Stanislaus Grumman

[close] Colonel John Parry, aka Dr. Stanislaus Grumman, or Jopari, is the father of Will Parry and the husband of Elaine Parry.

John Parry was a famous English explorer and a major in the Royal Marines in Will's world. At one point, he went on an archaeological exploration of Alaska. There, he had high hopes of finding a mythological portal to a different realm. He was unsuccessful at first, but he and his companions eventually found and went through the portal by accident during a blizzard and were brought to the world of Cittàgazze. His two companions were killed by the Spectres shortly after.

John then ventured through Cittàgazze and found a portal to the world that became home to Lyra Belacqua. When he arrived, he met his own dæmon Sayan Kötör the Osprey. He eventually changed his name to Stanislaus Grumman, likely because he needed a name that seemed natural to the world. Some time after, he attended the Berlin Academy. He became both a famous and slightly notorious explorer, infamous for his strange curiosity towards the world and its elements.

He showed specific interest in Dust and its entities. Most of his studies of the strange substance are unknown. At one point, he even joined the Yenisei tribe and underwent trepanation of his skull. He became a leader and shaman of the tribe and took the name Jopari, a slight variant of "John Parry".

Mystery enveloped the life of Grumman after that. Many believed he was dead, although there were many other rumours. The members of Jordan College believed he was dead after Lord Asriel showed them a frozen, severed head and tricked them into believing it was Grumman's. Grumman remained away, in the village of the Yenisei tribe as their well-respected shaman.

In The Subtle Knife, Lee Scoresby is sent to find Grumman. He eventually finds him in the Yenisei tribe (where he discovers that the name "Jopari" is merely the tribemen's poor pronunciation of "John Parry"), although Grumman explains that it was his calling that allowed Lee to find him. Lee takes Grumman to Cittàgazze at his wishing, as he wishes to find the bearer of the Æsahættr.

As they make their way to the bearer, they are chased by soldiers in four zeppelins. Grumman uses his powers to create a storm to destroy one of them. During the night, he destroys the second by making a Spectre attack its pilot. Sayan Kötör commands the birds of the forest to destroy the third. With all his strength sapped, Grumman is unable to destroy the fourth zeppelin. Lee remains behind to fend off the men while Grumman escapes. Grumman promises to protect Lyra for him.

Grumman finds the bearer, Will, on top of a mountain and fights with him after Will attacks him in the pitch darkness. Grumman uses some bloodmoss to heal Will's wound. He tells him of the great destiny that has been bestowed upon him as the bearer of the subtle knife. He tells him that he must defeat the Authority, breaking the oath he made to Lee Scoresby and not even mentioning Lyra. When some light is shaded, he sees Will's face and they both realize who the other is. An arrow shot by Juta Kamainen, a witch he spurned due to his love for Will's mother, pierces Grumman's heart and he dies immediately after he realises Will's true identity.

Finally, in the Amber Spyglass, the third and final book of the trilogy, he and Lee Scoresby were set free by Lyra Belaqua/Silvertongue in the world of the Dead. Instead of following the other deceased people, they remained to fight their final battle with the Authority.

Source: Wikipedia.