# The Knights of Arthur — Short Fiction character guide

> The Knights of Arthur in Short Fiction by Frederik Pohl.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Arthur

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

## Snapshot

Arthur, a prosthetic man who once served undersea, dreams of surface sailing and becomes the prize a post-war crew hopes to sell to a city.

## Who they are

Arthur is a prosthetic man — arms and legs gone, wired instead into whatever machine will have him — and the narrator's crew has been hauling him from city to city since the war. He longs to sail on the surface, something he never did when he had a body, and an ocean liner scheme gives him the chance. Around him orbit Engdahl, Vern, Amy Bankhead, and the Major's Temporary Military Government, all of them figuring what Arthur is worth.

## In the story

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

Arthur is with Sam, plugged in and left in the hotel room; his nature is mysterious but he is considered one of the group.

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

A prosthetic brain in a suitcase; communicates via typewriter and is terrified of being taken.

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

Prosthetic brain in a tank, fearful of being sold and pleading with Sam not to betray him.

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

A disembodied intelligence now controlling the power station; expresses anger and frustration at being trapped.

## Links

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