| Homuncolossus | |
|---|---|
 Homuncolossus "eyes" | |
| Physical Information | |
| Life Form: | Human (formerly) |
| Gender: | Male |
| Biographical Information | |
| Home: | Catacombs |
Homuncolossus was a secondary protagonist character in Walter Moers' The City of Dreaming Books. He was mentioned a couple of times in the sequel, The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books, and will probably play a big role in The Castle of Dreaming Books.
Physical Description[]
He was described by Optimus Yarnspinner as a humanoid being covered in layers of paper (with the exception of his shoulder joints, elbows, knees, hips, and neck, covered in a material resembling leather). His teeth are made of jagged parchments stiffened with resin. He has talons sharp as knives on his fingers. His eyes are nothing but two black cavities, but with microscopic vision.
Personality[]
Homuncolossus is described to be brilliant, but mostly misunderstood by the people around him, and melancholic in his search for perfection in life and his writings. His life in the Catacombs of Bookholm has given him a sadistic taste in killing Bookhunters; but upon doing so, he relapses into his melancholy, on grounds that the killings, and his strange lifestyle, suit the wishes of Pfistomel Smyke, his mortal enemy.
Spoiler Warning!
Homuncolossus was originally human, but was surgically transformed by Pfistomel Smyke to prevent his work from being published. He saved Optimus Yarnspinner from a bookhunter, guided him to the aiding Booklings, and taught him to invoke the Orm (the inspirational power of writing). At the end, he has himself lit on fire (the paper was flammable in sunlight) to kill Smyke, and nearly destroys Bookholm.
The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books[]
Although presumed dead, Homuncolossus is speculated to have written the letter sent to Lindworm Castle]] from the Leather Grotto, which purports to be from Yarnspinner to himself and therefore draws the latter back to Bookholm.