Susan Sto Helit - Character

Character

Susan is the daughter of Ysabell, Death's adopted daughter (introduced in The Light Fantastic), and Mort, who was briefly Death's apprentice in the Book Mort. At the end of Mort they leave Death's domain and become Duke and Duchess of Sto Helit. Susan is their only child.

She is first introduced as a sixteen-year-old pupil at the Quirm College for Young Ladies in Soul Music, shortly after the death of her parents. (Death could not save them, only grant them an eternal moment in his domain, which they refused.) After graduating—and despite technically being the current Duchess of Sto Helit—she begins a teaching career, first as a governess (in Hogfather) and then as a schoolteacher (in Thief of Time). She insists on being addressed as "Miss Susan". She was 16 when first encountered in Soul Music and, since the novels take place roughly in real time, was roughly 21 during her final appearance to date in Thief of Time.

At the beginning of Soul Music, Susan is studying at Quirm College. When Death takes a holiday from his work in an attempt to forget his more troubling memories, a metaphysical vacancy is created in the post, and Susan is 'sucked in', as Death's butler Albert puts it, forcing her to temporarily assume the role. At first, she desires to use her power to help humanity, but as the book progresses, she comes to realise that she is powerless to interfere, and discovers the inevitability of death and destiny. Much to her relief, she is released from the position following the return of her grandfather, who breaks the rules to save the rock star Imp Y Celyn and his band.

In Hogfather, the Auditors employ Mr Teatime, an assassin who attempts to destroy the Hogfather using teeth found at the Tooth Fairy's castle to control children. Death cannot enter the Tooth Fairy's castle because it is constructed from the imaginations of children, who have no concept of death, and therefore sends Susan to foil their plan instead. After removing all of the Auditors' human agents from the Tooth Fairy's country, Susan saves the Hogfather from being destroyed by a group of Auditors who have taken the forms of dogs. She later kills Mr. Teatime, by impaling him with the poker she uses to threaten monsters.

Thief of Time sees Susan once again in conflict with the Auditors, who are now attempting to stop time, so they can catch up with the paperwork. She is forced to find the son of Time, whom Death cannot influence or even see, because—being only "mostly human"—the boy is not subject to death (though it turns out he is also "mostly not" human). She is aided in her mission to stop the Auditors by Lu-Tze (a philosopher/James Bond-parody) and Myria LeJean/Unity (a former Auditor who has become human). During this book, Susan is described by Time's husband, Wen the Eternally Surprised, as "Helpfulness Personified."