# Mr. Holliday — Short Fiction character guide

> Mr. Holliday in Short Fiction by Algis Budrys.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Holliday

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

## Snapshot

An aging colonist who lost his first planet to bad luck and worse competition, now begging Mead for half a world and a little peace.

## Who they are

Holliday is a sweating, darting-eyed man who cannot keep his gaze on Mead's face or off the window, haunted by a failure he can't fully explain — a withdrawn mineral deal, a lowered price, a rival option he never saw coming. He wants only half a planet to himself, away from whatever it is about people that has driven him to the edge of terror. His inability to name his own fear, and Mead's willingness to let him keep his dignity, sets the story's tone of quiet, bureaucratic dread.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_marlowe)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Marlowe share a friendly, possibly bantering camaraderie.

### [Mr. Mead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_mead)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Mead are companions, often interacting in social or professional contexts.

### [Mr. Mead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_mead)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Mead are companions, often interacting in social or professional contexts.

### [Mr. Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_marlowe)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Marlowe share a friendly, possibly bantering camaraderie.

### [Mr. Mead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_mead)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Mead are companions, often interacting in social or professional contexts.

### [Mr. Marlowe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mr_marlowe)

_friendship_

Mr. Holliday and Mr. Marlowe share a friendly, possibly bantering camaraderie.

## Links

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