# Bernie — Search the Sky character guide

> Bernie in Search the Sky by Frederik Pohl.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Bernie the Pullover, The Pullover, Bernard

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

Known as Bernie the Pullover, he is a crewman whose strangled noises and mumbling self-inventory of his own mental weaknesses mark him as the outfit's anxious conscience.

## Who they are

Bernie punctuates crises with a long, mumbling catalogue of his own feeblemindedness—fatheaded, goggly-eyed, no-browed, slobber-lipped—while somehow staying in the thick of things. He is the one who spots the disguised gun-truck bearing down on them, and the one whose panic Ross has to silence before they can think. His jittery alertness and self-deprecating humor give the crew a human edge, reminding readers that these are not heroes but frightened people far from home.

## Relationships

### [Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/ross)

_friendship_

Bernie is a loyal friend to Ross, often engaging in banter or shared adventures.

### [Helena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/helena)

_friendship_

Bernie and Helena are friends, likely sharing a social circle with Ross.

### [Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/ross)

_friendship_

Bernie is a loyal friend to Ross, often engaging in banter or shared adventures.

### [Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/ross)

_friendship_

Bernie is a loyal friend to Ross, often engaging in banter or shared adventures.

### [Helena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/helena)

_friendship_

Bernie and Helena are friends, likely sharing a social circle with Ross.

### [Helena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/helena)

_friendship_

Bernie and Helena are friends, likely sharing a social circle with Ross.

## In the story

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/chapters/viii)

The waiter who provides paper for Ross's instructions and expresses doubt about the plan's success.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/chapters/ix)

Bernie is imprisoned alongside Ross on Minerva, sharing the same work detail and dormitory.

### [Landing on Earth and Encounter with the Joneses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/chapters/x)

Accompanies Ross and Helena, points out the approaching truck, and is present during the Jones encounter.

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

Mentioned as being left behind with Helena; Ross worries about him.

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

Awed by the technology, suggests begging after the arrest plan fails, and successfully gets money from a pedestrian.

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

Acts as a 'wise guy,' tries to sober Ross up, and eventually leaves with Helena.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/chapters/xiv)

Bernie is present when Ross returns to the ship, stammering and shaking his head incredulously.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters/bernie
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/search_the_sky_se/characters