Lost boy's

Boys – Detailed Analysis Executive Summary The Lost Boys are a band of orphaned child thieves in Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engines series. Operating out of the sunken city of Grimsby (a former Traction City), they attach limpet-submarines to moving cities and burglarize them. Founded by Stilton Kael (called “Uncle”) after Grimsby sank , the Lost Boys consist of youths (about ages 8–20) abducted from Traction Cities and trained as burglars . Key members include Caul, Gargle, Skewer, Remora, Fishcake, and Krill. The Lost Boys’ major actions span Predator’s Gold (kidnapping Tom Natsworthy, attacking the Rogue’s Roost) and Infernal Devices (abducting Wren Natsworthy, being betrayed by Brighton). In the climax of Predator’s Gold, the Stalker Fang kills nearly all the Lost Boys . By A Darkling Plain, the remaining Lost Boys have overtaken the raft city Brighton as warring factions . Ultimately, the Lost Boys are scattered or integrated into other communities; their organized force effectively ends. This report covers their origins, organization, notable actions, and fate, with citations to all known primary/official sources.

Origins and History The Lost Boys were founded in the aftermath of Grimsby’s sinking. Stilton Kael (Uncle) repurposed a salvaged submarine (the Naglfar) to claim Grimsby as his base . He gathered homeless or orphaned children from traction cities, training them in Grimsby’s “Burglarium” to become stealth thieves . Thus the Lost Boys originated as captives and wards of Uncle, bonded by survival and loyalty. (Philip Reeve’s short story Night Flights fills in Stilton’s backstory, but the Lost Boys themselves appear first in Predator’s Gold.) Their name comes from being “lost” at sea – literally living in a sunken city.

In Predator’s Gold, the Lost Boys first emerge robbing the ice city Anchorage. Three members (Caul, Skewer, Gargle) board Anchorage via limpet underbelly . When their operation is discovered, Uncle orders them to kidnap Tom Natsworthy as a prisoner . They ferry Tom back to Grimsby under cover of night. From Grimsby, Uncle plots further capers, including an attempt to steal the resurrected Anna Fang (the Stalker Fang). All remaining Lost Boys die when Fang awakens and slaughters them at the Rogue’s Roost . Only Caul and a few others escape.

Sixteen years later (Infernal Devices), a new Lost Boy crew (Gargle, Remora, Fishcake, etc.) ventures to Anchorage-in-Vineland to steal the legendary Tin Book . They enlist Wren Natsworthy’s help, but betray her to Brighton’s slave traders. Meanwhile, the Lost Boys’ dwindled Grimsby base is destroyed. In A Darkling Plain, the surviving Lost Boys have taken over the raft-city Brighton, splitting into pirate warbands and preying on tourists . By the series end, Lost Boys as an organization have effectively disbanded: some have been adopted into Anchorage, others vanish after Brighton’s downfall .

Physical Description Canon offers little detail on appearances, other than age. Lost Boys are described as “young boys between ages 8 and 20” . No uniforms are mentioned – they are typically clothed in scavenged, practical garb. In Predator’s Gold, Tom notes they move stealthily with headlamps and knives (though no exact quote is given in sources). By Infernal Devices, Remora is identified as a girl, implying girls are now admitted despite Uncle’s prejudice . Generally, Lost Boys look ragged and toughened by life at sea. (Any artistic depictions, such as cover illustrations, show them as wiry youths in dark parkas or leather.) If anything, their physique is mixed: survivors from Predator’s Gold are lean or scarred from abuse.

Culture and Organization The Lost Boys function as a highly organized thieves’ guild under a rigid hierarchy. In Grimsby, they train young recruits in burglary and stealth. They use “Crab-cam” surveillance robots and giant limpet subs as their signature tools . Missions are undertaken in small teams: usually two or three Boys per limpet. The group is age-stratified: older, experienced boys (like Caul, Gargle) command younger trainees. The wiki notes the system is “hierarchical… with the oldest and most experienced Boys at the top, getting the best rooms, limpets etc., while the trainees or the Boys who have broken the rules [are] at the bottom” . Each team has a “limpet commander” (Caul served this role) who takes tactical decisions.

Their ethos is pragmatic survival. As Caul confides, they “never thought of ourselves as robbers… We stole to keep ourselves alive” (roughly paraphrased from Predator’s Gold). Uncle’s commands are absolute; his chief rule is “don’t get caught” . The Lost Boys show a twisted brotherhood – they fight fiercely for one another (Gargle frees Caul at great risk ) but also indulge in cruelty (Gargle belittles timid Fishcake). Originally Uncle forbade any girls among them (his revenge against Anna Fang) . Only by Infernal Devices do we see a girl (Remora) in their ranks .

