# Cliff Moran — Short Fiction character guide

> Cliff Moran in Short Fiction by Andre Norton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Cliff

**First appearance:** 0000-the-people-of-the-crater

## Snapshot

A hard-bitten spacer from Venaport's back courts, Cliff gambles his last ship on the ghost derelict Empress of Mars and finds Steena and Bat already aboard.

## Who they are

Cliff clawed his way up from the back courts of Venaport to a ship command, and now a writ threatens to drag him back down. When Steena drops into the seat beside him and names the Empress of Mars, he slams his fist on the table and takes the bet no one has ever won. He is the story's entry point into the legend, a man tough enough to board a ship that has swallowed everyone else.

## Relationships

### [Steena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/steena)

_friendship_

Close friends who share a history of adventures and rely on each other in crises.

### [Bat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/bat)

_friendship_

Brothers-in-arms who share a rough camaraderie and mutual trust.

### [Steena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/steena)

_friendship_

Close friends who share a history of adventures and rely on each other in crises.

### [Bat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/bat)

_friendship_

Brothers-in-arms who share a rough camaraderie and mutual trust.

## In the story

### [All Cats Are Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/chapters/all-cats-are-gray)

Desperate spacer who accepts the challenge to salvage the Empress of Mars; later marries Steena.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters/cliff_moran
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_3_se/characters