# Harold Peters Inskipp — The Stainless Steel Rat character guide

> Harold Peters Inskipp in The Stainless Steel Rat by Harry Harrison.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Inskipp

**First appearance:** 0003-ii

## Snapshot

The weary, sharp-tongued head of the Special Corps who recruits Jim and then spends most of his time regretting it.

## Who they are

Inskipp runs the Special Corps from behind a desk and a permanently open emergency screen, dealing with agents who wake him at all hours and crises that never quite fit the budget. He is gruff, overworked, and entirely unimpressed by Jim's theatrics, which makes him one of the few people Jim cannot charm his way past. His decision to put a career criminal on the payroll is the gamble that sets the whole story in motion.

## Relationships

### [Angelina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters/angelina)

_professional_

Angelina interacts with Harold Peters Inskipp as a fellow operative or superior in the Special Corps.

### [Pepe Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters/pepe_nero)

_rivalry_

Harold Peters Inskipp and Pepe Nero are opponents, likely due to opposing loyalties or missions.

### [Slippery Jim diGriz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters/slippery_jim_digriz)

_professional_

Harold Peters Inskipp and Slippery Jim diGriz work together as colleagues in the Special Corps.

### [Pepe Nero](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters/pepe_nero)

_rivalry_

Harold Peters Inskipp and Pepe Nero are opponents, likely due to opposing loyalties or missions.

## In the story

### [The Stainless Steel Rat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/the-stainless-steel-rat)

Head of the Special Corps, recruits Jim after his capture, offering him a choice between prison or working for the Corps.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/iii)

The head of the Special Corps, formerly the uncatchable criminal Inskipp, who recruits diGriz.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/iv)

Head of the Special Corps, initially dismissive of Jim's late-night visit but quickly becomes alarmed upon learning of the secret battleship construction, ultimately assigning Jim to investigate.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/vi)

Sends Jim orders to capture the battleship or face consequences, confirming Jim's assignment.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/viii)

Jim's superior who refuses permission to chase Angelina and later booby-traps the ship.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/ix)

Head of the Special Corps; Jim considers that Inskipp knows his old disguise.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/chapters/xix)

Inskipp reveals the Corps' manipulation of Jim's mission, explains the tracking devices, and offers hope for Angelina's rehabilitation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters/harold_peters_inskiipp
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_stainless_steel_rat_se/characters