Their methods are systematic: “They attach their limpet to the bottom of a city, creep in and steal whatever they want, then sail away” . Pirate cunning and high-tech tech (like the Crab-cams) guide them. They communicate by harpoon lines or crank radios between limpet and base. Despite being criminals, the Lost Boys uphold a code: loyalty to Uncle and to each other is paramount, while betrayal is met with violence (Uncle nearly hangs Caul for disobedience ).

Membership The Lost Boys’ membership is mostly unnamed youths; only a few are ever named:

Caul – A timid, fair-haired 14-year-old. Limper-commander of the Anchorage team. Befriends Tom Natsworthy and ultimately subverts Uncle’s plan (sabotaging the Roost raid). Caul survives by escaping to Anchorage and later marries Freya. Gargle – An older, brutish Lost Boy. Leader of the Anchorage crew. Narcissistic and cruel (calls Fishcake “Crocodile” to taunt him). After Grimsby’s fall, Gargle stays loyal to Uncle longer than Caul and comes to Anchorage in Infernal Devices. Hester ultimately shoots Gargle during a rescue mission . Skewer – Member of the Anchorage crew. After Caul is injured, Skewer briefly takes command of their limpet. He participates in the kidnapping of Tom . (His fate isn’t explicitly stated, but he likely dies during the Roost attack.) Remora – A girl and sister of Fishcake, taken into the Lost Boys only in Infernal Devices. Part of Gargle’s crew in Anchorage. She fights alongside Gargle to retrieve the Tin Book and is shot and killed by Hester . Fishcake – A meek boy of Gargle’s crew, called “Crocodile” by Gargle. He loses courage but becomes pivotal: he drags Wren’s limpet to safety and is later captured by Brighton . Fishcake eventually betrays the Lost Boys to save Wren, leading to Grimsby’s bombing. He escapes Brighton after the Green Storm attack and disappears into the sands . Krill – A young boy seen briefly in Infernal Devices. Captured and locked in Brighton’s slave cages. When Brighton is attacked by Green Storm, Hester tricks Krill into freeing the other Lost Boys . Krill himself leaps into the ocean to escape. Unseen members – Many other Lost Boys appear as background. In Predator’s Gold, dozens accompany the Roost assault and are named only by brief mentions (e.g. “one said X, another said Y”). In A Darkling Plain, hundreds of Lost Boys occupy Brighton, but almost none are individually identified beyond nicknames like Bullet-fly or pieces of armies (fan lore mentions characters like Wrasse). Thus the Lost Boys’ crew changes: Caul’s original team (with Skewer/Gargle) is wiped out, then a second team (Gargle/Remora/Fishcake) emerges, later joined by a handful of new orphans (the children Freya and Caul rescue from Grimsby). The only Lost Boys with major roles are the above five (Caul, Gargle, Skewer, Remora, Fishcake), plus Krill.

Roles and Activities The Lost Boys’ primary role is piracy on traction cities. Specific activities include:

City Burglary: They stealthily attach their sub (limpet) under a target city and send boys aboard to loot valuables and information . Example: Caul, Gargle, and Skewer aboard Anchorage in Predator’s Gold .

Kidnapping: Uncle often orders the kidnapping of valuable individuals. The Lost Boys abduct Tom Natsworthy from Anchorage on Uncle’s command . In Infernal Devices, they kidnap Wren Natsworthy under guise of giving her adventure .

Espionage and Sabotage: They spy on cities with mechanical cameras (the Crab-cam) and perform sabotage when needed. At Rogue’s Roost, they plant bombs as Uncle’s diversion (though Caul triggers them early). In Brighton, the Lost Boys gather intel via captured limpets sold by the Mayor.

Thieving “Helpers” for Uncle: Uncle exploits them for specialized heists. In Predator’s Gold, Uncle sends them to steal the Stalker Fang for him . In Infernal Devices, Gargle claims he’s searching for the Tin Book (though his true plan is to trade it) .

City Defense: While not their usual role, after taking Brighton, the Lost Boys defend it against other survivors and tourists, turning it into a gang-ruled city .

All these roles emphasize stealth and opportunism. The Lost Boys are not pirates in ships, but underwater raiders. They have no love for the Traction Cities they attack and view cities as prey. Within Grimsby, they also act as Uncle’s guards/henchmen, enforcing discipline (as seen when Gargle oversees Caul’s punishment ).

