Space Viking · Character

Simon Bentrik

A Mardukan prince and naval commodore whose puzzlement at Viking egalitarianism slowly hardens into a wary, calculating partnership with Trask.

major

Also known as Prince Simon Bentrik, Prince Bentrik, Bentrik, Commodore Prince Bentrik, Prince Simon, Prince-Protector Simon Bentrik

First appearance: ii

As a major figure in Space Viking, Simon Bentrik is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Commands the crippled Mardukan ship Victrix, allies with Trask against Dunnan.

In the storyXVIIIOpen this moment free

See Simon Bentrik in XVIII Book page

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Bentrik is a man of a stratified world trying to understand men who refuse to bow — he is genuinely shocked that Trask's crew expect to drink in the best places in town. He is a democrat by conviction and a prince by inheritance, and the contradiction leaves him both useful and uneasy as an ally. His early role is to give Trask a foothold on Marduk and to show the reader what Tanith's new order looks like from the outside: strange, dangerous, and possibly the future.

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The fuller portrait of Simon Bentrik sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Simon Bentrik in ii

Character Web

29 connections

A slice of how Simon Bentrik sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Core crew and rivals
Protagonist
Supporting nobility and officers

+24 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this excerpt, the emotional and psychological peak occurs when Trask, after studying Hitler, understands "w…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Lucas Trask
professional · positive
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative… How this plays out →
Zaspar Makann
professional · positive
Zaspar Makann
professional · positive
Lucas Trask
professional · positive
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative… How this plays out →
Lucas Trask
professional · positive
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative… How this plays out →

Lucas Trask
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative and strategic matters for his cause.
Zaspar Makann
Simon Bentrik and Zaspar Makann are colleagues who work together in service of Lucas Trask's cause.
Zaspar Makann
Simon Bentrik and Zaspar Makann are colleagues who work together in service of Lucas Trask's cause.
Lucas Trask
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative and strategic matters for his cause.
Lucas Trask
Simon Bentrik is a loyal subordinate and advisor to Lucas Trask, handling administrative and strategic matters for his cause.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Simon Bentrik in ii

In the story

Simon Bentrik appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XVIII
Commands the crippled Mardukan ship Victrix, allies with Trask against Dunnan.
XIX
Dines with Trask; discusses Mardukan politics and his ship's disablement; hopes Trask will be welcome on Marduk.
XX
Acts as intermediary between Trask and the Mardukan authorities; arranges the formal presentation and handles the political fallout of their arrival.
Chapter XXI
Hosts Trask at dinner, expresses concern about Zaspar Makann's influence, and accompanies Trask to the hunting lodge.
XXIII
Not directly present, but his wife and son flee to Tanith; he insisted they leave Marduk.
XXIV
Reported vanished after treason charges; his fate is unknown.
XXV
Argues the fleet is not a Space Viking fleet but ships of civilized planets; assumes position of Regent and Prince-Protector of Marduk.
XXVI
Declares himself Prince-Protector of Marduk, overrides Admiral Bargham, leads the fleet to Abaddon and then to Marduk, and contacts Moonbase.
XXVII
Present during the execution of Dunnan and the rescue of King Mikhyl VIII; struggles with the harsh realities of ruling Marduk.

Chapter companion notes

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See Simon Bentrik in ii

See Simon Bentrik in XVIII