Desperation has been taken over by the evil Tak, an ancient beast, who takes over the bodies of people in order to get them to do his evil wishes. Tak escaped from an ancient mine and then slowly takes over the bodies of the inhabitants of Desperation, a small mining town, and kills some, imprisoning others. Can a small boy defeat this ancient beast?
| Name | Description |
|---|
| 3 Stooges | Mentioned in passing |
| ?, Barbie | Worked for Desperation Mining Corporation |
| ?, Betty | Aunt of Steve Ames who lived in Arnette. He was stung by a fiddleback spider in her woodpile as a child |
| ?, Bonnie | A poster of Bonnie and Clyde was in The American West theatre |
| ?, Clyde | A poster of Bonnie and Clyde was in The American West theatre |
| ?, Denise | Worked mornings at the Owls Club in Desperation |
| ?, George | Character in "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" |
| ?, Jim | Worked for Desperation Mining Corporation |
| ?, Kathi | Name on the footpath in David Carver''s dream |
| ?, Martha | Character in "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" |
| ?, Russell | Name on the footpath in David Carver''s dream |
| ?, Wanda | Aunt of Cynthia Smith. Cynthia''s father was drunk at her second wedding, and when he danced with Cynthia, he felt her up |
| Aaron | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Albee, Edward | Wrote "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf" |
| Ames, Steven Andrew | Van driver that was helping John Marinville travel across the country. He went looking for John when he got a phone call from him saying he was in trouble. He helped the survivors in Desperation, and became good friends with a hitchhiker he picked up named Cynthia Smith |
| Apple Jack | Childhood bogeyman of Mary Jackson |
| Appleton, Jack | Editor at FS&G for John Marinville for the last 10 years |
| Barrow, Clyde | John Marinville had a terrified Clude Barrow grin when he blew off the Cougar''s head |
| Bates, Mrs | Character in the movie Psycho. Mother of Norman Bates. Dead |
| Bates, Norman | Character in the movie Psycho |
| Bee Gees, The | Band mentioned in passing |
| Belle, Albert | Baseball player who had signed one of David Carver''s baseball cards |
| Benny, Jack | Comedian mentioned in passing |
| Bergman, Ingrid | Actress mentioned in passing |
| Berk, Alfie | Owner of Berk''s Conoco in Fallon, Nevada |
| Billingsley, Mr | Father of Tom Billingsley. He told him stories about the Rattlesnake Number One mine sealing |
| Billingsley, Tom | Retired vet with white hair that was captured by Collie Entragian. A drunk that was attacked by a cougar in The American West theatre and died in July 1995 |
| Black Sabbath | Band that Steve Ames toured with for 8 months |
| Bligh, Captain | Mentioned in passing |
| Bogart, Humphrey | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Boone, Daniel | Mentioned in passing |
| Boone, Richard | Actor in the movie "Hombre" |
| Bowles, Paul | Mentioned in passing |
| Boyd, Stephen | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Bridges, Jeff | Actor in a movie titled American Heart |
| Brophy, Harold | A gambler that was supposed to have killed one of the Chinese miners that escaped Tak in the story told by Tom Billingsley |
| Browne, Sam | Collier Entragian wore a Sam Browne belt |
| Buckley, William F | Mentioned in passing |
| Buffalo Bill | Mentioned in passing |
| Bundy, Ted | Serial Killer |
| Burgoyne, Dr | Doctor of Brian Ross when he was hit and almost killed by a drunk driver. He did not think Brian would live |
| Burroughs, Edgar Rice | Author mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| Buzzards | One of the animals used by Tak to view the people in the town of Desperation and to kill others |
| Camel, Joe | There was a shirt with him on it in the toilet at the American West theatre in Desperation |
| Can Tah's | Little God's. They sometimes took the form of animal stone statues that caused people to have evil thoughts, or do Tak's wishes |
| Can Tak's | Big God's |
| Carpenter, Mary Chapin | Heard on the radio by Steve Ames |
| Carver, David | 11 year old son of Ellen and Ralph Carver. Since his friend Brian Ross was healed after a horrific accident, he speaks to God 3 times a day. He guided the people in Desperation under some influence of God. He was left an orphan when his parents all died |
| Carver, Ellen Margaret | Mother of David and Kirsten Carver, and wife of Ralph Carver. 4th victim of Tak but her body failed quickly because she had a yeast infection. She captured Mary Jackson, but Mary escaped before Tak could transfer into her, so it transferred into a Golden Eagle in July 1995 |
