The Revolt of the Angels · Character

Prince Istar

A bomb-making Kerûb who trades celestial loyalty for social revolution, cheerfully indifferent to whether he frees angels or men.

supporting

Also known as Istar, the savage Istar

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in The Revolt of the Angels, Prince Istar is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as a known rebel angel with whom Arcade has exchanged letters and who offered him lodging.

In the storyXIIOpen this moment free

See Prince Istar in XII Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Prince Istar is a Kerûb who has joined the colony of fallen angels in Paris, where he spends his mornings bent over furnaces and retorts, concocting explosives for the good of humanity and dodging the police. He has spoken at radical meetings and served prison time for anti-militarism, and he tells Arcade frankly that he has no preference for angels over men — the coming social revolution interests him more than the reconquest of Heaven. His blunt, uncouth laugh and his willingness to forget his native land in favor of earthly upheaval make him both a comic foil and a serious challenge to Arcade's celestial ambitions.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Prince Istar sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Prince Istar in i

Character Web

18 connections

A slice of how Prince Istar sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Rebellious Angels and Mortals
Family, Society, and Authority

+13 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story’s dramatic climax because Arcade, the angel who rebelled to bring enlightenment, abandons hi…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Arcade
friendship · positive
Arcade teams up with Prince Istar, a powerful fallen angel, as a key ally in the… How this plays out →
Madame de la Verdelière
social · ambivalent
Arcade
friendship · positive
Arcade teams up with Prince Istar, a powerful fallen angel, as a key ally in the… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Prince Istar in i

In the story

Prince Istar appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XII
Mentioned as a known rebel angel with whom Arcade has exchanged letters and who offered him lodging.
XIV
A Cherub who rebelled, now a chemist and anarchist, devoted to humanity's welfare but neglects the celestial revolution.
XVII
Manufactures bombs but lacks funds; accompanies Arcade to request money from Max Everdingen; demonstrates a small copper cylinder bomb.
Chapter XXIII
Visits Bouchotte to hide bombs, attempts to force himself on her, is fiercely resisted, and leaves after washing his wounds.
The Conclave
Hires the meeting hall; expels the loyal angel; later argues that victory lies in chemistry, not war.
XXVII
Attends Bouchotte's gatherings with bombs and champagne, provided by Baron Everdingen.
XXXII
Present at the meeting at Clodomir's; gives an account of the forces assembled against Ialdabaoth.
XXXIII
Traces bomb mechanisms on the pavement, bellowing loudly, strikes Inspector Grolle, and throws a bomb to cover the escape.
XXXIV
Arrested but escapes by overpowering detectives and stealing a car.
XXXV
Returns to earth after Satan's coronation; present at Satan's awakening.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Prince Istar unlock in the free preview.

See Prince Istar in i

See Prince Istar in XII