# Eddie McDermott — Short Fiction character guide

> Eddie McDermott in Short Fiction by Robert Sheckley.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Edward James Flaherty

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

## Snapshot

A bored writing student who walks out of a fact-article course because he would rather invent malevolent red eyes and Venetian monstrosities than obey anyone's rules.

## Who they are

Eddie sits through Carner's lecture on avoiding cliches with mounting indifference, sneering at the earnest horn-rimmed student and stifling yawns while the instructor explains why aliens need understandable emotions. By the end he drops the class outright, defending his right to call Jupiter's red spot malevolent and his Venetian Threngener a monstrosity. His stubborn preference for fiction over journalism sets up the collision between raw imaginative appetite and disciplined craft that the story explores.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Morrison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mr_morrison)

_professional_

Eddie McDermott works as Mr. Morrison's driver, enduring his patronizing attitude.

### [Mr. Morrison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mr_morrison)

_professional_

Eddie McDermott works as Mr. Morrison's driver, enduring his patronizing attitude.

### [Mr. Morrison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/characters/mr_morrison)

_professional_

Eddie McDermott works as Mr. Morrison's driver, enduring his patronizing attitude.

## In the story

### [Writing Class](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_48_se/chapters/writing-class)

Late to class, bored by Carner's lessons on avoiding clichés, decides to drop the course to write fiction.

## Links

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