The Ten Thousand Doors of January Characters/Major Figures

January Scaller

A 17-year-old girl, January is caught, both literally and figuratively, between worlds. She lives most of her life under the protection of her father’s employer, the wealthy Mr. Cornelius Locke, and travels with him as his dutiful ward. January soon recognizes that her longing to be noticed for more than being an exotic part of her guardian’s collection is related to the suppression of her wanderlust and somewhat reckless nature. Her journey through Doors and to different worlds reveals her true power: to shape reality through the willful expression of her voice.

Mr. William Cornelius Locke

January’s guardian and a wealthy businessman, Mr. Locke provides for January while her father works in Locke’s employ. Locke is the founding member of the New England Archaeological Society and constantly seeks to add to his private collection of valuable and rare artifacts. He shows a restrained affection for January by encouraging her to tame her willful nature to conform to his conception of polite society.

Julian Scaller (Yule Ian Scholar)

January’s biological father, Julian travels the world in search of rare and valuable objects for Mr. Locke, who, in return, provides for Julian’s daughter. It is revealed that Julian Scaller is the true author of The Ten Thousand Doors, and he is actually a historian from a faraway world.

Sinbad (Bad)

January’s dutiful canine companion, he follows her unflaggingly through Doors to faraway worlds. Bad acts as a trusted judge of character, menacing all those who threaten his beloved owner.

Samuel Zappia

The son of the local grocers near January’s home in Vermont, Samuel often brings supplies to Locke House. January and Samuel are childhood friends, teasing each other and sharing affectionate conversations about popular novels that they enjoy. Samuel becomes a trusted companion to January when her true identity emerges, and that companionship quickly turns into love.

Miss Jane Irimu

A companion for January, Jane is sent by January’s father while he is out on an expedition. Although she has a hardened exterior, it is soon clear that Jane commiserates with January’s life in the Locke house, and she becomes a valued ally.

Adelaide (Ade) Lee Larson

Introduced as one of the main figures in The Ten Thousand Doors, Ade is the headstrong, adventurous, and willful adventurer who searches for Doors by chasing stories across the United States. Ade is January’s mother, but the two were separated when January was an infant.

Mr. Theodore Havemeyer

A member of the New England Archaeological Society, Mr. Havemeyer is also an entity from another world who exhibits his frightening powers when he visits and menaces January in the Brattleboro Asylum.

Mr. Ilvane

Red-haired and with distinctive eyes, Mr. Ilvane is a member of the New England Archaeological Society who stands out to January in a number of encounters. Mr. Ilvane hunts for January following her escape from Brattleboro.

Great-Aunt Lizzie Larson

One of January’s aunts, Lizzie remains on the Larson family farm in Ninley, Kentucky.

Miss Wilda

January’s nursemaid when she was seven and up to her teenage years, Miss Wilda enforces Mr. Locke’s desire to mold January into a proper—and “civilized”—young lady.