# Capt. Nicholl — Topsy-Turvy character guide > Capt. Nicholl in Topsy-Turvy by Jules Verne. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Nicholl, the impassive Nicholl **First appearance:** 0000-in-which-the-north-polar-practical-association-rushes-a-document-across-two-worlds ## Who they are The impassive artillery captain of the Gun Club, steady where others blaze, whose calm presence anchors Barbicane's most reckless undertakings. ## Relationships ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _rivalry_ Nicholl is a sharp-tongued skeptic and frequent opponent of Barbicane's grand schemes, often clashing over feasibility and risk. ### [J. T. Maston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/j_t_maston) _rivalry_ Nicholl and Maston are constant antagonists, trading barbs and opposing each other's views on the project's feasibility. ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _rivalry_ Nicholl is a sharp-tongued skeptic and frequent opponent of Barbicane's grand schemes, often clashing over feasibility and risk. ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _rivalry_ Nicholl is a sharp-tongued skeptic and frequent opponent of Barbicane's grand schemes, often clashing over feasibility and risk. ## In the story ### [In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-old-acquaintances-appear-to-our-new-readers-and-in-which-a-wonderful-man-is-described) A fellow moon voyager and member of the Gun Club, he shares Barbicane's fame and is part of the Arctic purchase venture. ### [In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-the-possibility-that-coal-mines-surround-the-north-pole-is-considered) Mentioned in a caricature descending from a balloon with Barbicane and Maston to capture a piece of coal. ### [In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-appears-the-french-gentleman-to-whom-we-referred-at-the-beginning-of-this-truthful-story) Referenced as one of the keepers of the secret regarding the new axis, alongside Barbicane and Maston. ### [In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-a-little-uneasiness-begins-to-show-itself) Departed with President Barbicane; location unknown. ### [What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/what-was-found-in-the-notebook-of-j-t-maston-and-what-it-no-longer-contained) Credited with discovering the explosive melimelonite; he has also left Baltimore with Barbicane. ### [In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-j-t-maston-heroically-continues-to-be-silent) Absent alongside Barbicane, he is involved in the same secret operation that Maston refuses to disclose. ### [Very Short, but in Which "X" Takes a Geographical Value](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/very-short-but-in-which-x-takes-a-geographical-value) Reported to be established in the Wamasai region with President Barbicane for eight months. ### [Which Contains a Few Interesting Details for the Inhabitants of the Earthly Sphere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/which-contains-a-few-interesting-details-for-the-inhabitants-of-the-earthly-sphere) Named alongside Barbicane as a director of the operation described in the Observatory's notice. ### [In Which a Crowd of Dissatisfied People Break Into the Cell of J. T. Maston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-a-crowd-of-dissatisfied-people-break-into-the-cell-of-j-t-maston) Also declared an outlaw due to his role in the operation. ### [What Had Been Done at Kilimanjaro During Eight Month of This Memorable Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/what-had-been-done-at-kilimanjaro-during-eight-month-of-this-memorable-year) Barbicane's associate at Kilimanjaro, involved in the manufacturing and final preparations, modestly accepting praise. ### [In Which the Population of Wamasai Assemble to Hear President Barbicane Say ‘Fire’ to Capt. Nicholl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-the-population-of-wamasai-assemble-to-hear-president-barbicane-say-fire-to-capt-nicholl) Impassively presses the button to ignite the cannon at the exact moment. ### [In Which J. T. Maston Regrets That the Crowd Did Not Lynch Him When He Was in Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-j-t-maston-regrets-that-the-crowd-did-not-lynch-him-when-he-was-in-prison) Returns with Barbicane from the operation in Africa. ### [In Which This Story, as Truthful as It Is Improbable, Is Finished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-this-story-as-truthful-as-it-is-improbable-is-finished) Argues with Maston over the explosive's power, defends his melimelonite, and shares in the humiliation of the failed enterprise. ### [Very Short, Since Enough Has Been Said to Make the World’s Population Feel Perfectly Sure Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/very-short-since-enough-has-been-said-to-make-the-world-s-population-feel-perfectly-sure-again) Mentioned as not resuming the enterprise. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/capt_nicholl - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters