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Inspector Tyador Borlú
Tyador Borlú is the main character in the novel, which is told from his perspective. A senior detective with the Besźel Extreme Crime Squad, Borlú is a conventional hero for crime fiction in that he…
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Mahalia Geary (a.k.a. Fulana/Marya/Byela Mar)
At the beginning of the narrative, Mahalia Geary’s dead body is discovered by the Besźel policzai, and the case of her murder becomes the central plot of the novel. Extraordinarily intelligent, Mahalia was an…
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Lizybet Corwi
Corwi is Borlú’s partner in the policzai, and she is also working on the case of Mahalia’s murder. She is highly intelligent, courageous, and has impressive skills that Borlú desperately needs, including…
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Detective Qussim Dhatt
Dhatt is Borlú’s partner in Ul Qoma, and the two begin working together after it becomes clear that Mahalia Geary was from Ul Qoma. A detective with the Ul Qoman militsya, Dhatt at…
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Dr. David Bowden
Bowden is an adjunct professor at Prince of Wales University in Canada who is based largely in Ul Qoma. He found early fame through writing a book called Between the City and the City…
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Yolanda Rodriguez
Yolanda is Mahalia’s best friend. Less intelligent than Mahalia, Yolanda is Bowden’s only PhD supervisee. She has a somewhat naïve, gullible nature, and when Mahalia is killed, Yolanda believes Orciny is responsible. Yolanda…
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Ashil
Ashil is a Breach avatar who watches over Borlú after he is brought into the Breach. Ashil is not his real name, but just a name he asks Borlú to use to refer to…
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Minor Characters
Professor Isabelle Nancy
Professor Nancy is a professor in the archaeology department at Prince of Wales University who is based in Ul Qoma. She was Mahalia’s PhD supervisor.
Aikam Tsueh
Aikam is a 19-year-old Ul Qoman man who works as a security guard at Bol Ye’an. He is dating Yolanda, and helps hide her when she starts fearing for her life after Mahalia is killed.
Mr. Geary
Mr. Geary is Mahalia’s father. When he comes to Besźel to view Mahalia’s body, he breaches, which leads to him and Mrs. Geary getting deported.
Mrs. Geary
Mrs. Geary is Mahalia’s mother.
Mikyel Khurusch
Mikyel Khurusch is the owner of the van used to transport Mahalia’s dead body before it was dumped. Although he is a sketchy character with a criminal record, he is found to be innocent in the case of Mahalia’s murder.
Mikhel Buric
Mikhel Buric is a Besź politician, a social democrat who sits on both the Oversight Committee and the Chamber of Commerce. At the end of the novel, it is revealed that he has collaborated with the Sear and Core corporation to facilitate the theft of the Bol Ye’an artifacts.
Ian Croft
Ian Croft is the head of CorIntech, a company owned by Sear and Core that is responsible for the theft of the Bol Ye’an artifacts. He evades punishment for his role in the theft.
Yallya
Yallya is Dhatt’s wife.
Yorjavic
Yorjavic is a True Citizen (Besź nationalist) whom Sear and Core employ (via Buric) to kill Yolanda.
Kai Buidze
Buidze is the head security guard at Bol Ye’an.
Jaris
Jaris is an Ul Qoman unificationist who calls Borlú with an anonymous tip.
Syedr
Syedr is a Besź nationalist politician who serves on the Oversight Committee.
Harkad Gosz
Gosź is the lawyer for the True Citizens, a Besź nationalist group.
James Thacker
Thacker works at the American Embassy in Besźel.
Pall Drodin
Drodin is a Besź unificationist.
Taskin Cerush
Taskin works in the policzai station with Borlú.
Sariska
Sariska is one of Borlú’s two lovers. She is a professor of economic history.
Commissar Gadlem
Commissar Gadlem is Borlú’s boss.
Ramira Yaszek
Yaszek is another detective with the policzai.
Bardo Naustin
Naustin is another detective with the policzai.
Stepen Shukman
Shukman is a pathologist who works with the policzai.
Hamd Hamzinic
Hamzinic is Shukman’s assistant; he is a Muslim refugee.
Vilyem Barichi
Barichi is one of the teenage drug users who finds Mahalia’s body.
