# Dane Thorson — Plague Ship character guide > Dane Thorson in Plague Ship by Andre Norton. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Thorson, Van Rycke, Van **First appearance:** 0000-i-perfumed-planet ## Snapshot A cargo-master's apprentice who buries himself in old microtapes, Dane Thorson reads the Solar Queen's records for answers while quietly dreading whether he'll ever ship out again. ## Who they are Dane is the junior man in the Queen's cargo section, junior enough to ask no questions and dogged enough to wrestle departure anomalies out of ancient voyage tapes on his own. When the steward Frank collapses into isolation, Dane is among the first to grasp that no ordinary shipboard illness explains it — and that the simplest, most comforting answers are gone. His stubborn, methodical worry makes him the reader's eyes on the crew's slow slide from routine into crisis. ## Relationships ### [Rip Shannon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon) _friendship_ Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Ali Kamil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit. ### [Captain Jellico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/captain_jellico) _professional_ Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Dane's commanding officer and mentor. ### [Sinbad](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/sinbad) _friendship_ Dane has a close, affectionate bond with Sinbad, the ship's cat, treating him as a loyal companion. ### [Jasper Weeks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/jasper_weeks) _friendship_ Crewmates who interact regularly as part of the ship's company, with a tone of easy camaraderie. ### [Frank Mura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/frank_mura) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work together harmoniously, with Mura often sharing his artistic and cultural insights. ### [Queex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/queex) _psychological_ Dane has a tense, uneasy relationship with Queex, an alien entity that communicates in unsettling ways. ### [Kallee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/kallee) _friendship_ Dane shares a friendly, supportive bond with Kallee, a fellow crew member and alien linguist. ### [Groft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/groft) _rivalry_ Dane has a hostile, competitive relationship with Groft, an antagonistic alien trader. ### [Rip Shannon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/rip_shannon) _friendship_ Close friends and shipmates who share a strong bond of trust and camaraderie aboard the Solar Queen. ### [Ali Kamil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/ali_kamil) _friendship_ Fellow crew members who work closely together, sharing a mutual respect and cooperative spirit. ### [Captain Jellico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/captain_jellico) _professional_ Captain and crew member relationship, with Jellico as Dane's commanding officer and mentor. ## In the story ### [I: Perfumed Planet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/i-perfumed-planet) Cargo-master-apprentice, being greased with scented paste and preparing for trade talks on Sargol. ### [I: Perfumed Planet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/i-perfumed-planet) Cargo-master, leads the trade delegation with calm authority, marching steadily to assert status before the Salariki. ### [II: Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ii-rivals) Observes the confrontation with I-S rivals and later leads a curious Salarik cub into the ship. ### [II: Rivals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ii-rivals) Supports Jellico, records the negotiation with a disc, and assesses the I-S threat. ### [III: Contact at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/iii-contact-at-last) Discovers the Salarik cub's attraction to catnip and brings the matter to Van Rycke and Tau; later witnesses the I-S confrontation. ### [III: Contact at Last](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/iii-contact-at-last) Cargo-master who calmly handles the I-S accusation by invoking Code Four, Article Two and calling on Medic Tau and the storm priest. ### [IV: Gorp Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/iv-gorp-hunt) Folds the bargain cloth, sensing he is out of Van Rycke's good graces; participates in the conference and is selected by Groft for the gorp hunt. ### [IV: Gorp Hunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/iv-gorp-hunt) Concludes trading, discusses trade goods with Tau, and formally accepts the Salariki invitation to the gorp hunt. ### [V: The Perilous Seas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/v-the-perilous-seas) Participates in the gorp hunt, observes the Salariki techniques, and helps carry the wounded I-S man. ### [VI: Duelist’s Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vi-duelist-s-challenge) Observes the feast and the duel, noting the value of the catnip leaf as a trade item. ### [VI: Duelist’s Challenge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vi-duelist-s-challenge) Settles at the feast and notes the value of the catnip leaf wagered by a nobleman. ### [VII: Barring Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vii-barring-accident) Feels like a pariah after his mistakes and illness on Sargol; observes the loading and the duel with a sense of foreboding. ### [VII: Barring Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/vii-barring-accident) Returns from meeting with storm priests displeased; forced to accept the Koros chest; remains outwardly calm during the duel. ### [VIII: Headaches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/viii-headaches) Struggles with fear and studies old records; suggests Sinbad might be a disease carrier. ### [IX: Plague!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ix-plague) Helps care for the sick and assists during snap-out. ### [X: E-Stat Landing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/x-e-stat-landing) Assists in searching Mura's cabin and the hydro, proposes landing at an E-Stat, and recalls his mistake on Sargol. ### [XI: Desperate Measures](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xi-desperate-measures) Proposes finding the real cause of the plague and leads the examination of the hydro tri-dee shots. ### [XII: Strange Behavior of a Hoobat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xii-strange-behavior-of-a-hoobat) Heats broth for Captain Jellico and follows the Hoobat after it escapes its cage. ### [XIII: Off the Map](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiii-off-the-map) Breaks the official seal on the cargo hold, inspects the red wood, and uses his sleep rod to subdue the pests. ### [XIV: Special Mission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xiv-special-mission) Volunteers for the dangerous mission to find a medic, disguises himself and plans to abduct the village medic. ### [XV: Medic Hovan Reports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xv-medic-hovan-reports) Forces Medic Hovan at blaster-point to accompany him to the Solar Queen, then participates in planning the risky Terraport landing. ### [XVI: The Battle of the Video](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xvi-the-battle-of-the-video) Takes charge of the cage containing the pest, operates the riser to trap the Traders' pursuers, and ultimately becomes the spokesman for the crew, broadcasting their plea for justice. ### [XVII: In Custody](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xvii-in-custody) Delivers a compelling defense of the crew before the broadcast is cut off; surrenders with Rip and Ali; later tackles a policeman to protect Hovan's entry to the ship. ### [XVIII: Bargain Concluded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xviii-bargain-concluded) Feels stubbornly right during Patrol questioning, reflects on Free Trader distrust of law favoring companies. ### [XVIII: Bargain Concluded](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/xviii-bargain-concluded) Sits impassively during Rip's report, negotiates the deal with Combine, departs for Sargol. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters/dane_thorson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/plague_ship_se/characters