History ChuckCunninghamSyndrome / Literature

* In ''Literature/TheNight'sDawnTrilogy'' the character of Kelven Solanki plays a major role in the first book in the series, almost rising to the rank of a major protagonist. He abruptly vanishes after the first book and is not mentioned again in the two sequels or spin-off material. According to the author, it was simply one too many character and subplot in an enormous trilogy where he already had more than enough to keep track off.

* Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: the character of Bob Anson, a thinly disguised avatar of Robert Heinlein, who was a member of the Threat Team (a group of SF authors including avatars of the authors of the work), vanishes without explanation from the team halfway through the novel.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', it was mentioned in the first book that a certain Sally-Ann Perks was sorted directly before Harry. Then in the fifth book, when they take their O.W.L.s, the roll call skips straight from Patil to Potter. Where did Sally-Ann go? Needless to say, every fan has their own theory, and there are several excellent fanfics on the mysterious subject.
** Why is [[TheDarkChick Bellatrix]]'s last name "Lestrange" if she's from the Black family? Oh, right--she's married. Easy to forget, since her husband Rodolphus and brother-in-law Rabastan are mentioned twice but not at all in the last two books, when they could reasonably appear. (Rodolphus actually ''does'' come up in ''Theatre/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild, though, [[BrokenBase if you choose]] [[FanonDiscontinuity to acknowledge it]].)

* In ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'', Tom and Daisy have a child, but most of the novel takes place with one or both of them outside of the house, and no mention of their daughter after she's been introduced. Brilliantly parodied in ''Webcomic/HarkAVagrant'':
-->'''Tom:''' Daisy! Where is our daughter?
-->'''Daisy:''' Huh?
-->'''Tom:''' Our baby.
-->'''Daisy:''' [[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=259 What baby?]]

** Minerva Paradizo. At the end of book 5, she is stated to have spent 3 years obsessing over Artemis, waiting for him to return, and she was set up as a very obvious LoveInterest. Two books later, and she hasn't been mentioned once since then.

* Rifleman, Stile's ally and mentor in the ways of Citizenship in the first ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' trilogy. When the second trilogy starts up, he's nowhere to be found or mentioned.

** Why is [[TheDarkChick Bellatrix]]'s last name "Lestrange" if she's from the Black family? Oh, right--she's married. Easy to forget, since her husband Rodolphus and brother-in-law Rabastan are mentioned twice but not at all in the last two books, when they could reasonably appear. (Rodolphus actually ''does'' come up in ''Theater/HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild, though, [[BrokenBase if you choose]] [[FanonDiscontinuity to acknowledge it]].)

* In ''{{Remnants}},'' D-Caf suffers a WhatHaveIDone moment after [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder accidentally killing]] Anamull]] in the fourth-to-last book and swears that he'll never [[spoiler:release his worms]] again. Well, it would have been hard for him to--he's never mentioned in the rest of the series, even in the DistantFinale when just about every surviving character got a throwaway reference.

* ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'': Hey, remember Mertil, the Andalite that had also survived Elfangor's ship's crash and had been living on Earth for the entire war? Remember how he was found by the kids and decided to remain in hiding? Or maybe you don't, because he was only in one book. Having another Andalite on board would've been very useful for the kids. ''Even if'' Mertil didn't join the kids for his own reasons, it would've been nice for him to get another mention, seeing as an Andalite war hero living on Earth is kind of a big deal.

** Rodolphus Lestrange is mentioned in the fourth and fifth books, then disappears completely and isn't ever mentioned.

* In ''Literature/Warriorcats'':

** Anges Nitt disappears after ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum''. When the Lancre coven appears at the end of ''Discworld/TheWeeFreeMen'', it's just Granny and Nanny, and even when later Tiffany books feature ''all the witches'' (the Trials in ''Discworld/AHatFullOfSky'', the Going Away Party in ''Discworld/{{Wintersmith}}'') she doesn't get a mention. ''Discworld/TheShepherdsCrown'' finally establishes that she returned to her musical career.

* Clawface in ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is mentioned to have [[spoiler:gone to the Dark Forest after his death]], but is nowhere to be found during the plot with [[spoiler:The Dark Forest plotting to take over the Clans]] in ''Literature/WarriorCatsOmenOfTheStars''. He ''does'' appear in Tigerclaw's Fury, but he [[ContinuitySnarl isn't even supposed to be in that one]] considering [[spoiler: he died before Tigerclaw was exiled.]]

* In ''Literature/Harry Potter'', it was mentioned in the first book that a certain Sally-Ann Perks was sorted directly before Harry. Then in the fifth book, when they take their O.W.L.s, the roll call skips straight from Patil to Potter. Where did Sally-Ann go? Needless to say, every fan has their own theory, and there are several excellent fanfics on the mysterious subject.

-->'''Tom:''' "Daisy! Where is our daughter?"
-->'''Daisy:''' "Huh?"
-->'''Tom:''' "Our baby."
-->'''Daisy:''' "[[http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=259 What baby?]]"

* In the early ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels the Unseen University had a [[ChronicBackstabbingDisorder different Archchancellor every book]], with the previous Archchancellor never getting a mention. As the position appears to be held for life and the KlingonPromotion nature of [[Characters/DiscworldWizards Discworld wizardry]] was established early on it can be safely assumed [[KillEmAll why they are missing]], but it is still a little strange and irritating that a major character like Cutangle (from ''Discworld/EqualRites'') vanishes without a word. This ceases to be an issue after the appointment of Mustrum Ridcully in ''Discworld/MovingPictures'', as he proves henceforth to be unremovable.

* ''Literature/Footfall'' by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: the character of Bob Anson, a thinly disguised avatar of Robert Heinlein, who was a member of the Threat Team (a group of SF authors including avatars of the authors of the work), vanishes without explanation from the team halfway through the novel.

* In the novel ''Literature/Footfall'' by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, the character of Bob Anson, a thinly disguised avatar of Robert Heinlein, who was a member of the Threat Team (a group of SF authors including avatars of the authors of the work), vanishes without explanation from the team halfway through the novel.

* In the novel ''Literature/Footfall'' the character of Bob Anson, a thinly disguised avatar of Robert Heinlein, who was a member of the Threat Team (a group of SF authors including avatars of the authors of the work), vanishes without explanation from the team halfway through the novel.

* In the ''Literature/ArtemisFowl'' series, Doodah Day. At the end of ''Lost Colony'', he is mentioned as having started working as a private detective along with Mulch Diggums. ''The Time Paradox'' takes place mostly in the past, so it's understandable that he wouldn't appear, but Mulch is actively involved in ''The Atlantis Complex'' and not only does he not seem to be working as a detective, there is absolutely ''no mention'' of what Doodah is doing.

* As the ''[[Literature/TheMoomins Moomimtroll]]'' series progresses, the Moomins keep acquiring new house-guests, until the second-to-last novel ''Moomimpappa at Sea'', where, with the exception of Little My, they all vanish without a word. Particularly jarring is the Snork Maiden, who up until this point has been Mooomintroll's G-rated love interest.

* ''Literature/ASeriesOfUnfortunateEvents'': The wart faced man from Olaf's troupe disappears after the 1st book and is never mentioned again. Also didn't reappear in the movie that was made 5 years later.

* Rifleman, mentor to and important ally of Stile's in the first ''Literature/ApprenticeAdept'' trilogy. When the second trilogy starts up, he's nowhere to be found or mentioned.