| Carver, Kirsten (Pie) | 7 year old daughter of Ellen and Ralph Carver. Killed by Collie Entragian when he threw her down the stairs of the police station in Desperation in July 1995 |
| Carver, Ralph | Father of David and Kirsten Carver, and husband of Ellen Carver. Bit of a Gambler. They lived at 248 Poplar Street, Wentworth, Ohio. He was killed by the Golden Eagle that Tak was in while travelling into the China Pit mine in July 1995 |
| Cash, Johnny | Singer mentioned in passing |
| Cavaliere, Felix | Lead singer of The Rascalls |
| Cheever, John | Writer mentioned by John Marinville. He died as an alcoholic |
| Christian, Fletcher | Mentioned in passing |
| Claus, Santa | Santa. Mentioned in passing |
| Clinton, Bill | President of the USA mentioned in passing |
| Colonel Henry | A Motocop character mentioned in passing |
| Cougar, The | Attacked and killed Tom Billingsley in The American West theatre. Controlled by Tak. It was shot and killed by John Marinville in July 1995 |
| Coyote's | One of the animals used by Tak to view the people in the town of Desperation and to kill others |
| Curious George | Character in a book read by Ellen Carver to Kirsten Carver |
| Daniel | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Daniels, Norman | He Broke Cynthia Smith''s nose and killed Anna Stevenson |
| Daniels, Rose Diana | Wife of Norman Daniels. She was not mentioned by name, but was described |
| Davis, Bette | Actress in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Day, Doris | Actress mentioned in passing |
| Dean, James | Dead actor |
| DeMille, Cecil B | Movie director |
| Dickey, James | In an article written by Peter Jackson |
| Do-Right, Dudley | Cartoon character mentioned in passing |
| Doolottle, Dr | Character out of Children''s books |
| Douglas, Kirk | Actor in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Dr Ruth | Therapist mentioned in passing |
| Dredd, Judge | David Carver owns a toy of him |
| Duchess of Windsor | Mentioned in passing |
| Duke of Earl | Mentioned in passing |
| Dylan, Bob | Singer who played with Peter Tosh at Forest Hills |
| Entragian, Collier (Collie) | Town cop from Desperation that was the 3rd victim of Tak. He was a large man who killed almost everyone else in the town of Desperation before releasing Tak to enter Ellen Carver. Died in July 1995 |
| Esau | Character from the Bible |
| Escolla, ? | Killed in Desperation when he was run over with his girlfriend, then shot by Collier Entragian in July 1995. Worked at the crusher at the Desperation Mine |
| Fiddleback Spiders | One of the animals used by Tak to view the people in the town of Desperation and to kill others |
| Finney, ? | Ex-husband of Deirdre Finney. They are divorced |
| Finney, Deirdre | Married name of Deirdre Jackson. A bit of a drug addict |
| Foote, Shelby | Writer who likened John Marinville to John Steinbeck |
| Frankenstein | Mentioned in passing |
| Franklin, Patricia | Name in John Marinville's notebook. A redhead from the "Friends of open Libes" |
| Friday, Joe | Collie Entragian sounded like him |
| G I Joe | Kids character |
| Garcia, Jerry | Mentioned in passing |
| Gardner, John | Author who hit a tree and died on a motorbike in Pennsylvania |
| Garfield | Comic Cat |
| Gartner, Bruno | In a car accident with John Marinville. The car was driven by Sean Hutter, and he rolled it, killing one person in 1986 |
| Geller, Frank | Chief mining engineer for Desperation Mining Corporation in charge of reopening the mine. His hand was cut off and put into the fishtank when he was killed in July 1995 |
| God | He often talked to David Carver, and helped them defeat Tak |
| Golden Eagle | Tak transferred itself from the dying Ellen Carver to the eagle and used it to kill Ralph Carver. When it Died, Tak could not transfer itself into another body. Died in July 1995 |
| Goofy | Cartoon character in a screen saver at the Desperation Mining Corporation office |
| Gould, Jay | John Marinville was writing a novel about him but destroyed it by putting the discs in the microwave for 10 minutes on high |
| Grateful Dead | Band mentioned in passing |
| Guthrie, Arlo | Mentioned in passing |
| Halberstam, David | Writer and Historian that was in Vietnam with John Marinville. He was in a photo in John Marinville''s wallet |
| Hansen, Buzz | Friend of Tom Billingsley in Desperation. Probably died in July 1995 |
