Etymology of Character Names:

Since most of the character names originate from either history, literature, mythology, or music there is much more detail about each of the individuals referenced below in the guide specifically for their topic. The etymology follows in alphabetical order:

Abdiel: the only faithful angel from Milton's Paradise Lost

Astarte: a Phoenician goddess who was associated with Aphrodite or Venus and was considered a goddess of love and beauty

Derek Sagan: his last name is after astrophysicist and author Carl Sagan and Derek means "leader of the people"

Dion: pronounced DEE-on, comes from the name of one of Plato's students who became a general. This Dion is in Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault (a favorite author of Margaret Weis) and is also in Plutarch. His name is also connected to the god Dionysus who was saved at birth from a firey death.

Don Perrin and Richard Dhur:- former member and member of the Royal Canadian Artillery. Don Perrin is also the co-author of the Mag Force7 series

Hefter - There are two different characters that have the last name Hefter, the pilot that Maigrey replaces in the Blue Squadron during The Lost King and the prior in the Abbey of St. Francis during King's Sacrifice. Both named after a friend of Margaret Weis.

Kamil: from the warrior Camilla, a legendary female warrior at Troy. Camilla, as a female warrior, followed in the footsteps of Penthesilea both in terms of her actions and in how she was portrayed in literature. This is strikingly similar to the fact that Kamil is Maigrey's god-daughter.

Maigrey: pronounced MAH-gree, comes from a childhood nickname of Margaret Weis

Professor Michael Sakuta (of Robot Blues): named after a member of the stunt fight team Crossed Swords

Michael Williams (the commander under Sagan): named after a writer/poet who has worked on Dragon Lance, another series that Margaret Weis has co-authored

Nada: pronounced Naa-daa and means "nothing" in Spanish

Nick Harsch (of Robot Blues): comes from Nicole Harsch, a member of the stunt fight team Crossed Swords

Ohme: Still no information on where exactly this name comes from, but for pronunciation: it rhymes with home

Peter Robes: from Robespierre, a somewhat delusional and eventually overthrown leader of the French Revolution

Platus: from Plato the Greek philosopher. Plato was also, like Platus, a teacher and specifically taught the historical Dion. He also wrote The Republic upon which much of the series is based.

Semele: pronounced SEM-eh-LEE, from Greek mythology, the mother of Dionysus. She too was killed by fire though her son was saved.

Sparafucile: his name is Italian and is pronounced Spar-a-fuu-chilli, an assassin from the Verdi opera Rigoletto

Steven Youll (in Ghost Legion he paints the 2 portraits): Steve is the real cover artist for the series!

Tomi Corbett - after Tom Corbet and his Space Cadets, a television show from the fifties

Tusk: from the song/album by Fleetwood Mac, a favorite music group of Margaret Weis

Xris: named after Chris from the Magnificent Seven, one of Margaret Weis' favorite movies. This movie is also where Mag Force 7 derives its name.