Sam's name for the pathetic, whimpering side to Gollum's personality, faithful to Frodo and desperate for his approval. Gollum's 'Slinker' persona was associated with his original life as the Hobbit-like creature Sméagol, long ago on the banks of the Gladden River before the Ring began to twist his mind. Slinker fought a failing fight for control of Gollum against his darker, more dangerous side, 'Stinker'. As he led Frodo and Sam into Mordor, Slinker gradually faded away, and the deadly, Ring-obsessed Stinker took over Gollum completely.