| Harding, Tonya | She was on the cover of a Penthouse magazine |
| Hardy, Mrs | Worked in the West Wentworth Middle School Office |
| Harris, Bill | Agent of John Marinville. Met in 1965 |
| Hemingway, Ernest | Writer mentioned in passing |
| Hendrix, Jimmy | Musician mentioned in passing |
| Heston, Charlton | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Houdini, Harry | Escape artist |
| Hudson, Rock | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Hutter, Sean | Friend of John Marinville that drove a car and he rolled it, killing one person in 1986. He was paralysed from the neck down |
| Iunesco, Eugene | Writer mentioned in passing |
| Ives, Marty | Friend of Tom Billingsley in Desperation. Probably died in July 1995 |
| Jackson, Deirdre | Sister of Peter Jackson and owned the car he was driving. Maiden name of Deirdre Finney. Her drugs were found in the boot by Collie Entragian |
| Jackson, Mary | Wife of Peter Jackson. She wrote poetry. Tried to shoot Collie Entragian with a shotgun, but just missed. Later taken by Ellen Carver from The American West, but she escaped before Tak could enter her |
| Jackson, Mr | Father of Peter Jackson |
| Jackson, Mrs | Mother of Peter Jackson |
| Jackson, Peter | Husband of Mary Jackson. Assistant professor of English at New York University. Shot 4 times and killed by Collie Entragian as he was caught with drugs in his sister Deirdre Finney''s car in July 1995 |
| Jacob | Character from the Bible |
| Jesus | Mentioned in passing |
| John the Baptist | Character in the Bible |
| Joseph | Character in the Bible |
| Josephson, ? | One of two children of Brad Josephson. In a photo on his desk |
| Josephson, ? | One of two children of Brad Josephson. In a photo on his desk |
| Josephson, Brad | Desperation Mining Corporation secretary. The second victim of Tak, before Tak entered Collier Entragian. He died because he had a leaky heart valve in July 1995 |
| Josephson, Mrs | Wife of Brad Josephson. In a photo on his desk |
| Joshua | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Judkins, Richie | Ex-boyfriend of Cynthia Smith. He almost tore her ear off when he came home drugged on Crystal Meth |
| Karloff, Boris | Actor in Frankenstein movies |
| Kincaid, Tom | Friend of Tom Billingsley in Desperation. Probably died in July 1995 |
| King Darius | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Kinshaw, Gertrude (Gert) | A friend of Cynthia Smith who worked for Daughters and Sisters |
| Koontz, Dean | Writer mentioned by Cynthia Smith |
| KrayZee, Professor | Cartoon character liked by Kirsten Carver |
| Lake, Ricki | TV Talk Show host |
| Lancaster, Cash | Friend of Tom Billingsley in Desperation. Probably died in July 1995 |
| Lennon, John | Singer mentioned in passing |
| Lewis, Jerry | Comedian mentioned in passing |
| Lightfoot, Gordon | Mentioned in passing |
| Lincoln, Abe | President of the USA |
| Little Rascalls, the | Band later known as The Rascalls |
| Loren, Sophia | Actress in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Loveless, Patty | Singer thought of by Tom Billingsley |
| Loving, Clayton | Has some stuff auctioned off, and the bar from the property was put into the American West theatre by Tom Billingsley and his friend |
| Lushan, Ch'an | Worked in the China Mine in 1859. Brother of Shih. Escaped from the mine, and trapped those inside by causing the entrance to cave in. Entered Desperation a few weeks later and was hung 2 days after his brother was killed in October 1859 |
| Lushan, Shih | Worked in the China Mine in 1859. Brother of Ch''an Escaped from the mine, and trapped those inside by causing the entrance to cave in. Entered Desperation a few weeks later and was killed in the Lady Day saloon in October 1859 |
| Mailer, Norman | Writer who John Marinville was likened to |
| Mansfield, Jane | Actress in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Marcucci, Sylvia | Spat on Cynthia Smith in the 8th grade |
| Marinville, ? | Child of John and Terry Marinville. One of 2 that no longer speak to their father |
| Marinville, ? | Child of John and Terry Marinville. One of 2 that no longer speak to their father |
| Marinville, ? | Fourth wife of John Marinville. Divorced. A well known American actress that left him |
| Marinville, ? | Second wife of John Marinville. Divorced |
| Marinville, ? | Third wife of John Marinville. Divorced. He beat her up while drunk |
| Marinville, Bronwyn | Daughter of John and Terry Marinville. The only one of his children that still talk to their father |
