# Sim — Short Fiction character guide > Sim in Short Fiction by Ray Bradbury. **Role:** major **Also known as:** little Sim **First appearance:** 0000-don-t-get-technatal ## Snapshot A boy who walks into a cave of dying scientists and asks to live, trading his one brief youth for work that outlasts him. ## Who they are Sim is a child of the caves who steps out of the ordinary round of play, love, and marriage to volunteer among the six old men who breed their own scientists. The elder Dienc warns him plainly: stay and he will have no time for anything but working, growing old, and dying at his work. What makes Sim rare is that he understands the bargain — and still weighs the laughter of lovers against the good work, undecided. ## Relationships ### [Lyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/lyte) _psychological_ Lyte exerts a manipulative, obsessive control over Sim, treating him as a tool or experiment. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is Sim's parent, likely his mother, with a protective but possibly strained bond. ### [Chion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/chion) _friendship_ Chion and Sim are allies or friends, supporting each other against common threats. ### [Nhoj](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/nhoj) _friendship_ Nhoj and Sim are close friends, sharing trust and camaraderie in their adventures. ### [Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/dark) _psychological_ Dark is a manipulative or obsessive figure in Sim's life, exerting a sinister influence. ### [Lyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/lyte) _psychological_ Lyte exerts a manipulative, obsessive control over Sim, treating him as a tool or experiment. ### [Lyte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/lyte) _psychological_ Lyte exerts a manipulative, obsessive control over Sim, treating him as a tool or experiment. ### [Chion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/chion) _friendship_ Chion and Sim are allies or friends, supporting each other against common threats. ### [Nhoj](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/nhoj) _friendship_ Nhoj and Sim are close friends, sharing trust and camaraderie in their adventures. ### [Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/mother) _family_ Mother is Sim's parent, likely his mother, with a protective but possibly strained bond. ### [Dark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/dark) _psychological_ Dark is a manipulative or obsessive figure in Sim's life, exerting a sinister influence. ### [Chion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/chion) _friendship_ Chion and Sim are allies or friends, supporting each other against common threats. ## In the story ### [The Piper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/the-piper) The Martian boy, described as the last pure Martian alive, listens to the old man's stories and watches the Piper. He is told to hide as the creatures attack, and at dawn he arises to start a new world. ### [The Creatures That Time Forgot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/the-creatures-that-time-forgot) Reflects on the fleeting nature of life and the creatures lost to time. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/i) Newborn protagonist who experiences rapid growth and telepathic understanding; he is nearly killed by his father but saved by his mother. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/ii) Infant experiencing the world for the first time, observing the dangers and his family's struggles. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/iii) Sim experiences rapid growth, learns the word 'love,' and speaks his first word 'Why' as his parents lie down to die. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/iv) Now in his second day, Sim learns to walk, witnesses war, makes an enemy of Chion, and meets Lyte, feeling an instant bond. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/v) Sim, now a young boy, dreams of a better world and decides to join the Scientists to fight for more time. ### [The Fourth Night: Sim's Resolve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/vi) Sim learns about the ship and decides to go there despite the danger. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/vii) Joins the war for extra days, is wounded by Chion, and is left on the battlefield with Lyte. ### [The Test of the Sun](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/viii) Sim endures the sun test, defeats Nhoj, and insists on reaching the ship despite his injuries. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/ix) Leads the race to the ship, discovers the ship's anti-aging properties, and returns to the cliffs to recruit help. ### [Pillar of Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/chapters/pillar-of-fire) A swift-life creature who briefly interacts with Lantry, representing a different form of life and mortality in this future world. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters/sim - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_46_se/characters