A discharge relay electrode is located between terminal electrodes of a gap-type surge absorber. In a microgap embodiment of the invention, a conducting film on a surface of an insulating tube is split by two circumferential gaps spaced apart longitudinally. The discharge relay electrode is positioned between the two gaps. In a gap type surge absorber, the discharge relay electrode is positioned within the insulating tube midway between the end electrodes, substantially filling the cross section of the tube, and dividing the interior of the tube into a plurality of chambers. For both types of surge absorbers, the discharge relay electrode is effective to relay discharge between the terminal electrodes.