List of Characters

Characters are listed by first name because that is likely most useful for reference purposes; not all of the last names are not given in the novel. A few politicians, whose first names are not given, are listed by last name. For the most part, women are listed giving only their maiden names to minimize plot spoilers.

Name, maiden name – role in the story – meaning of name

Albert Chapman, nickname Al – Legacy LA member.
Albert means intelligent or noble. Chapman means merchant.

Annis, nee Damek – daughter of Tia, Chapter 5.
Annis means unity.

Ansel, Mr. – CEO of Tia’s client in Chapter 1.
Ansel means follows nobility.

Anton Damek – Ari and Jana’s father.
Anton means worthy of praise. Damek means earth, derived from the Czech.

Ari Ziven Damek – our hero.
Ari means lion. Ziven is Slavic for vigorous and alive. Damek means earth, derived from the Czech.

Arissa, nee Fergal – Linnette’s daughter, Tia’s great granddaughter. Arissa means sowing the fields. Her name also contains her great grandfather’s name.

Arthur Newell – United States President, Chapter 8.
Arthur means strong as a bear. Newell means from the new hall.

Barnett Alden, nickname Barry – United States Senator, Chapter 6. Barnett means leader. Alden means wise friend.

Benton Tremain, nickname Ben – Legacy LA member. City Planner. Benton is a settlement in a grassy plain. Tremain means from the big town.

Callie Bainbridge – Lares resident, wife of Moss, Chapter 10. Callie means from the forest. Bainbridge is her married name.

Carl Farren – Legacy LA member. Businessman and later Professor, Finance. Carl simply means a man. Farren means wanderer.

Cassandra, nee Gormley – mother of Tia. Greek prophet of doom. "Cassandra received the power to foretell the future from the god Apollo. Apparently, Apollo instructed the mortal woman and taught her about the art of prophecy because he had an ulterior motive - the god wished to win her affections. Cassandra accepted Apollo as a teacher, but not as a lover. Naturally, the god was insulted by this refusal. So he punished Cassandra. Apollo caused the gift that he gave Cassandra to be twisted, making everyone who heard her true and accurate foretellings of future events believe that they were instead hearing lies." per http://www.loggia.com/myth/cassandra.html

Cody Pearce – Kegan’s son, Chapter 10.
Cody means helpful.

Conrad (no last name) – party guest, Chapter 7.
Conrad means honest advisor.

Diamont, Senator – United States Senator, Chapter 4.
Diamont means bridge protector.

Doug Montgomery – Tia’s boyfriend, chapter 1. Venture capitalist. Doug means from the dark river. Montgomery means from the wealthy man’s mountain.

Drew Farren – son of Carl, chapter 10.
Drew means wise. Farren means wanderer.

Edan Duer – Annis’ son, chapter 9.
Edan means fire. Duer means hero.

Edie, nee Bela – coworker of Tia’s.
Edie means spoils of war. Bela means destruction.

Esperanza, nee Chavez – Legacy LA member. Social causes, particularly regarding the inner city and gardening. Esperanza is Spanish for hope. Chavez means dream maker.

Gavin Duer – Jana’s assistant, chapter 8.
Gavin means white hawk. Duer means hero.

Genia, nee Vernados – daughter of Seth, granddaughter of Steve, Chapter 10.
Genia means generations.

George Fergal – Linnette’s husband. appears in genealogy only. George means farmer, Fergal means man of strength.

Gilbert Frewen, nickname Gil – Gilbert means trusted. Frewen means noble friend. – Ari’s late life aide, Chapter 9.

Guy Cooper – son of Wade, brief mention Chapter 7.
Guy means guide. Cooper means barrel maker.

Hestia Rae, nee Chandler, nickname Tia – our heroine.
Hestia was the Greek goddess of hearth and home. Rae means grace.

Hugh Denley – Director of the EPA, Chapter 6.
Hugh means intelligent. Denley means from the valley meadow.

Ignazio Navarro – son of Esperanza, genealogy only.
Ignazio means fire. Navarro refers to a medieval Spanish kingdom.

James (no last name given) – Edie’s boyfriend, chapter 1.

Janelle, nee Tilford – Lares resident, daughter of Lauren, Annis’ childhood friend. Chapter 6. Innovator in greenhouse edibles. Janelle means God is gracious.

Janus Newland – Arissa’s son, appears in preface only.
Janus was the Roman god of beginnings. Newland means lives on the new land.

Jana, nee Damek – sister of Ari, landscape designer.
Jana means God’s gracious gift, and also means a harvest of fruit.

Jeffery Renfred, stage name Jeffery Jubal – Sahara’s son, chapter 4. Musician. Jeffery means gift of peace. Renfred means peaceful raven. Jubal means the ram, and refers to the inventor of the harp and pipes and founder of music making.

John Elliott – President, Chapter 6.
Elliott means believes in God.

Justis Carlyle – Los Angeles Mayor, Chapter 7.
Justice means just, upright, righteous. Carlyle means from the walled city.

