# Walt Boyd — Four-Day Planet character guide > Walt Boyd in Four-Day Planet by H. Beam Piper. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Walter Boyd, Walter, Boyd, Walt **First appearance:** 0001-four-day-planet ## Snapshot A hunter-ship pilot who doubles as the Times correspondent, Walt Boyd turns a marooned crew's survival story into front-page copy while the rescue fleet closes in. ## Who they are Walt Boyd wears two hats in Port Sandor: working pilot and the Times' man in the field, which puts him aboard the doomed Javelin when its engines blow and strands the crew on Fenris' unmapped antarctic coast. He's the one who commandeers a portable audiovisual pickup mid-rescue to feed pictures back to his paper, and who pieces together how Bish Ware's undercover work triggered the search. His dual role makes him the story's eyes and ears, translating a disaster into the reporting that will eventually expose who sabotaged the ship. ## Relationships ### [Bish Ware](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/bish_ware) _friendship_ Bish Ware and Walt Boyd are close allies, with Boyd supporting Ware's efforts as a trusted confidant. ### [Tom Kivelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/tom_kivelson) _friendship_ Tom Kivelson and Walt Boyd are friends and allies, with Boyd providing local knowledge and support. ### [Oscar Fujisawa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/oscar_fujisawa) _friendship_ Oscar Fujisawa and Walt Boyd are allies who share information and support each other's efforts against corruption. ### [Tom Kivelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/tom_kivelson) _friendship_ Tom Kivelson and Walt Boyd are friends and allies, with Boyd providing local knowledge and support. ### [Oscar Fujisawa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/oscar_fujisawa) _friendship_ Oscar Fujisawa and Walt Boyd are allies who share information and support each other's efforts against corruption. ### [Bish Ware](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/bish_ware) _friendship_ Bish Ware and Walt Boyd are close allies, with Boyd supporting Ware's efforts as a trusted confidant. ### [Bish Ware](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/bish_ware) _friendship_ Bish Ware and Walt Boyd are close allies, with Boyd supporting Ware's efforts as a trusted confidant. ### [Tom Kivelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/tom_kivelson) _friendship_ Tom Kivelson and Walt Boyd are friends and allies, with Boyd providing local knowledge and support. ### [Oscar Fujisawa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/oscar_fujisawa) _friendship_ Oscar Fujisawa and Walt Boyd are allies who share information and support each other's efforts against corruption. ## In the story ### [The Ship from Terra](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-ship-from-terra) The narrator and young reporter for the Port Sandor Times, covering the arrival of the Peenemünde. ### [Bottom Level](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/bottom-level) Narrator and guide, shows Murell around the Bottom Level, explains local history and economy. ### [Main City Level](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/main-city-level) Narrator; returns to the Times with Bish, discusses the political situation, suggests Bish has a purpose. ### [Meeting Out of Order](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/meeting-out-of-order) Narrator and protagonist; receives tip from Bish Ware, helps orchestrate the Kivelsons' escape, uses a roll of coins as a weapon. ### [Elementary, My Dear Kivelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/elementary-my-dear-kivelson) Deduces Murell's true employer and reflects on the power of publicity versus Ravick's force. ### [Practice, 50 mm Gun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/practice-50-mm-gun) Practices with the 50 mm gun and learns monster-hunting techniques from Tom Kivelson. ### [Monster Killing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/monster-killing) Narrator and machine gunner; protects the crew during the cutting-up operation and shoots the monster's head off. ### [The Beacon Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-beacon-light) Narrator and Times representative; organizes the forest fire beacon and requests a portable audiovisual pickup from Oscar. ### [The Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-rescue) Reports on the rescue and interviews his father, confirming sabotage; considers proposing a detective agency for Bish Ware. ### [Vigilantes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/vigilantes) Narrator; provides his sleep-gas gadget to Bish Ware and considers a detective partnership with him. ### [Civil War Postponed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/civil-war-postponed) Narrator and war correspondent; documents the fire and navigates the chaos with audiovisual equipment and a Sterberg 7.7 mm for protection. ### [The Treason of Bish Ware](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/the-treason-of-bish-ware) Narrator and journalist documenting the aftermath of the fire and the mobilization against Ravick. ### [Masks Off](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/masks-off) Reporter for the Port Sandor Times; observes the mob's reaction and later learns the truth about Bish Ware. ### [Finale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/chapters/finale) Narrator; learns of Bish's dictatorship, visits Tom in hospital, discusses future with his father, and meets with Bish. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters/walt_boyd - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/four_day_planet_se/characters