Lyra is a precocious, curious 11-year-old girl who lives among scholars at Jordan College in Oxford. She spends her days playing with gyptian children and exploring the city with her best friend, Roger. Driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, she longs to travel north and learn about the mysterious particles known as Dust.

Pantalaimon, known as Pan, is Lyra's dæmon, the animal manifestation of her soul. Because Lyra is a preteen, Pan has not yet settled into a permanent shape and constantly changes forms. He acts as her conscience and balance, often trying to guide her away from reckless mischief.

Lord Asriel is an astute, ambitious explorer and researcher associated with the University of Oxford. He is a formidable, imposing figure who travels to the North to conduct radical research on Dust and a mysterious city visible in the Aurora. He maintains a commanding presence and pursues his goals with utter determination.

Marisa Coulter is a beautiful, highly charismatic woman who is gifted with children and involved with the mysterious General Oblation Board. She promises Lyra a life of adventure and luxury in London, though her charming exterior masks a ruthless, deceitful nature. She possesses a chilling ability to bend others to her will.

Iorek is an armored bear living in exile and indentured servitude in Trollesund. Stripped of his sky-iron armor, which he considers his soul, he maintains a strong sense of morality and duty. He is a fierce fighter who honors his debts.

Roger is a kitchen boy at Jordan College and Lyra's childhood best friend. He is more cautious than Lyra, often trying to show restraint when she instigates trouble. His sudden disappearance from Oxford sets Lyra's journey in motion.

Lee Scoresby is a tough aeronaut and adventurer from the country of Texas. He travels by hot air balloon and initially appears motivated by money, though he harbors a strong belief in free will and personal freedom. He proves to be a reliable and resourceful ally.

Lord John Faa is the thoughtful, measured king of the gyptians. He commands great authority and respect, carefully listening to his people before making decisions about how to rescue their missing children from the Gobblers.

Farder Coram is a wise gyptian elder who assists Lord John Faa. He is highly knowledgeable and serves as a mentor to Lyra, helping her understand how to read the complex symbols of her alethiometer.

Serafina is a 300-year-old witch queen who commands a clan in the North. Like other witches, she can physically separate from her goose dæmon without pain. She holds a strong belief in fate and guides the travelers on their quest.

Ma Costa is a fierce, tough gyptian woman whose son is abducted by the mysterious Gobblers. She acts as a maternal figure within her community and provides shelter and tough love to Lyra when she goes on the run.

Billy Costa is Ma Costa's young son who goes missing from Oxford, snatched by the mysterious Gobblers. His disappearance helps spur the gyptians into organizing a rescue mission.

Tony Costa is Ma Costa's older son and a capable gyptian fighter. He shares Fen-Dutch tales with Lyra and helps protect her while she hides aboard the gyptian boats.

The Master leads Jordan College and manages the dangerous political and religious schisms surrounding Dust. He discreetly provides Lyra with the alethiometer before she leaves for London.

Iofur Raknison is the usurper king of the armored bears in Svalbard. Unlike traditional bears, he surrounds himself with human-like finery and harbors a desperate, unnatural obsession with obtaining a human-style dæmon.

Tony Makarios is a street urchin who is abducted by the Gobblers. His tragic circumstances in the North provide Lyra and her companions with their first horrifying glimpse of what the Oblation Board is doing to children.

Salcilia is Roger's dæmon. Like Pan, she is unsettled and changes forms to reflect Roger's childhood state.

Thorold is Lord Asriel's loyal servant. He assists his master with his scientific equipment and experiments while they are imprisoned in the North.

Adele is an inquisitive journalist accompanied by a butterfly dæmon. She attends Mrs. Coulter's high-society gathering in London to dig for information but quickly draws the hostess's ire.

Lord Boreal is a well-connected older man who attends Mrs. Coulter's parties. He casually reveals horrifying truths about the willingness of the children used in the Dust experiments.

Dr. Lanselius serves as the witch consul in Trollesund. He tests Lyra's ability to read the alethiometer and advises the travelers to seek out the exiled armored bear, Iorek.