# Stent — The War of the Worlds character guide

> Stent in The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0006-iii-on-horsell-common

## Who they are

The Astronomer Royal who leads the delegation to the first cylinder and is killed.

## Relationships

### [Henderson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/henderson)

_professional_

Henderson and Stent collaborate as part of the scientific and journalistic response to the Martian landing.

### [The Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/the_martians)

_rivalry_

Stent, as a scientist, attempts to communicate with the Martians but is killed by them, highlighting the failure of reason against brute force.

## In the story

### [The War of the Worlds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/the-war-of-the-worlds)

Stent, an astronomer, is part of the delegation to the cylinder and is killed by the Martians.

### [Book I: The Coming of the Martians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/book-i-the-coming-of-the-martians)

Stent is present at the cylinder site and is killed by the Heat-Ray.

### [On Horsell Common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iii-on-horsell-common)

The Astronomer Royal, standing on the cylinder and giving directions to the workmen.

### [IV: The Cylinder Opens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/iv-the-cylinder-opens)

Heard shouting 'Keep back!' and is seen running from the pit.

### [V: The Heat-Ray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/v-the-heat-ray)

Part of the deputation approaching the Martians with a white flag; presumed killed by the heat-ray.

### [VI: The Heat-Ray in the Chobham Road](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/vi-the-heat-ray-in-the-chobham-road)

Instructs police to keep the crowd back; leads the deputation and dies.

### [Friday Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/viii-friday-night)

Mentioned as one whose relations might be affected by the events.

### [IX: The Fighting Begins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/chapters/ix-the-fighting-begins)

Mentioned as among the dead on the common.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters/stent
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_war_of_the_worlds_se/characters