# Gerd van Riebeek — Little Fuzzy character guide

> Gerd van Riebeek in Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gerd, van Riebeek, Mrs. Gerd van Riebeek, Dr. van Riebeek

**First appearance:** 0001-ii

## Snapshot

A geologist and Jack Holloway's friend, quick to see that Little Fuzzy is not merely unique but utterly without kin on Zarathustra.

## Who they are

Van Riebeek sits easily among the Fuzzies, pummeling Little Fuzzy on his lap while reeling off the taxonomic shock of a tailless mammal with no relatives on the planet. His scientific eye and easy warmth make him both witness and advocate, a bridge between Jack's household and the visiting researchers. His observations about instinct and learned technique feed directly into the sapience question that drives the early investigation.

## Relationships

### [Jack Holloway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/jack_holloway)

_friendship_

Gerd is a fellow prospector and friend to Jack, sharing his frontier lifestyle.

### [Leonard Kellogg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/leonard_kellogg)

_rivalry_

Gerd distrusts Kellogg and opposes his exploitation of the Fuzzies.

### [Jack Holloway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/jack_holloway)

_friendship_

Gerd is a fellow prospector and friend to Jack, sharing his frontier lifestyle.

### [Leonard Kellogg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/leonard_kellogg)

_rivalry_

Gerd distrusts Kellogg and opposes his exploitation of the Fuzzies.

### [Jack Holloway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/jack_holloway)

_friendship_

Gerd is a fellow prospector and friend to Jack, sharing his frontier lifestyle.

### [Leonard Kellogg](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/leonard_kellogg)

_rivalry_

Gerd distrusts Kellogg and opposes his exploitation of the Fuzzies.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as a xeno-naturalist Rainsford wants to involve; later appears on screen with Jimenez and Ortheris.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/v)

Comments on the Fuzzies' artistic sense and engineering skills while they build with the molecule-model kit.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/vii)

Reveals Kellogg and Mallin's plot to suppress evidence of Fuzzy sapience; quits the Company and partners with Holloway.

### [The Great Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/x)

Accompanies Jack Holloway back to the suite and later observes the scene in Kellogg's office.

### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/xi)

Works at a desk in the suite, relays news about George Lunt's Fuzzies.

### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/xii)

Struggles to prove Fuzzy sapience through logic, monitors news coverage of the Fuzzy hunt.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/xiii)

Compiles evidence of Fuzzy sapience; struggles to define sapience despite listing many intelligent behaviors.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/chapters/xvii)

Discusses the mysteries of Fuzzy biology and psychology with Ruth, planning to go to Beta.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters/gerd_van_riebeek
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_fuzzy_se/characters