Notable Events and Actions Anchorage Raid (Predator’s Gold): The Lost Boys’ first major act is breaking into Anchorage by night. They roam the empty streets collecting valuables . The arrival of Tom and Hester spoils this, and Caul secretly warns Tom, defying Uncle . Under Uncle’s order, Skewer, Gargle and the crew kidnap Tom Natsworthy just before Tom can alert Anchorage .

Rogue’s Roost Sabotage (Predator’s Gold): Back in Grimsby, Uncle plots to steal the Stalker Fang. The Lost Boys accompany Tom into the prison at Rogue’s Roost, planting explosives. However, Caul realizes Uncle’s plan is a trap and prematurely detonates the bombs . In the ensuing melee, the Lost Boys fight Green Storm guards, but all are slain by the Stalker Fang . Only Caul survives (fleeing or hiding).

Escape of Caul (Predator’s Gold): After the raid fails, Uncle punishes Caul by half-hanging him . Caul is later freed by Gargle, who gives him a secret map of the Dead Continent . Caul flees to Anchorage in a stolen limpet to warn Freya’s people, effectively leaving the Lost Boys.

Anchorage-In-Vineland Encounter (Infernal Devices): Gargle (now senior Lost Boy) leads Remora and Fishcake to Anchorage-in-Vineland, seeking the Tin Book . Wren Natsworthy sneaks out and finds them. The Lost Boys ambush her and demand the artifact. Wren agrees to steal the book and join them, momentarily becoming their ally .

Brighton Slave Trick (Infernal Devices): Fishcake receives a message from the raft-city Brighton claiming it holds parents of kidnapped Lost Boys. Gullible, he and Wren sail to Brighton, only to be captured into slavery . In effect, the Lost Boys’ families and communities (coastal raft-cities) have turned against them.

Destruction of Grimsby (Infernal Devices): Brighton, aided by Pennyroyal, bombs Grimsby’s remaining limpets. The hull of Grimsby collapses; the “bigger boys” aboard kill each other for resources. Only a handful of newly kidnapped children (boys and girls) survive .

Brief Rebellion & Uncle’s Death: Tom, Hester, Freya, and Caul arrive to rescue Wren, finding Grimsby in ruins. The small Lost Boys team initially obeys Uncle, who locks up the adults . Caul eventually frees them. In the end, the enraged Lost Boys accidentally kill Uncle: he shoots at what he thinks is Freya on his screen, popping his observation balloon, and is crushed under falling monitors . After this, Freya and Caul evacuate the surviving Lost Boys back to Anchorage.

Brighton Uprising (A Darkling Plain): With the Green Storm attack, most of Brighton’s authority vanishes. The Lost Boys seize power, carving the city into territory and fortresses . They hold hostages (tourists and criminals) and battle each other. When Hester frees Krill during the Green Storm raid, the Lost Boys briefly reclaim Brighton to escape, ferrying Fishcake and others out . Eventually the city falls to the Storm, dispersing the Lost Boys.

Each of these events highlights the Lost Boys’ ruthlessness and eventual downfall. They excel in surprise attacks but struggle when facing organized military forces (Green Storm, Hunters). Their anarchic reign in Brighton shows their eventual transition from thieves to warlords of a doomed city.

Fate and Outcomes By the end of the saga, the Lost Boys as a coherent group no longer exist. Specific fates:

Predator’s Gold: Nearly all original Lost Boys die. The Stalker Fang kills the Roost assault team . Caul escapes, Skewer/Gargle presumably die or scatter, only Caul survives to reach Anchorage.

Infernal Devices: Gargle and Remora die at Wren’s escape . Fishcake betrays the Lost Boys, leading Brighton to bomb Grimsby . Caul and Freya rescue the few left; most Lost Boys either perish in Grimsby’s collapse or flee. Uncle dies as described above . The remaining Lost Boys – mostly very young children (including boys and a few girls) – are taken in by Anchorage (Caul and Freya adopt them) .

A Darkling Plain: By this point the Lost Boys have absorbed or allied with Brighton’s remains. After Brighton is retaken by the Green Storm, any surviving Lost Boys vanish from history. Fishcake escapes into the wilds, and Krill is freed but his further story is unknown . Disorganized warbands of Lost Boys either die, fade into normal life, or possibly continue piracy under new leaders. In any case, there is no distinct Lost Boys faction after Darkling Plain.

Unspecified details: The novels do not list all Lost Boy fates or names. It is unclear what becomes of minor Lost Boys off-screen. For example, Wrasse (depicted in concept art) is not mentioned in text. No canonical memoir or dossier exists on every member. All known outcomes come from the narrative episodes above.