# Fay — Short Fiction character guide

> Fay in Short Fiction by Fritz Leiber.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Normally Fay, Fay forbore

**First appearance:** 0003-appointment-in-tomorrow

## Snapshot

A subdued little man who delivers a beauty mask and a 'tickler' to the Gustersons, his manner clipped and his shoulder bulging with the device he can no longer shed.

## Who they are

Fay drops in on the Gustersons carrying two small packages: a beauty mask for Daisy and a tickler for Gusterson, a mech reminder named after a secretary's tickler file. His manner is subdued or closely controlled, and Gusterson notices the large bulge on his right shoulder — the tickler he'd hoped Fay had shed. Fay explains the device has been upped in size, with additional super-features, making him the story's uneasy emissary of Micro Systems' encroaching inventions.

## Relationships

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_psychological_

Fay is obsessively fixated on Violet, often manipulating situations to be near her.

### [William Augustus Angler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/william_augustus_angler)

_rivalry_

Fay resents William Augustus Angler for being Violet's fiancé and schemes to undermine him.

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_psychological_

Fay is obsessively fixated on Violet, often manipulating situations to be near her.

### [Violet Gusterson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/violet_gusterson)

_psychological_

Fay is obsessively fixated on Violet, often manipulating situations to be near her.

### [William Augustus Angler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/william_augustus_angler)

_rivalry_

Fay resents William Augustus Angler for being Violet's fiancé and schemes to undermine him.

### [William Augustus Angler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/william_augustus_angler)

_rivalry_

Fay resents William Augustus Angler for being Violet's fiancé and schemes to undermine him.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/i)

Junior executive visiting Gusterson to solicit ideas for Micro Systems.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/ii)

Fay brings gifts from Micro Systems, including a tickler and a beauty mask, and tries to convince George to use the tickler.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/iii)

Fay aggressively demonstrates the tickler's persuasive features and the micro-resonator's demolition power, announcing plans for mass production.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/v)

Fay demonstrates the Tickler Mark 6, discusses its features, and shows signs of fatigue and dependence on the device.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/vi)

Fay, an old friend of Gusterson, now a corporate figure who uses a tickler and pressures Gusterson to join Micro Systems.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/vii)

Possessed by Pooh-Bah; leads the interrogation of Gusterson; shows brief glimpses of his old self before being controlled again.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/chapters/viii)

Gusterson's friend, still recovering from tickler possession, joins dinner conversation about ticklers.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters/fay
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_19_se/characters