Selvarin
Explorer
In a novel, Elminster isn't an NPC.
It's his story and his adventures, so he's effectively a PC. The writer has to make it interesting, or what's the point?
But even if he's a schemer, that doesn't mean he is personally showing up to take care of everything - that's why he's more of a quest giver and source of knowledge in the supplements.
You can use him for that or choose to have him remain "off screen" when running your own adventures.
Elminster is an NPC in the FR campaign world setting line who has been used to introduce people to X, Y, Z, Current Clack, on a few occasions lead players into an an adventure, and what not.
Elminster is also a character in the FR novel series, and yes, he is effectively the PC in those stories.
Both are true. However, the Second bleeds into the First in the Realm of Perception and colors it. I'm not disagreeing that he can't be ignored, etc., I'm just saying I see how some people let that color their perception of the campaigns setting.
And this is coming from someone who's a fan of the setting and has filters-set-high in order to sift out that which detracts from the material I find most useful and enjoyable.