# Ed Garth — Short Fiction character guide

> Ed Garth in Short Fiction by Henry Kuttner.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Garth, III Garth, IV Garth, Briefly Garth

**First appearance:** 0000-the-secret-of-kralitz

## Snapshot

A man who spent five years believing he murdered his friend, Ed Garth returns to an alien city of four-armed gods and vibration-barriers to set the record straight.

## Who they are

Garth is the returning rescuer in a story of lost memory and buried guilt: he came back to a cavern world where Doc Willard, the man he thought he killed, still lives behind a barrier the Zarno cannot cross. Their reunion hinges on a fake sacrifice that went wrong, a stale antitoxin, and five years of not knowing. His drive to reach the hidden hangar and its Ancient flying-boats makes him the engine of the escape plot.

## Relationships

### [Captain Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/captain_brown)

_professional_

Captain Brown is Ed Garth's commanding officer, maintaining a strict but respectful superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [Paula Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/paula_trent)

_romantic_

Ed and Paula share a tender romantic bond, though it is strained by external pressures.

### [Doc Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/doc_willard)

_friendship_

Doc Willard is Ed Garth's loyal friend and confidant, offering medical aid and moral support.

### [The Zarno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/the_zarno)

_rivalry_

Ed Garth is a relentless adversary of the Zarno, a hostile alien species threatening humanity.

### [Sampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/sampson)

_friendship_

Ed Garth and Sampson are battle-hardened comrades, trusting each other in dangerous missions.

### [Captain Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/captain_brown)

_professional_

Captain Brown is Ed Garth's commanding officer, maintaining a strict but respectful superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [Captain Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/captain_brown)

_professional_

Captain Brown is Ed Garth's commanding officer, maintaining a strict but respectful superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [The Zarno](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/the_zarno)

_rivalry_

Ed Garth is a relentless adversary of the Zarno, a hostile alien species threatening humanity.

### [Doc Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/doc_willard)

_friendship_

Doc Willard is Ed Garth's loyal friend and confidant, offering medical aid and moral support.

### [Paula Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/paula_trent)

_romantic_

Ed and Paula share a tender romantic bond, though it is strained by external pressures.

### [Paula Trent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/paula_trent)

_romantic_

Ed and Paula share a tender romantic bond, though it is strained by external pressures.

### [Sampson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/sampson)

_friendship_

Ed Garth and Sampson are battle-hardened comrades, trusting each other in dangerous missions.

## In the story

### [War-Gods of the Void](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/war-gods-of-the-void)

Central figure in the unfolding events, grappling with the implications of the war-gods.

### [Thunder in the Void](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/thunder-in-the-void)

Likely involved in the struggle, given his role in previous expeditions.

### [Crypt-City of the Deathless One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/crypt-city-of-the-deathless-one)

Central figure in the exploration of the crypt-city.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/i)

A broken man haunted by his past, Garth agrees to guide the expedition into the Black Forest to find answers about his friend Doc Willard and his own lost memories.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/ii)

Hired as guide, knocks out Commander Benson to aid Brown's secret plan.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/iii)

Leads the escape through Chahnn, driven by the hope of finding Doc Willard's notebook and a cure for the Silver Plague.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/iv)

Leads the expedition through the Black Forest, administers antitoxin, and interprets the Ancient map.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/v)

Takes charge after Brown's poisoning, reveals the antitoxin failure, and negotiates with Sampson to continue the expedition.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/vi)

Leads the expedition alone after all others fall to Noctoli poison; discovers the black temple and confronts the Zarno.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/vii)

Leads the escape from the Zarno cell, navigates the underground city, and discovers the hidden cavern where he reunites with Doc Willard.

### [The Lost City's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/viii)

Reunites with Willard, learns the truth about the fake sacrifice, and proposes a daring plan to use a telepathic transmitter to impersonate an Ancient god.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters/ed_garth
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/characters