Short Fiction · Character

David Planter

A condemned spaceman aboard the ninth Venus rocket who counts elapsed time to the decimal and discovers, mid-voyage, that he actually wants to live.

major

Also known as Planter, Mr. Planter, David Planter, Plainly Planter

First appearance: the invading asteroid

As a major figure in Short Fiction, David Planter is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Referred to as Davidson; he is the stagehand and cook, and announces Martha Vining's arrival.

In the storyVI: The Theater in the ForestOpen this moment free

See David Planter in VI: The Theater in the Forest Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

Planter shares a gravityless cabin with Disbro, chewing ration bars and rationing water while the Foundation watches through telescopes, expecting a crash and a triumphant flare. He has killed a husband and been sworn away by Gwen, so death has felt abstract until Disbro proposes tinkering with the controls to land at Venus's coolest pole. His sudden appetite for survival, and his willingness to gamble on Disbro's scheme, turns a suicide mission into the book's central question of whether the two men can outwit the men who sent them.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of David Planter sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See David Planter in the invading asteroid

Character Web

20 connections

A slice of how David Planter sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Rivalry
Romantic
Friendship
Other

Character groups

Crisis and Occult
Military and Ritual
Military and Byron

+15 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the protagonist’s psychological and emotional peak of self-discov…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Disbro
rivalry · negative
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or… How this plays out →
Mara
romantic · positive
Max
friendship · positive
Disbro
rivalry · negative
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or… How this plays out →
Disbro
rivalry · negative
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or… How this plays out →
Mara
romantic · positive
Max
friendship · positive
Max
friendship · positive
Mara
romantic · positive

Disbro
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.
Mara
David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.
Max
David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.
Disbro
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.
Disbro
David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.
Mara
David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.
Max
David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.
Max
David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.
Mara
David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See David Planter in the invading asteroid

In the story

David Planter appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for David Planter unlock in the free preview.

See David Planter in the invading asteroid

See David Planter in VI: The Theater in the Forest