# Otto Harkaman — Space Viking character guide > Otto Harkaman in Space Viking by H. Beam Piper. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Harkaman, Captain Harkaman, Count Harkaman, Admiral Harkaman **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot A scarred, cigar-smoking Viking captain with a dry wit, he becomes Trask's most trusted commander and the steady hand behind Tanith's fleet. ## Who they are Harkaman commands the Nemesis for Trask and treats the whole galaxy — rival captains, hostile planets, awkward nobles — with the same amused, unflappable competence. His scarred face and easy banter mask a professional's cold judgment about when to fight and when to bluff. He matters because he gives Trask something the prince lacks: a partner who can read a situation, crack a joke, and still put a missile exactly where it needs to go. ## Relationships ### [Lucas Trask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/lucas_trask) _friendship_ Lucas and Otto are close friends and allies, with Otto serving as Lucas's trusted right-hand man and confidant in his quest for power and revenge. ### [Andray Dunnan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/andray_dunnan) _rivalry_ Andray Dunnan and Otto Harkaman are adversaries, with Andray frequently clashing with Otto due to their opposing loyalties and personal grudges. ### [Garvan Spasso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/garvan_spasso) _friendship_ Garvan Spasso is a companion and ally to Otto Harkaman, often fighting alongside him and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Lucas Trask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/lucas_trask) _friendship_ Lucas and Otto are close friends and allies, with Otto serving as Lucas's trusted right-hand man and confidant in his quest for power and revenge. ### [Andray Dunnan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/andray_dunnan) _rivalry_ Andray Dunnan and Otto Harkaman are adversaries, with Andray frequently clashing with Otto due to their opposing loyalties and personal grudges. ### [Garvan Spasso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/garvan_spasso) _friendship_ Garvan Spasso is a companion and ally to Otto Harkaman, often fighting alongside him and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Garvan Spasso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/garvan_spasso) _friendship_ Garvan Spasso is a companion and ally to Otto Harkaman, often fighting alongside him and sharing a bond of loyalty. ### [Lucas Trask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/lucas_trask) _friendship_ Lucas and Otto are close friends and allies, with Otto serving as Lucas's trusted right-hand man and confidant in his quest for power and revenge. ### [Andray Dunnan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/andray_dunnan) _rivalry_ Andray Dunnan and Otto Harkaman are adversaries, with Andray frequently clashing with Otto due to their opposing loyalties and personal grudges. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/i) A space captain newly arrived, representing the raiding and spacefaring life that Lucas dislikes. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/ii) A Space Viking captain recently hired by Duke Angus; defends the Viking lifestyle and discusses the history of the Terran Federation and Neobarbarians. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/iii) Forces a path through the crowd and later offers to eliminate Dunnan with his ground-fighters. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/iv) Present among Duke Angus's council during the wedding procession. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/v) Present during Trask's recovery; accepts Trask's offer to command the new ship under him. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/vi) Pledges to command Trask's ship, advises on strategy, and helps train Trask's crew. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/vii) Calm and strategic, advising Trask to stay composed; he takes command of communications with the unknown ship. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/viii) Finds humor in the situation with Valkanhayn and Spasso; provides historical context on Tanith's decivilization and the nature of the two raiders. ### [The Partnership on Tanith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/ix) Supports Trask's plan, criticizes Spasso and Valkanhayn's treatment of locals, advises on base development. ### [Consolidation and Planning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/x) Takes command of the fleet, orders inspections and overhauls, devises a three-planet raiding strategy to build resources and train crews. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xi) Advises Trask on the realities of raiding; dismisses Spasso's boasting; acknowledges the raid as 'chicken-stealing' and discusses the moral weight of their actions. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xii) Acts as admiral, comments on the political structure, and participates in the deception strategy. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xiii) Provides strategic advice on the raid, noting Stefan Kintour's previous successful raid; launches a hellburner missile from the Nemesis. ### [The Return of the Space Scourge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xiv) Shares Trask's anxiety over the delayed ship; is named Count Harkaman and Admiral of the Royal Navy of Gram by King Angus. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xv) Leads a raiding voyage in the Nemesis, returns with cargo and information about Amaterasu's gadolinium. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xvi) His ship Corisande II is under construction at Rivington. ### [The Terror-Raid on Tetragrammaton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xvii) Discusses the strategic implications of Dunnan's raids and the history of attacks on civilized planets. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xix) Referenced by Trask as a source of historical knowledge about democracies becoming tyrannies. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xxiii) Away raiding and visiting trade-planets in the Corisande; Trask wishes he were present for advice. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xxiv) Advises Trask that he must act or lose influence; reports Marduk's hostility and Prince Bentrik's disappearance. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xxv) Supports Trask's argument, telling the Bigglersport delegation to listen and learn about Makann. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/chapters/xxvi) Commands the Black Star, reports the destruction of two enemy ships and the loss of his own ship. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters/otto_harkaman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/space_viking_se/characters