Topsy-Turvy · Character

William S. Forster

Phlegmatic codfish dealer serving as the American Society's straw man at the auction, a target who barely understands the fight he's in.

supporting

Also known as Mr. Forster, Forster, Mr. W. S. Forster, W. S. Forster

First appearance: In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

As a supporting figure in Topsy-Turvy, William S. Forster is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A codfish dealer of Baltimore and member of Ardrinell & Co., he serves as the temporary agent for the North Polar Practical Association, delivering the document to New York…

In the storyIn Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two WorldsOpen this moment free

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Forster stands among the foreign delegates as the N.P.P.A.'s nominal representative, a businessman whose calm temperament contrasts sharply with the agitated Europeans circling him. He is described as knowing absolutely nothing of the affair, a puppet whose placidity makes him an easy mark for the delegation's collective frustration. His scuffle with Dean Toodrink, fought under prize-ring rules while Major Donellan looks on, crystallizes how the high-stakes polar sale has degenerated into petty international squabbling.

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See William S. Forster in In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

Character Web

9 connections

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Relationship types

Professional
Other

Character groups

Polar Auction Delegates

+4 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

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

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the story's dramatic climax because it reveals the terrifying confirmation that J.T. Maston’s calculat…

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Relationships

Major Donellan
professional · positive
Donellan and Forster work together as part of the project's leadership team, handling… How this plays out →

Relationship notes

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See William S. Forster in In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

In the story

William S. Forster appears across 3 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds
A codfish dealer of Baltimore and member of Ardrinell & Co., he serves as the temporary agent for the North Polar Practical Association, delivering the document to New York newspapers and providing the address for inquiries.
In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader
Representative of the North Polar Practical Association in America, mentioned as the sole American representative so far.
In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder
Represents the N.P.P.A., appears absorbed in a newspaper, bids calmly and wins the Arctic regions at 200 cents per square mile.

Chapter companion notes

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See William S. Forster in In Which the Delegates from England, Holland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia Are Presented to the Reader

See William S. Forster in In Which the North Polar Practical Association Rushes a Document Across Two Worlds