# Lyman — Short Fiction character guide

> Lyman in Short Fiction by Henry Kuttner.

**Role:** supporting

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

## Snapshot

A barroom prophet with total recall and a scrambled brain, Lyman alone can see the Martians who secretly command humanity through post-hypnotic suggestion.

## Who they are

Lyman corners a patient brown-suited stranger in a bar, desperate to convince someone that the world is quietly owned by Martians in human skins. A supersonic detergent accident left him immune to their hypnosis, able to see their third eyes and their invisible comings and goings. His frantic testimony is the story's engine, a paranoid revelation that may be the only truth anyone has spoken.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Carver Brown employs Lyman as a trusted assistant and enforcer, with a clear power imbalance.

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

_professional_

Carver Brown employs Lyman as a trusted assistant and enforcer, with a clear power imbalance.

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

_professional_

Carver Brown employs Lyman as a trusted assistant and enforcer, with a clear power imbalance.

## In the story

### [Don't Look Now](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/don-t-look-now)

A man who can see invisible Martians and seeks to expose their secret rule over humanity.

## Links

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