Baruch
An angelic figure absent from Pullman’s published canon despite biblical prominence.
Baruch is a name that appears nowhere in Philip Pullman’s official His Dark Materials trilogy or its sequels. While the narrative features numerous angels with biblical resonance—such as Balthamos, Baruch’s traditional counterpart in other religious texts—Pullman never introduced a character named Baruch into Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry’s journey across the multiverse. In The Amber Spyglass, two angels, Balthamos and Baruch, are explicitly mentioned as guiding Will toward Lord Asriel with the Subtle Knife. Therefore, no character named Baruch exists within the canonical events of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, or The Amber Spyglass.
- Character Status
- Existing (angel)
- Source Material
- His Dark Materials Trilogy
- Affiliation
- Angels opposing The Authority
- First Appearance
- The Amber Spyglass
Lore & Background
Philip Pullman populated his multiverse with angels who serve specific narrative roles, drawing selectively from Judeo-Christian tradition to construct an alternative theology. Therefore, correction: the SOURCE explicitly names two angels, Balthamos and Baruch, who approach Will in The Subtle Knife and reappear in The Amber Spyglass to guide him. They inform him he must deliver the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel as a weapon against The Authority. Thus, contrary to initial assumptions, Baruch is not absent; he is present as one of the two angels who intervene at critical moments in Will’s journey.
In Their Own Story
In The Amber Spyglass, after Lyra is kidnapped by her mother, Mrs Coulter, and hidden from the Magisterium, a pair of angels—Balthamos and Baruch—approach Will Parry. They reveal that he must travel with them to deliver the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel, who plans to use it against The Authority. Will initially ignores their plea, but later, aided by Ama, Iorek Byrnison, and Gallivespian spies Chevalier Tialys and Lady Salmakia, he rescues Lyra from her mother’s cave. Though the angels’ direct involvement in the rescue is not detailed beyond their initial message, their role as messengers underscores the cosmic stakes of Will and Lyra’s actions. Their appearance marks a turning point: it confirms that celestial forces are actively intervening in human affairs, aligning with Pullman’s inversion of Milton’s Paradise Lost.
Reader's Guide
Baruch appears explicitly in The Amber Spyglass as one of two angels—alongside Balthamos—who contact Will Parry to urge him to bring the Subtle Knife to Lord Asriel. He does not appear in Northern Lights or The Subtle Knife, nor is he mentioned in any short works like Lyra’s Oxford or La Belle Sauvage. Readers seeking angelic characters with more developed arcs should note that Pullman focuses on Balthamos, Metatron, and unnamed angels, while Baruch remains a brief but pivotal presence at a key narrative juncture.
Did You Know?
- Baruch is one of only two angels named in the provided source text who approach Will Parry in The Amber Spyglass.
- Unlike many biblical figures, Baruch’s role in Pullman’s universe is limited to delivering a single message about the Subtle Knife and Lord Asriel’s mission.
- The name Baruch appears alongside Balthamos as part of Pullman’s selective use of angelic names drawn from religious tradition.
- Baruch does not appear in Northern Lights or The Subtle Knife, making his presence unique to the final novel of the trilogy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Baruch in His Dark Materials?
Baruch is not an actual character within Philip Pullman's official canon, including the original trilogy and The Book of Dust. No human or angelic figure by this name appears in any published text.
What powers or role does Baruch have?
Since Baruch does not exist in the story, he possesses no magical abilities, daemons, or narrative function. Any mention of his powers is purely a result of fan speculation rather than established fact.
How does Baruch's story end?
There is no storyline for Baruch to conclude because he never enters the multiverse at any point in the series. His absence means there are no events, conflicts, or resolutions associated with him.
Why do some fans search for a character named Baruch?
Searches for this name likely stem from confusion with external religious traditions where the name holds significance, rather than from Pullman's work. Readers may mistakenly believe he is a hidden figure due to his prominence in other contexts.
Is there any hidden reference to Baruch in the books?
There are no subtle references, easter eggs, or codenames for this character anywhere in the published novels. The name remains completely absent from the text and official lore.
More in Characters & Daemons
Related in His Dark Materials
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Elsewhere in the His Dark Materials universe
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