# Dan Drake — Short Fiction character guide

> Dan Drake in Short Fiction by Robert Sheckley.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Drake, VI Drake

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

## Snapshot

The level-headed one on a quarantined island, Drake confiscates the radio and argues that calling for help would only hand the Quedak more hosts.

## Who they are

Drake is the reluctant voice of reason among the men at Vuanu, facing down Cable's panicked attempts to radio for rescue while Sorensen backs him up. He carries the weight of Eakins's last instructions — hide the transmitter, tell no one — and understands that any outsider arriving unprepared becomes a vessel for the thing already loose among them. His grim calculus, that isolation is the only defense, defines the story's early stakes and the moral trap the survivors are caught in.

## Relationships

### [William Sorensen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/william_sorensen)

_friendship_

Dan Drake and William Sorensen are old friends who share a deep mutual respect and loyalty.

### [The Quedak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/the_quedak)

_psychological_

Dan Drake is haunted by the Quedak, a mysterious entity that seems to control his fate.

### [William Sorensen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/william_sorensen)

_friendship_

Dan Drake and William Sorensen are old friends who share a deep mutual respect and loyalty.

### [The Quedak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/the_quedak)

_psychological_

Dan Drake is haunted by the Quedak, a mysterious entity that seems to control his fate.

### [The Quedak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/the_quedak)

_psychological_

Dan Drake is haunted by the Quedak, a mysterious entity that seems to control his fate.

### [William Sorensen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/william_sorensen)

_friendship_

Dan Drake and William Sorensen are old friends who share a deep mutual respect and loyalty.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-i)

Co-manager of the expedition; short, tanned, broad-chested, with a yachting cap; helps inspect the damaged crate.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-ii)

Fishing at North Beach; his dog Oro is stung by a scorpion-like insect and turns hostile, forcing Drake to swim away.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-iii)

Returns to camp after swimming around the island; describes the bug in detail and argues for radioing for help.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-iv)

Leads the defense of the camp, refuses the Quedak's offer, and plans strategy with Sorensen.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-v)

Leads the group, deduces the Quedak's radio control of animals, and plans to jam the signal.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-vi)

Works desperately to repair the transmitter after bats destroyed it.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/part-ii-vii)

Leads the group, uses the storm to hunt the Quedak, and ultimately shoots the Quedak off Sorensen.

## Links

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