I'm blazing through your blog right now after seeing your "What the TMA characters would smell like", and I am being fed!!! Your thoughts about TMA are so interesting and fun, I really like how you're able to look at all the characters very deeply and with citations at that ^^ I'm not sure if you've tackled him yet, but what are your thoughts on Adelard Dekker?? He's my favorite minor character and while I was surprised his introduction didn't lead to "secret underground rings of supernatural fighting priests" even as a throw away line, I do find it curious how long living the fears have been and have enough of a presence for there to be academics who study them, but no mention of other mysterious organizations completely unbound to the Fears but dedicated to studying them or fighting them. It really highlighted to me how lonely and isolating it was for Adelard, Gertrude, and Gerry to live with their knowledge and experiences but also how that may have been the only way they could stay as human as they did.
Glad you like the blog!
I don’t have too many thoughts on Adelard Dekker himself TBH, but I do really appreciate what he contributes to the worldbuilding.
With how much of a pattern the fears have it makes more sense that certain people outside The Institute are also aware of them then it does that only our main characters (and law enforcement) have any clue what’s going on. When rotten meat just seems to show up places of course there are people like Adelard out there who are trying to do their best.
I also REALLY like his arc. He spends DECADES obsessed with the concept of The Extinction. Yet, when he gets unlucky enough to stumble across a Corruption ritual, he puts it aside to save what he can even at the cost of his life and never knowing the truth behind the mystery. He was a hero before he was an investigator and in my opinion he really shows just how impactful the work he, Gertrude, and Gerard, do outside The Institute.
He’s a very good character. I would love a spin off series of the cases he went on before Klanxbüll.