# Charles Dennison — Short Fiction character guide

> Charles Dennison in Short Fiction by Robert Sheckley.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Charlie, Charley, Mr. Dennison

**First appearance:** 0000-final-examination

## Snapshot

A reclusive Riverdale biologist who invents an immortality serum and, lacking any instinct for caution, walks straight into the world with it in his briefcase.

## Who they are

Dennison is a Harvard- and MIT-trained plant biologist who has lived alone with his research since thirty-two, publishing papers and selling an insecticide, content in his austere bachelor's seclusion. After three years of pursuit he proves out a longevity drug — and decides, with bleak philosophy rather than paranoia, that immortality is inevitable and ought to be revealed. A silenced bullet chipping granite three inches from his head teaches him, too late, what his years of isolation never did: that other hands are already reaching for what he made.

## Relationships

### [Mark Rogers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mark_rogers)

_friendship_

Charles Dennison and Mark Rogers are childhood friends who support each other through crises.

### [Mark Rogers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mark_rogers)

_friendship_

Charles Dennison and Mark Rogers are childhood friends who support each other through crises.

### [Mark Rogers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mark_rogers)

_friendship_

Charles Dennison and Mark Rogers are childhood friends who support each other through crises.

## In the story

### [Beside Still Waters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/beside-still-waters)

A robot programmed by Mark with a gentle, idealistic personality; becomes Mark's devoted friend and mourns his death.

### [Forever](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/forever)

Inventor of the immortality serum, captured by the Undertakers, joins the Immortality Club's escape plan.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/charles_dennison
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters