# Fitzhugh Parr — Short Fiction character guide

> Fitzhugh Parr in Short Fiction by Manly Wade Wellman.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Parr

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

## Snapshot

A newly exiled Terrestrial on an asteroid where the latest arrival rules, and where every man slowly devolves backward down the evolutionary ladder.

## Who they are

Parr is booted onto the asteroid ten minutes before a mob of hairy, snarling exiles makes him their chief simply because he is newest and therefore healthiest. Sadau, a convicted thief, explains the catch: living creatures degenerate here, men becoming apes, apes becoming lower things still, a Martian alternative to execution that makes death trivial by comparison. Parr accepts command only after demanding information, and his refusal to be flattered into the role sets up the story's grim arithmetic, that his authority will last exactly until the next arrival.

## Relationships

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Fitzhugh Parr and Helen have a romantic relationship filled with tenderness and occasional tension.

### [Varina Pemberton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/varina_pemberton)

_social_

Fitzhugh Parr and Varina Pemberton are acquaintances from the same social circle, with polite but distant interactions.

### [Sadau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/sadau)

_friendship_

Fitzhugh Parr and Sadau are loyal friends, often adventuring or working together.

### [Sadau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/sadau)

_friendship_

Fitzhugh Parr and Sadau are loyal friends, often adventuring or working together.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Fitzhugh Parr and Helen have a romantic relationship filled with tenderness and occasional tension.

### [Varina Pemberton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/varina_pemberton)

_social_

Fitzhugh Parr and Varina Pemberton are acquaintances from the same social circle, with polite but distant interactions.

### [Varina Pemberton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/varina_pemberton)

_social_

Fitzhugh Parr and Varina Pemberton are acquaintances from the same social circle, with polite but distant interactions.

### [Sadau](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/sadau)

_friendship_

Fitzhugh Parr and Sadau are loyal friends, often adventuring or working together.

### [Helen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/characters/helen)

_romantic_

Fitzhugh Parr and Helen have a romantic relationship filled with tenderness and occasional tension.

## In the story

### [XIII: The Black Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/xiii-the-black-book)

Narrator; accompanies Pursuivant in investigating the props and the 'Bible'.

### [The Devil's Asteroid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_37_se/chapters/the-devil-s-asteroid)

Protagonist exiled to the asteroid; becomes governor after helping reverse the degeneration.

## Links

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