# Mr. Marlowe — Short Fiction character guide

> Mr. Marlowe in Short Fiction by Algis Budrys.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Marlowe

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

## Snapshot

A grizzled Ministry man with a polar bear's patience, dispensing the hard arithmetic of empire to clients who mistake diplomacy for mercy.

## Who they are

Marlowe sits behind his desk receiving the desperate — old Dovenilids whose worlds are being picked clean by Holliday Republic raiders the Union will not restrain. He offers no comfort, only the bleak logic that Earthmen rule because their promises expire the instant they are spoken. His weariness is the story's weather: a man who knows exactly what he is doing and cannot stop doing it.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Mr. Marlowe and Mr. Mead are colleagues, likely in a business or investigative setting.

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

_friendship_

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

### [Dalish ud Klavan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/dalish_ud_klavan)

_rivalry_

Dalish ud Klavan and Mr. Marlowe are adversaries, clashing over opposing goals or ideologies.

### [Mary Folsom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mary_folsom)

_romantic_

Mary Folsom and Mr. Marlowe share a romantic interest, with tender or flirtatious exchanges.

### [Mary Folsom](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/mary_folsom)

_romantic_

Mary Folsom and Mr. Marlowe share a romantic interest, with tender or flirtatious exchanges.

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

_professional_

Mr. Marlowe and Mr. Mead are colleagues, likely in a business or investigative setting.

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

_friendship_

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

### [Dalish ud Klavan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/dalish_ud_klavan)

_rivalry_

Dalish ud Klavan and Mr. Marlowe are adversaries, clashing over opposing goals or ideologies.

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

_professional_

Mr. Marlowe and Mr. Mead are colleagues, likely in a business or investigative setting.

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

_friendship_

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

### [Dalish ud Klavan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_2_se/characters/dalish_ud_klavan)

_rivalry_

Dalish ud Klavan and Mr. Marlowe are adversaries, clashing over opposing goals or ideologies.

## In the story

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

Leads the negotiation with Holliday, feeling guilt and self-loathing over the manipulation.

## Links

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