# Herrell McCray — Short Fiction character guide

> Herrell McCray in Short Fiction by Frederik Pohl.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** McCray, Hurriedly McCray, Stolidly McCray

**First appearance:** 0000-asteroid-of-the-damned

## Snapshot

A navigator stranded over five hundred light-years from his starship, trusting instruments over common sense while chlorine eats his lungs.

## Who they are

Herrell McCray is a navigator aboard the faster-than-light Jodrell Bank, a man trained to trust mathematics over the lies of common sense, now sealed in a space suit in a warm room on an unknown planet. The hours-long radio lag tells him he is impossibly far from home, and the halogen stench in the air tells him he cannot breathe here long. His methodical report and sour grin establish the story's blend of hard-SF problem-solving and mounting isolation.

## Relationships

### [Hatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/hatcher)

_friendship_

Hatcher and Herrell McCray are close allies, possibly sharing a history of mutual support or shared missions.

### [Hatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/hatcher)

_friendship_

Hatcher and Herrell McCray are close allies, possibly sharing a history of mutual support or shared missions.

### [Hatcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/hatcher)

_friendship_

Hatcher and Herrell McCray are close allies, possibly sharing a history of mutual support or shared missions.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/i)

The protagonist of the chapter, a ship's navigator who is mysteriously transported to a strange room and cannot see his own body.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/ii)

Earthman under observation by Hatcher's probe team; described as using physical contact and generating paranormal electromagnetic forces.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/iii)

Navigator stranded on an unknown planet, struggling to survive in a toxic, heated room and attempting to communicate with Jodrell Bank.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/iv)

The prime subject; survives the first test, finds the unconscious female, communicates with Jodrell Bank, and learns he has been kidnapped a thousand light-years away.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/v)

Returns to the Jodrell Bank after his mind journey, recounts his experiences, and resolves to teach humanity to become gods.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters/herrell_mccray
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/characters