Riddley

Riddley is a fictional character created by Russell Hoban, who serves as the protagonist of his 2001 novel "Riddley Walker". Set in a post-apocalyptic future England, the story is told through Riddley's unique dialect and perspective. He is a young member of a primitive tribal society struggling to survive and rebuild civilization centuries after a catastrophic event.

Riddley's society clings to fragments of salvaged knowledge and mythology, attempting to interpret the remnants of the past. He is an apprentice to the "Ederland" community's loreman, a figure responsible for preserving and interpreting their fragmented understanding of history and technology. Riddley's journey begins with his exile from his community after a violent incident.

As he ventures out, Riddley encounters other groups and further fragments of the past, including the mythical "Eel", which represents a distorted understanding of the atomic bomb. His quest involves deciphering these remnants and confronting the myths and superstitions that govern his world. Riddley's character embodies a search for truth and understanding in a world that has lost much of its history and knowledge. The novel explores themes of language, memory, and the cyclical nature of violence and progress.