Simon (Enter Wildthyme)
Simon was the young owner of the Great Big Book Exchange. He accompanied Iris Wildthyme during the series of adventures surrounding Anthony Marvelle's attempt to open the Ringpull, which also involved his best friend Kelly, Panda, Jenny Winterleaf, Barbra the vending machine, and Magda the mermaid.
History
In his youth, Simon was a big fan of Vince Cosmos, and his parents died in a plane crash on their journey on a holiday which they won on TV game show.
During a visit to Darlington with his grandmother in the 2000s, Simon first encountered the Great Big Book Exchange. He grew close to Terrance, the shop's owner, and Kelly, the shop's clerk.
Simon was an insomniac, like his mam and his grandmother.
When Terrance died in 2011, ownership of the Exchange passed onto Simon. Around this time, Simon met Iris Wildthyme and Panda and was taken to the Moulin Rouge during the eve of the Martian invasion in an alternate 1894. After two brief stop-offs at Iris' office in 1973 South Kensington and the Begins at Home, Simon was returned to Darlington by Iris, as he had one of the objects that had fell to earth from the Begins at Home, the Objet D'Oom. Discovering that it was missing, he went with Iris and Panda using information obtained from MIAOW to the planet Valcea. On the way there he stole one of Iris' diaries. After Anthony Marvelle vandalised the bus, he travelled through one of the crack to the last Vince Cosmos concert. After Panda managed to stop an assassination attempt, he joined Vince and the Tomorrow Twins at an after party. Before leaving he kissed Tommy Tomorrow. After Iris discovered that Marvelle had stolen her diaries, he admitted that he had one of them, which by coincidence contained the information on the planet Hyspero. When he learnt that Marvelle had kidnapped Kelly, he wanted to follow her immediately to Hyspero. He couldn't because of the bomb that was placed in Barbra but eventually managed to get to Hyspero on Iris' bus. (PROSE: Enter Wildthyme)
When they were travelling through Hysperon desert, he got annoyed the Iris got lost. but later felt sorry for feeling this. He was left behind on the bus when Iris went to a pub and was taken by the Vizier to see the Scarlet Empress. (PROSE: Wildthyme Beyond!)
Appearance
He had short, tufted up hair, and had a gangly body. He had a mis-matched wardrobe, and he often wore cologne. (PROSE: Enter Wildthyme)
Personality
Simon was enthusiastic and trusting. He was also gay.
Behind the scenes
Simon originates in Paul Magrs' novel Exchange, which also introduced the Great Big Book Exchange, Kelly, and Terrance. In that novel, which used the characters from Enter Wildthyme, much more is revealed about Simon, such as he and his grandmother Winnie being bibliophiles, and more of his everyday life.
