-like creature living in the woods around the Noyes estate. It interacts with the other woodland creatures and observes the strange supernatural occurrences happening in the area.

Key Relationships

Friend of Mottyl

Mate of The Lady