Farder Coram

From His Dark Materials

Farder Coram is an important member of the Gyptians. He takes the role of second-in-command or adviser for the Gyptian King John Faa. It is not exactly clear as to how Farder Coram came to be such an important member of the Gyptians. His past is also alluding and is not well known.

[edit] His Story

How Farder Coram came to be such an important member of the Gyptians is not entirely clear, though some of his past is alluded to. He once travelled to the north, where he witnessed a witch, Serafina Pekkala, being attacked by another witch's Dæmon. Farder Coram shot the rogue dæmon and rescued Serafina. They fell in love and had a son. Their son was killed in his youth by a disease from the east forty years prior to the events of the trilogy. With a broken heart, Serafina Pekkala returned to her people as the clan-queen, and Coram stayed with the gyptians. Later Coram was shot in the leg with a poison arrow by Skraelings. Although Serafina Pekkala never saw him again, she did send herbs and spells to help him recover. Unfortunately he remained crippled.

He accompanies Lyra, Lord Faa, Iorek Byrnison, Lee Scoresby and 170 Gyptians to Bolvangar to rescue the captured children there.

Lyra grows to love Coram, as he, more than any other Gyptian, respects her and sees her potential. He guides her in mastering the alethiometer, encouraging her and soon realizing her amazing talent. Lyra accompanies him in Trollesund, a northern town, when he runs errands in it.

His Dæmon, Sophonax, is a larger than average, "autumn-coloured" cat.

[edit] Film

British actor Tom Courtenay will portray him in the upcoming film adaptation of Northern Lights.