# Harry Thorsten — Short Fiction character guide

> Harry Thorsten in Short Fiction by Algis Budrys.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Thorsten, Harrison

**First appearance:** 0000-riya-s-foundling

## Snapshot

A one-legged ex-squadron commander turned top man in the Belt, toasting his wife and his hired gun with a laugh that hides death.

## Who they are

Thorsten rules his burrow from a thronelike chair, raising toasts to Pat and to Ash Holcomb as hired gun and angel of death, his laughter echoing while armed men watch. He has parlayed a lost leg and a lost squadron into mastery of the Belt, kidnapping technicians to build a drive no one else could assemble. His genial menace and his history with Pat and Ash drive the story's central confrontation.

## Relationships

### [Pat McKay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/pat_mckay)

_friendship_

Harry Thorsten and Pat McKay are close friends or partners, working together frequently.

### [Ash Holcomb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/ash_holcomb)

_friendship_

Ash Holcomb and Harry Thorsten are comrades, likely sharing adventures or missions.

### [Ash Holcomb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/ash_holcomb)

_friendship_

Ash Holcomb and Harry Thorsten are comrades, likely sharing adventures or missions.

### [Pat McKay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/pat_mckay)

_friendship_

Harry Thorsten and Pat McKay are close friends or partners, working together frequently.

### [Pat McKay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/pat_mckay)

_friendship_

Harry Thorsten and Pat McKay are close friends or partners, working together frequently.

## In the story

### [Blood on My Jets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/blood-on-my-jets)

Killed by Ash during the confrontation in the asteroid base.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as a rival from the past who took an easy path during the war and now rules in the Asteroids.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as an old friend of Ash and Mort, now a threat in the Asteroid Belt.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the target of Pat's mission; he needs the power pile and operates from the Asteroids with a fleet.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/iv)

Antagonist who knows the true nature of the ship and has allied with Martians to intercept it.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as Pat's husband and the mastermind behind the plan to use the Reimann drive to bypass Earth's bureaucracy and take mankind to the stars.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/vi)

Antagonist; commands the fleet surrounding Ash, negotiates for Pat and the ship, but fails to prevent Ash's suicidal attack.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/vii)

Antagonist; reveals his paranoid, messianic plan to use the hyperspatial drive and Martian allies to invade Earth, destroying it with contraterrene matter.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/viii)

Confronts Ash and Pat at the airlock and is killed by Ash.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/ii)

Mentioned as Harrison, sent to Dovenil on the exchange program.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/chapters/vi)

Identified as Hubert Harrison, the exchange student being deported from Dovenil.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/harry_thorsten
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters