[Suicide Junkie]

Does the copyright on those characters run from the Last book in the series or the first? Can any joe blow go off and start writing Honor Harrington books once the term expires on the original book, even thogh the author is still producing novels with her in it?

Characters aren't copyrighted, the books/movie/etc are. Characters become trademarks, like the Energizer Bunny and Mickey Mouse, instead.