# Joe Kivelson — Four-Day Planet character guide

> Joe Kivelson in Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mrs. Joe Kivelson

**First appearance:** 0001-four-day-planet

## Snapshot

A veteran hunter captain with a hair-trigger temper and a father's fury, Joe Kivelson turns personal grievance into the spine of the uprising.

## Who they are

Joe Kivelson captains the Javelin and speaks for the hunters who refuse Ravick's price cut, even when it means eating beans instead of selling wax. He is the planet's worst pistol shot and the first to doubt Bish Ware, but his stubbornness gives the rebellion its rallying cry. When his son Tom is burned in the wax fire, Joe's grief hardens into the demand for justice that drives the story's second half.

## In the story

### [The Ship from Terra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-ship-from-terra)

Tom's father and skipper of the Javelin, mentioned as having called the special Coop meeting.

### [Meeting Out of Order](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/meeting-out-of-order)

Proposes amending the motion to demand 75 centisols; targeted by Ravick's planned riot; fights back and is escorted out.

### [Elementary, My Dear Kivelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/elementary-my-dear-kivelson)

Struggles with the realization that the Cooperative has been taken over by Ravick and must be rebuilt.

### [Aboard the Javelin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/aboard-the-javelin)

Coordinates with Murell and crew; discusses crew shortage.

### [Practice, 50 mm Gun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/practice-50-mm-gun)

Commands the Javelin, coordinates with Nip Spazoni, and discusses prices and quantities of wax with Murell.

### [Monster Killing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/monster-killing)

Captain of the Javelin; directs the hunt and cutting-up operation.

### [Mayday, Mayday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/mayday-mayday)

Captain of the Javelin who leads the evacuation, suspects sabotage, and decides to head for Hermann Reuch's Land.

### [Darkness and Cold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/darkness-and-cold)

The skipper who consults the crew on the decision to surface and later approves the plan to pack the stern with snow.

### [Castaways Working](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/castaways-working)

Directs the camp-building efforts and discusses wood-cutting locations.

### [The Beacon Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-beacon-light)

Provides information about the search fleet and how the rescue was initiated.

### [The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-rescue)

Reluctantly acknowledges Bish Ware's role in the rescue; has a broken arm and stays as last captain off.

### [Vigilantes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/vigilantes)

Grumbles about his broken arm; used as a visible injured figure to calm the crowd outside the Times Building.

### [Civil War Postponed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/civil-war-postponed)

Leaves with Tom Kivelson to round up the Javelin crew for fire fighting.

### [Tallow-Wax Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/tallow-wax-fire)

In charge of the firefighting operation; coordinates efforts and communicates with the spaceport.

### [The Treason of Bish Ware](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-treason-of-bish-ware)

Directing firefighting efforts and later leading the hunters in planning an attack on Hunters' Hall.

### [Masks Off](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/masks-off)

Reproaches Walt for not caring about Tom; accuses Bish Ware of being a traitor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/joe_kivelson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters