Short Fiction · Character
John Smith XVI
A hereditary president in a golden headdress, facing a masked rival across a blurred broadcast screen and discovering his script was written for a world that no longer exists.
major
Also known as John XVI, John, The seventh John Smith, Smith, John Smith, Smith XVI
First appearance: conditionally human
As a major figure in Short Fiction, John Smith XVI is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The President orchestrates a security probe and military buildup after a revealing conversation with the Red leader.
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John Smith XVI sits down to a historic broadcast with Ivan Ivanovitch, the masked chieftain of the Asian League, and finds his careful disarmament preamble met with a gutteral 'Why?' and an accusation of talking…
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See John Smith XVI in conditionally humanCharacter Web
18 connectionsA slice of how John Smith XVI sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Rivalry
- Other
Character groups
- Royal and recurring identities
- Central narrative figures
- Expanded cast and entities
+13 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because Lieutenant Laskell reaches an emotional and psychological peak of…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Ivan IX
rivalry · negative
Ivan IX and John Smith XVI are hereditary rivals, each leading factions in a… How this plays out →
- Ivan IX
rivalry · negative
Ivan IX and John Smith XVI are hereditary rivals, each leading factions in a… How this plays out →
- Ivan IX
rivalry · negative
Ivan IX and John Smith XVI are hereditary rivals, each leading factions in a… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See John Smith XVI in conditionally humanIn the story
John Smith XVI appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for John Smith XVI unlock in the free preview.
See John Smith XVI in conditionally human