# Steve Arnsen — Short Fiction character guide

> Steve Arnsen in Short Fiction by Henry Kuttner.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Arnsen, Steve

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

## Snapshot

Once the laughing troublemaker of Midwestern, Steve Arnsen returns to Earth ravaged by something in the outer dark that he can neither forget nor explain.

## Who they are

Arnsen is a man split from his old self: the Hercules-built rakehell now carries hell in his face and a shagreen box in his cupped hands. He came back hoping Earth would erase what happened, but he is already booking passage to Callisto or Mars, anywhere but here. The question he needs answered—and the crystal he shows—pull the story into its uncanny territory.

## In the story

### [The Crystal Circe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/the-crystal-circe)

Protagonist who feels the crystal's pull and summons Circe.

### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/prologue)

Haunted and ravaged by an unknown experience; carries a mysterious crystal and speaks of the Crystal Circe.

### [I: The Star-Gem](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/i-the-star-gem)

Arnsen is present during the discovery of the meteorite and gem. He is skeptical and worried about O'Brien's growing obsession.

### [II: Lure of the Crystal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/ii-lure-of-the-crystal)

Arnsen is skeptical and uneasy, feeling the gem's pull and fearing O'Brien's obsession.

### [III: The Singing Crystals](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/iii-the-singing-crystals)

Leads the expedition, feels the asteroid's desolation, rescues O'Brien, and confronts the alien entity Circe.

### [IV: Circe the Immortal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/iv-circe-the-immortal)

Driven to madness by O'Brien's disappearance; searches obsessively, summons Circe, and follows her to the cavern where he finds O'Brien.

### [V: The Jewel-Folk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/v-the-jewel-folk)

Wakes to find O'Brien changed; learns the truth about the crystals and Circe; is nearly enslaved by Circe's power but ultimately thrusts her into the flame.

### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_27_se/chapters/epilogue)

Returns to Earth but is emotionally empty, haunted by the crystals and Circe. He plans to leave Earth again, taking the jewel into the void.

## Links

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