# David Planter — Short Fiction character guide

> David Planter in Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

**Role:** major

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

**First appearance:** 0001-the-invading-asteroid

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Disbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/disbro)

_rivalry_

David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.

### [Mara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/mara)

_romantic_

David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.

### [Max](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/max)

_friendship_

David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.

### [Disbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/disbro)

_rivalry_

David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.

### [Disbro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/disbro)

_rivalry_

David Planter and Disbro are locked in a bitter, competitive struggle for power or resources.

### [Mara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/mara)

_romantic_

David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.

### [Max](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/max)

_friendship_

David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.

### [Max](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/max)

_friendship_

David Planter and Max are loyal friends and allies, supporting each other through various trials.

### [Mara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/mara)

_romantic_

David Planter and Mara share a deep, emotionally charged romantic bond that is central to their storylines.

## In the story

### [VI: The Theater in the Forest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/vi-the-theater-in-the-forest)

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

### [Venus Enslaved](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/venus-enslaved)

Confronts Disbro, fights him, and ultimately decides to stay on Venus for Mara.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/david_planter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters