Short Science Fiction · Character
Mr. Bankhead
The unscrupulous financier circling Walter Sills's ammonium secret, willing to hire unsavory help rather than meet the asking price.
major
Also known as Bankhead
First appearance: the magnificent possession
As a major figure in Short Science Fiction, Mr. Bankhead is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
Bankhead is the pressure bearing down on Sills and Taylor from the moment their discovery looks profitable, the reason a simple sale becomes a night of intruders and broken glassware. He belongs to the class of go-getters who take what they want, and his careful visit to a disreputable acquaintance shows how far he will go. His presence turns the inventors' triumph into a siege.
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Character Web
2 connectionsA slice of how Mr. Bankhead sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the Astronomer bitterly declares the crash landing a total lo…
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