# Mary Burckhardt — Short Fiction character guide

> Mary Burckhardt in Short Fiction by Frederik Pohl.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mary, Burckhardt

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

## Snapshot

Guy's wife, Mary, meets each impossible morning with a practical shrug, offering freezer guesses and calling the police while her husband's suspicions deepen.

## Who they are

Mary Burckhardt is the domestic anchor of the Burckhardt household, pattering up the stairs when Guy screams and shrieking back her best guess about what a Feckle Freezer might be. Where Guy bristles at the illegal racket outside, Mary reaches for the ordinary explanation — a joke, a mistake, a call to the authorities. Her calm normalcy throws Guy's growing dread into relief, making his isolation feel sharper with every June 15th.

## In the story

### [The Tunnel Under the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_18_se/chapters/the-tunnel-under-the-world)

Guy's wife, who dismisses his concerns and insists everything is normal.

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

Guy's wife, who also dreamed of an explosion and tries to reassure him.

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

Guy's wife who is also persuaded to buy a Feckle Freezer and is present during the morning's events.

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

Guy's wife, who has no memory of the previous day and is alarmed by his behavior.

## Links

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