Martin Crane

Richard Seaton

Martin and Richard are close friends and scientific collaborators, sharing a strong mutual respect and loyalty.

Dorothy Vaneman

Dorothy and Martin share a warm, platonic friendship as part of the core group of allies.

Margaret Spencer

Margaret and Martin are romantically involved, with a loving and supportive relationship.

Marc DuQuesne

DuQuesne and Crane are enemies, with Crane opposing DuQuesne's schemes.

Brookings

Brookings is an enemy of Martin Crane, opposing his scientific and personal goals.

Richard Seaton

Martin and Richard are close friends and scientific collaborators, sharing a strong mutual respect and loyalty.

Richard Seaton

Martin and Richard are close friends and scientific collaborators, sharing a strong mutual respect and loyalty.

Margaret Spencer

Margaret and Martin are romantically involved, with a loving and supportive relationship.

Dorothy Vaneman

Dorothy and Martin share a warm, platonic friendship as part of the core group of allies.

Marc DuQuesne

DuQuesne and Crane are enemies, with Crane opposing DuQuesne's schemes.

Margaret Spencer

Margaret and Martin are romantically involved, with a loving and supportive relationship.

Dorothy Vaneman

Dorothy and Martin share a warm, platonic friendship as part of the core group of allies.

Steel Becomes Interested

Crane is mentioned as Seaton's wealthy friend and backer, whose involvement convinces DuQuesne of the discovery's legitimacy.

III: Seaton Solves the Problem of Power

Provides laboratory space and visits Dorothy to explain Seaton's situation.

Steel Liberates Energy—Unexpectedly

Plans commercial applications, discusses the flyer's design, and listens to Seaton's discoveries.

V: Direct Action

Returns with Seaton, arranges medical care and police investigation, offers a million-dollar reward. Later builds the object-compass and assists in testing the X-plosive bullet.

VI: The Object-Compass at Work

Discusses the burglary with Prescott and Seaton; cautious about the reward's effectiveness.

VII: The Trial Voyage

Calm and methodical; inspects the flawed forgings, plans the secret construction, and takes pride in the Skylark's success.

VIII: Indirect Action

Calm and methodical, Crane balances Seaton's impulsiveness, insisting on adequate supplies and careful planning.

X: The Rescue

Assists Seaton with navigation and calculations, suggests the automatic control for the power feed.

Through Space Into the Carboniferous

Invents instruments, takes astronomical observations with Margaret, and suggests including DuQuesne to prevent him from plotting against them.

XII: The Mastery of Mind Over Matter

Forces his body to retain consciousness to fight the entity mentally; later confesses his love to Margaret Spencer, declaring her his future wife.

XIII: Nalboon of Mardonale

Cautiously advises Seaton during the encounter and helps rescue the slaves from execution.

XIV: Nalboon Unmasked

Suggests waiting comfortably and asks questions about Osnome; expresses doubt about Dunark's knowledge of Nalboon's plans.

XV: The Escape from Mardonale

Comforts Margaret, agrees to a double marriage on Osnome.

An Osnomian Marriage

Participates in the double wedding, marrying Margaret Spencer.

Bird, Beast, or Fish?

Calculates depth and pressure, fires the X-plosive bullet, and comments on the value of the jewels.

The Invasion

Operates a machine-gun during the battle, sends reassuring messages to the women, and takes the first observation shift after departure.

XIX: The Return to Earth

Calculates the course to Washington, discovers DuQuesne's escape, and is deeply moved upon seeing the landing lights of Crane Field.