Short Fiction · Character

Ray Ballantyne

A quick-witted agent trading banter with a wary F.B.I. operative named Elena, hiding his conditioning behind bad puns and calm nerves.

major

Also known as Ballantyne, Ray

First appearance: star ship

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

Highlighted for his transcendent clarity of mind and inspired leadership that molded the future.

In the storyCaptive of the CentaurianessOpen this moment free

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Ballantyne and Elena are stranded together with four packs and a hundred rounds, and he keeps cracking wordplay while she tries to read whether he's human or something colder. She's spent two years undercover inside Thomas Bancroft's organization and knows the setup is a web of mutual surveillance. His emotional control unnerves her even as his questions about reinforcements and the Institute's plans push the pair toward an uneasy alliance.

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See Ray Ballantyne in star ship

Character Web

30 connections

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

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Feudal lords and agents
Scientists and agents
Warriors and scientists
Scientists and Martians

+25 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because Donovan reaches an emotional and psychological peak of grim rea…

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Relationships

Dyann Korlas
professional · positive
Dyann and Ray appear to be colleagues or partners in a mission or investigation, given… How this plays out →
Dyann Korlas
professional · positive
Dyann and Ray appear to be colleagues or partners in a mission or investigation, given… How this plays out →
Dyann Korlas
professional · positive
Dyann and Ray appear to be colleagues or partners in a mission or investigation, given… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

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See Ray Ballantyne in star ship

In the story

Ray Ballantyne appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Captive of the Centaurianess
Highlighted for his transcendent clarity of mind and inspired leadership that molded the future.
I
A nuclear engineer from Earth traveling third class to Ganymede; he is curious about his cabinmates and anxious about Jovian intentions.
II
Protagonist; a former engineer who squandered a million-credit inheritance, now imprisoned and facing execution for espionage after a brawl.
III
Earthman arrested earlier; Dyann seeks him and demands his location from Jovian officials.
IV
Driven by desperation to escape the Jovians, Ray conceives the idea of building a faster-than-light drive and pushes Urushkidan to help him.
V
Works on the star drive, argues with Urushkidan over patents, and pilots the ship during the escape.
VI
Attempts to warn Earth about Jupiter's war and offers faster-than-light technology, but is ignored. He reluctantly helps prepare the Varannian fleet for invasion.
VII
Leads the invasion of Ganymede City, fights hand-to-hand, and later attends the victory banquet on Earth.

Chapter companion notes

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See Ray Ballantyne in star ship

See Ray Ballantyne in Captive of the Centaurianess