Timeheart

[Character guides...]

By Momo Claus and Mizzy

Incomplete.  All help gratefully received!

Send your corrections, or additions to the glossary, to mizzy_2k@yahoo.co.uk

Nita

(Juanita T. Callahan)

Manual Directory Listings...

Nita, pre-ordeal/beginning of So You Want To Be A Wizard

Nita, at the beginning of Deep Wizardry

on active status

Nita's listing during High Wizardry 

Physical Description

Not much is said of Nita's physical description in the book.  She's a year older than Kit, has grey eyes and she wears glasses.

About Nita

We meet Nita,  Thirteen years old and being bullied,  her nature not very aggressive or affirmative.  The martial arts lessons she was given did nothing to increase her confidence.

Nita has always felt an affinity to plants and life, having once thought she imagined long conversations between herself and the Rowan tree in the Callahan backyard. When she finds her manual, running away from the children bullying her at school and taking refuge in the local library, Nita takes the Oath and meets Kit practicing wizardry nearby.  The two are flung together as partners as they begin their Ordeal.  Nita puts her all into it, even sacrificing five years of her life to ensure they all get out alive.  The wizardry also gives her the confidence to beat the bullies, but I can't help wondering if that was more destructive in the long case - shouldn't her own confidence and not her wizardry have been the catalyst for her to not let them bully her any more?

In Deep Wizardry, Nita's parents thinks her sneaking off is to do with underage sex with Kit, but when she finally gets around to telling them, the total opposite is the case.  She takes them with Kit up to Copernicus, a favourite place for her and Kit to just sit and think.  She isn't always incredibly bright, taking on the Silent Lord's part because she 'can't sing', and later when she learns she has to pay the almost-ultimate sacrifice - the lifeprice - she almost pulls out.  During the Song of the Twelve she understands completely, and moves to willingly sacrifice herself when Ed steps in and takes her place.

In High Wizardry Nita isn't the main character - her sister, Dairine, is.  Nita feels a little out of place, having always had to live in Dairine's shadow, but soon pulls herself together to go with Kit and Peach to rescue Dairine from the Lone Power.

In a Wizard Abroad, Nita gets her first kiss (curiously after her parents sending her away so she won't do that with Kit) to help Ronan discover who he truly is.  She also gets her first taste of real war and battle.

Perhaps the most curiously engaging detail for Nita, and something which made me smile considering Diane Duane's position in the Star Trek world is when Nita's directory entry changes - her middle initial changes from L to T.  Nothing like a certain Captain Kirk whose initial changes mysteriously from R to T. 

Nita is much more the self-assured person since acquiring her wizardry, and makes her opinion more forcefully known; whether for wrong or right.  In A Wizard's Dilemma her increased assertiveness is a negative point, and when opinions clash she has a huge argument with Kit; splitting up their wizardry partnership destructively.  She's a much more stronger person since her meek and humble beginnings in So You Want to be a Wizard... but is she strong enough to survive the grief of her mother's death?

We hope so, but, like everyone except Diane Duane, we're going to have to wait and see.

Kit

Dairine

Tom and Carl

and more...

This website is based on characters and situations created and owned by Diane Duane, and various publishers.  No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.