Kaia, nee Marsh – child participant in Lares classes, chapter 8. Tia’s assistant, chapter 9.
Kaia means from the earth. Marsh means steward.

Kegan Pearce – Verity’s brother, mentored by Ari, Chapter 6. Specialty: international sustainability efforts.
Kegan means a thinker, fiery. Pearce means rock.

Lauren Tilford –Lares resident. Previously a Waldorf school teacher. Lauren means crowned with laurel. Laurels imply honor. Tilford is her married name.

Layla (no last name given) – Girlfriend of Doug, Chapter 6.
Layla means dark beauty.

Linnette, nee Duer – Annis’ daughter, Tia’s granddaughter, chapter 9.
Linnette means grace.

Loralei, nee Fordon, nickname Lori – member of U.S. Delegation, United Nations. Negotiator for emissions treaties. Chapter 2. Loralei means she whose singing lures men to destruction. Fordon, her maiden name, means to destroy.

MacKay, Senator – Presidential candidate, Chapter 5.
MacKay means son of fire.

Magan, Senator – Senator, special interest: the oil industry. Chapter 7. Magan means power.

Mark Goodman – Triplex resident, Lares resident. Firefighter. Mark means warlike, hammer, defender. Goodman is simply good + man.

Martin Rafferty – United States President, Chapter 4.
Rafferty means wealthy.

Matthew Goodman – Legacy LA member, Triplex resident, Lares resident. Attorney. Matthew means gift of Jehovah. Goodman is simply good + man.

Marian Alden – wife of Barry.
Alden is her married name.

Mireille Fordon – daughter of Lori, Chapter 7.
Mireille means miracle.

Moss Bainbridge – Lares resident, water rights negotiator, Chapter 8.  Moss is a Medieval form of Moses meaning saved from the water. Bainbridge means lives near the bridge over the white water.

Nuri Damek – Ari’s & Jana’s mother.
Nuri means my fire.

Oran (no last name) – Annis’ boyfriend, Chapter 8.

Orrick Chandler, nickname Rick – father of Tia.
Orrick means venerable oak. Chandler means maker of candles.

Peter Goodman – Lares resident. Journalist.
Peter means a rock. Goodman is simply good + man.

Raissa, nee Bainbridge – daughter of Moss, Chapter 10.
Raissa means thinker.

Ravyn Nurrish – Lares resident, restaurateur, Chapter 6.
Ravyn means dark haired or wise. Nurrish is a distortion of nourish.

Reginald Sherwin, nickname Reg – Wind energy expert and U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chapter 7. Reginald means powerful ruler. Sherwin means quick as the wind.

Rhus Tilford – Lares resident. Landscape architect, Chapter 6. Rhus is the botanic name of a California native shrub genus that includes the Lemonade Berry. Tilford means from the fertile ford.

Saffi Gormley – mother of Cassandra, grandmother of Tia.
Saffi means wisdom. Gormley, her married name, means sad.

Sahara Renfred – Tia’s childhood friend. Biodynamic farmer. Sahara means the moon. The Sahara is also a desert. Renfred is her married name.

Seth Vernados – son of Steve, chapter 5. Environmentally-conscious builder. Seth is the Egyptian god of the desert, storm and chaos. Vernados means courage of a bear.

Shad Newland – Arissa’s husband, genealogy only.
Shad is the Short form of the Biblical Shadrach; one of three young Hebrew men who survived being cast into a fiery furnace. Newland means lives on the new land.

Shannon Goodman – Triplex resident, Lares resident. Homeschooling mother and talented cook.
Shannon means little old wise one. Goodman is her married name.

Sharis, Mr. – Carl’s boss in Chapter 1.

Steve Vernados – Legacy LA founder, best friend of Ari. Environmentally-conscious builder.
Steven means crowned one. Vernados means courage of a bear.

Terrin Pearce, nickname Terry – Kegan’s son, brief mentions in Chapters 9 and 10.
Terrin means earthman. Pearce means rock.

Tia, see Hestia

Troy Gaderian – Retail property manager, Chapter 7.
Troy is from the ancient city. Gaderian means gathers.

Verity, nee Pearce – joins circle to assist with Lares project. Specialty is working with people.
Verity means truth.

Wade Cooper – late life lover of Cassandra, chapter 6. Inventor of water-related devices. Wade means advancer, also refers to crossing water. Cooper means barrel maker.

Walter Farren – son of Carl, museum curator.
Walter means powerful ruler. Farren means wanderer.

Warner, Mr. – Tia’s boss, Chapter 4.
Warner means defending army.

Wendell Renfred – Sahara’s husband. Musician.
Wendell means traveler or wanderer. Renfred means peaceful raven.

Willard (no first name) – U.S. Secretary of Energy, Chapter 8. Willard means resolute or brave.

Xavier Navarro – Legacy LA member. Businessman in Waste Management. Xavier means owns a house. Navarro refers to a medieval Spanish kingdom.

Zita, nee Navarro – daughter of Esperanza, genealogy only. Zita means Hope.

Photo credit: Kelly 4 by Michael Sloenecker, Windermere, FL.