| Marinville, John Edward | A 56 year old writer who tried to commit suicide in the past. He was travelling across the country on a Harley researching a new book. Wrote the short stories: "Death on the Second Shift", "Feeding the Flames", "A kiss on lake Saranac", "Heaven-sent Weather". His books include: "Delight", "Song of the Hammer", and "Tiburon". He was researching a new book of true stories to be released as a non-fiction book when he was captured by Collie Entragian. He died in July 1995 when he blew up Tak's ini using ANFO explosive and a shotgun shell |
| Marinville, Terry | First wife of John Marinville, and married when she was 21. They divorced, but still keep in contact |
| Martin, Gene | Reverend at the Methodist Church in Wentworth who spoke to David Carver about God. Husband of Stella Martin. Died 2 days after David Carver left on his trip in July 1995 |
| Martin, Stella | Wife of Gene Martin |
| Martinez, Pascal | Saturday blast crew boss for the Desperation Mining Corp. Shot dead by Cary Ripton in July 1995 |
| Maupin, Armistead | Author mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| McCarthy, Cormac | Mentioned in passing |
| Monroe, Marilyn | Actress who''s poster is in the projection booth at The American West Movie Theatre |
| Moran, Flip | Killed when he was run over by Collier Entragian. He was with a large woman at the time. Died in July 1995 |
| Moses | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Moss, Kate | Mentioned in passing |
| Motokops 2200 | Kirsten Carver was wearing a Motokops shirt when she was killed |
| Mummy, The | From horror films watched by Brian Ross and David Carver |
| Murphy, David Lee | Singer mentioned in passing |
| Newman, Paul | Actor in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Newman, Paul | Actor in the movie "Hombre" |
| Nickerson, Patty | In a car accident with John Marinville. The car was driven by Sean Hutter, and he rolled it, killing one person in 1986 |
| O'Brien, Tim | Actor mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| Oates, Joyce Carol | At a party in East Hampton with John Marinville |
| Onslo, Dick | Friend of Tom Billingsley in Desperation. Probably died in July 1995 |
| Ortega, Tommy | Owned an ElCamino truck in Desperation. The truck was seen overturned near the hardware store |
| Paiuta | Natives from around the Desperation area |
| Palance, Jack | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Paycheck, Johnny | Mentioned in passing |
| Pearl Jam | Band mentioned in passing |
| Pearson, Dave | Was full time deputy in Desperation that was shot by Collier Entragian in July 1995 |
| Peck, Gregory | Actor in movies played at The American West theatre in Desperation |
| Pharaoh | Character in the Bible |
| Pickins, Slim | Mentioned in passing |
| Pinette, Duffy | In Vietnam with John Marinville. He is in a photo in John''s wallet |
| Pope John Paul | Mentioned in passing |
| Poppins, Mary | Mentioned in passing |
| Potiphar | Character from the Bible |
| Presley, Elvis | Singer mentioned in passing |
| Prudum, Joe | Night watchman for Desperation Mining Corp. Shot dead by Cary Ripton in July 1995 |
| Queen Victoria | Mentioned in passing |
| Raitt, Bonnie | Singer who''s tape was in Peter Jackson''s car |
| Rancourt, Billy | Desperation town drunk and the Barber who also worked at the Feed Store. Escaped the first round of shooting but was later run over by Collie Entragian when John Marinville was in the car in July 1995 |
| Rascalls, The | Band mentioned in passing. Used to be called The Little Rascalls |
| Reed, James (Jim) | Desperation Safety Officer. Sort of like the town Chief of Police. Shot dead in July 1995 |
| Rice, Anne | Author mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| Ripton, ? | Brother of Cary Ripton |
| Ripton, ? | Brother of Cary Ripton |
| Ripton, Cary | 48 Year old balding Pit foreman of the Rattlesnake Division that was the first victim of Tak. He died quickly because he was suffering from prostate cancer. Tak transferred to Brad Josephson. Died in July 1995 |
| Rivera, Miquel | Works with Pascal Martinez at the Desperation mine on the weekend blasting crew. Shot dead by Cary Ripton in July 1995 |
| Ross, Brian | David''s friend from Wentworth. He was hit by a drunk driver and was expected to die, but after David Carver spoke to God, he recovered |
| Ross, Debbie | Mother of Brian Ross and wife of Mark Ross |
| Ross, Mark | Father of Brian Ross and husband of Debbie Ross |
| Sally | Horse of Audry Wyler. 4 year old mare that was treated by Tom Billingsley |
