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Short Fiction · Character

John A. B. C. Smith

War hero revealed to be entirely composed of prosthetics.

minor

Also known as General Smith, General John A. B. C., John A. B. C., Smith, John, Brigadier-General John A. B. C. Smith

First appearance: The Man That Was Used Up

John A. B. C. Smith's tie to Unknown Narrator is one of the pressures that moves Short Fiction—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

A celebrated war hero whose body is entirely composed of prosthetics, assembled daily by his valet.
In the storyThe Man That Was Used UpOpen this moment free

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Unknown Narrator (social): John A. B. C. Smith is a mysterious, mechanically enhanced man whom the narrator encounters and gradually…

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The fuller portrait of John A. B. C. Smith sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See John A. B. C. Smith in The Man That Was Used Up

Character Web

7 connections

A slice of how John A. B. C. Smith sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

UNUnknown NarratorEAEdgar Allan PoeHPHans PfaallRURoderick UsherPOPompeyJAJohn A. B. C. Smith

Relationship types

  • Social
  • Other

Character groups

  • Diverse story characters
  • Protagonist
  • Authorial and rival figures

+2 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this excerpt, the dramatic climax occurs when Legrand’s frantic, "dancing mad" behavior—attributed to a tar…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See John A. B. C. Smith in The Man That Was Used Up

In the story

John A. B. C. Smith appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for John A. B. C. Smith unlock in the free preview.

See John A. B. C. Smith in The Man That Was Used Up
Who is John A. B. C. Smith in Short Fiction?