| Satan | Biblical character mentioned in passing |
| Sawyer, Tom | Mentioned in passing |
| Schwartzenegger, Arnold | Actor mentioned in passing |
| Shakespeare, William | Author mentioned in passing |
| Shoenstack, Evelyn | Runs Desperation cut and curl and worked in the library. Shot dead by Collie Entragian in July 1995 |
| Shoshone, The | Natives from around the Desperation area |
| Smith, Cynthia | Hitchhiker picked up by Steve Ames outside Ely while on her way back home to her parents. She was in Daughters and Sisters because her ear was almost ripped off by Richie Judkins, and later had nose broken by Norman Daniels. Helped Steve in Desperation |
| Smith, Mr | Father of Cynthia. Used to be a minister, but now retired |
| Smith, Mrs | Mother of Cynthia Smith |
| Snakes | One of the animals used by Tak to view the people in the town of Desperation and to kill others |
| Soderson, Gary | Friend of Peter and Mary Jackson. Husband of Marielle Soderson. Lived in Lake Tahoe |
| Soderson, Marielle | Friend of Peter and Mary Jackson. Wife of Gary Soderson. Lived in Lake Tahoe |
| Southside Johnny | Steve Ames worked for them in 1986 |
| Spielberg, Steven | At a party in East Hampton with John Marinville |
| Steele, Danielle | Writer mentioned by Cynthia Smith |
| Steinbeck, John | Writer who John Marinville was likened to |
| Stevenson, Anna | Ran the Daughters and Sisters shelter until she was murdered by Norman Daniels |
| Stoker, Bram | Writer mentioned in passing |
| Stone, Robert | Actor mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| Styles, Cassandra (Cassie) | A Motocop character on Kristen Carvers shirt |
| Swaggart, Jimmy | Preacher mentioned in passing |
| Sweetheart, Melissa | Doll of Kristen Carver |
| Symes, Allen | Mining engineer and company Comptroller for Desperation Mining Corporation, from Phoenix. Died in July 1995 |
| Tak | Ancient Evil that lives in an ini in the old China Pit. Inhabits people''s bodies and causes them to do evil. Its influence causes people to grow, and degenerate rapidly, causing death in a matter of hours or days. Hopefully killed by John Marinville when he blew up the ini in July 1995 |
| Ti, Yuan | A miner in the China Pit that went mad because of the can tahs. Shot dead by Shuh Lushan September 21, 1859 |
| Timorov, Rachel | In a car accident with John Marinville. The car was driven by Sean Hutter, and he rolled it, killing her in 1986 |
| Tommyknockers, The | Troublemakers that are rumoured to inhabit mines. It was said that they were the cause of the cave-in at the China Pit |
| Tosh, Peter | Singer on Cynthia Smith''s shirt. Steve Ames was a rodie for him in 1980 |
| Trackers, The | Band mentioned in passing |
| Tritt, Travis | Country Singer mentioned in passing |
| Tucker, Tanya | Country Singer mentioned in passing |
| Turner, Kirk | Crew boss in the rattlesnake Number Two mine for Desperation Mining Corporation. Shot by Cary Ripton in July 1995 |
| Turner, Mrs | Wife of Kirk Turner. Shot by Cary Ripton in July 1995 |
| Tyler, Steven | Steve Ames once worked for him |
| Van Slyke, Andy | Baseball player who had signed one of David Carver's baseball cards |
| Waits, Tom | Singer mentioned in passing |
| Waslewski, Dr | Neurologist looking after Brian Ross after he was hit by a car |
| Wayne, John | Actor mentioned by Collie Entragian |
| Winfrey, Oprah | TV Talk Show host |
| Wolfe, Tom | Laughed at John Marinville''s imitation of Jimmy Swaggart |
| Worrell, Hugh | Father of Wendy and Mert Worrell and owner of Worrells store and butcher. Shot in the head in July 1995 |
| Worrell, Mert | Son of Hugh Worrell. Found dead in his bed in July 1995 |
| Worrell, Mrs | Wife of Hugh Worrell and mother of Mert and Wendy. Her throat was cut in July 1995 |
| Worrell, Wendy | Daughter of Hugh Worrell. Killed by Collie Entragian in July 1995 |
| Wrightson, Bernie | Collie Entragian had a chin like a Bernie Wrightson comic book hero |
| Wyler, Audrey | Joined the group in the theatre in Desperation. She was a consulting Geologist for Diablo Mining. She hid in a laundromat for 2 days, and when she joined the other survivors, she was really under the influence of the evil Can Tah''s that she collected. Tried to kill David carver, but died when she failed and was separated from the Can Tah''s in July 1995 |
| Wyler, Mr | Father of Audrey Wyler. He gave her a gun when she was 12 years old |
| Yeoman, Curt | Worked for telephone company. Probably killed by Collie Entragian in July 1995 |
| Zappa, Frank | Singer mentioned in passing |