Richard Voorhees
Names: Richard VoorheesVoorheesRichardPiratePCaptain Bloodex-spacerCaptain Assholethe former starship captainthe ring-hockey playerbuccaneer-babyCap'n Voorheesthe old Cap'n
First appears in Book 1: The Many-Colored Land, chapter 4 (3)
Appearances
What you know
Book 1: The Many-Colored Land
- Ch 4Richard was born on Assawompset and from toddlerhood hated and feared the exotic alien races, a xenophobia that grew into full hatred.
- Ch 4Rejecting military service, Richard became a commercial spacer, rising over twenty years to owner-operator of an express cargo ship, becoming rich and somewhat famous.
- Ch 4In 2110 he deliberately ignored a Poltroyan distress signal and had it erased from his ship's log to protect a large delivery fee.
- Ch 4Convicted of violating the Galactic Altruism Statutes, he was fined most of his assets, lost his ship, and was banned from astrogation and interstellar commerce for life.
- Ch 4After sentencing, Richard said he would visit the Old World, a good place to blow one's brains out.
- Ch 12Richard is a disgraced ex-spacer from Assawompset who was busted and doesn't want to discuss it; he insists on being called Richard, not Rick or Dick.
- Ch 12Richard sees Exile as a reprieve: a fresh start on a primitive world with no rules and none of the alien species he dislikes, especially the Lylmik.
- Ch 12Richard used a corporate favor from a recent delicate job to get abbreviated Exile tests at the starport and skip the usual months of preparation.
- Ch 12Richard is a wine lover who muses about bringing grapevine cuttings, yeast and ceramic bottles to the Pliocene to make wine.
- Ch 18The Pirate plans to deal in wines and brandies and has become close friends with the Viking.
- Ch 18The Pirate's brother and sister, impressive Fleet line officers, visited unexpectedly, leading to speculation that he is a cashiered spacer.
- Ch 20Plans to assess the local power structure, set up a distillery with Stein's help, and gain political influence, imagining himself king of a Barataria-like realm.
- Ch 22Richard is a former starship spacer who recovers quickly from the time-portal's disorientation and arrives in Exile brimming with youthful enthusiasm.
- Ch 22Richard slips away from his guardian escort to explore Castle Gateway and stumbles into Lady Epone's chambers.
- Ch 22Richard says pressing circumstances forced him to come to Exile; the reported four-to-one male-female ratio nearly put him off.
- Ch 22Richard tests as having no useful metafunctions under Epone's examination, registering minus scores for farspeak, coercion, psychokinesis and redaction, with only a weak creativity reading.
- Ch 26Richard, the only other Group Green member in the pen, lies near-catatonic and unresponsive, having soiled himself.
- Ch 26Richard needs help in the dormitory, and Claude goes back to assist him.
- Ch 29A master spacer and ex-pirate, he wakes drugged and hungover, riding a chaliko north with the caravan, with no memory of what happened in the castle.
- Ch 29Richard has a near-photographic memory and plans to find the Pliocene polestar using a twig cross-sight and repeated star sightings hours apart.
- Ch 29Richard abandoned his own universe less than twenty hours earlier, leaving from Madame Guderian's rose garden on a rainy morning.
- Ch 31Richard reports a task done 'dead easy' to Felice, with a bright star above it; Claude calls Epone 'rough trade' and Richard is sickened recalling her.
- Ch 33Richard, a former starship captain, swaps clothes with Amerie to ride beside Felice, disguised as a nun; Felice mocks him for having soiled his bed while sick.
- Ch 33Richard kills Captal Waldemar by stabbing him below the jaw with Felice's dirk, then takes Waldemar's sword.
- Ch 33Richard, a former starship captain disguised in a nun's garb, killed Epone's body by stabbing it in the heart with an iron knife.
- Ch 35Richard, in his pirate costume, is skilled at sailing and improvises a shadow-stick sundial for navigation.
- Ch 37Richard refuses Felice's plan and intends to head north to the Atlantic and sail to Bordeaux, as Yosh did. He urges Claude and Amerie to join him.
- Ch 39Former starship commander and navigator who cooks for the group; the Lowlives see a key role for him.
- Ch 39Initially refuses to join the expedition, saying he does not fight other people's wars and plans to leave once the heat is off from the Tanu.
- Ch 39Boasts of having flown advanced starships, orbital landers and even primitive aeroplanes; Madame says he is the best hope to pilot the exotic craft.
- Ch 39Lost his starship and livelihood as punishment from the Milieu for being selfish, and despises himself.
- Ch 39Yields to Madame's mental and emotional pressure and agrees to go and fly the aircraft back, but promises nothing further.
- Ch 40Captain Richard was a starship master and is expected to pilot one of the flyers from Firvulag legends.
- Ch 41Richard hissed Fitharn's name when Madame described the black monster; Claude elbowed him to be quiet.
- Ch 42An ex-spacer who navigates the party through the forest by sun and stars; he confesses his past crimes to Martha.
- Ch 42Became lovers with Martha at the tarn and felt a sudden, unprecedented pain at the thought that she will die.
- Ch 45Richard traced the future road map and improvised a quadrant and watch method to find longitude, successfully guiding the party to the Ries crater.
- Ch 45Richard has agreed only to fly the ancient craft back to the Vosges, but declares he would not miss the war and will fly in the battle.
- Ch 45Richard argues for repairing the flyer first and postponing work on the Spear, to leave more time to prepare back home before the Truce.
- Ch 45Richard and Martha open the undisturbed aircraft's simple hatch lock and enter it.
- Ch 46An engineer who spent three days making the ancient exotic flyer airborne; he flies it solo on its first test flight.
- Ch 46He loves Martha and promises to find a place for just the two of them, away from Tanu, Firvulag and Howlers.
- Ch 48Richard has not slept in over twenty-four hours and is half-crazy with worry because Martha may die despite transfusions.
- Ch 49Richard was blinded in one eye by ball lightning and crashed the flyer, delaying Felice.
- Ch 49Wounded, half-blind after crashing the flyer, he takes Martha's body aboard it, discarding the Spear, and flies off, apparently insane with grief.
Book 2: The Golden Torc
- Ch 41Richard is in the dead orbiting flyer, which has no power or oxygen and circles Earth endlessly.
Book 4: The Adversary
- Ch 39Voorhees's longest schuss was 250 df for 136 days to the Hercules Cluster; later he barely endured 110 df for 17 days to Orissa.
Connections
- family ofFarnum Voorheesyounger brother
- family ofEvelyn Voorheesyounger brother
- leadsWolverton Mountainowner and skipper until confiscation
- enemy ofPoltroyanshates and abandoned them
- friend ofStein Olesonbefriended in the café while both heading to Exile
- member ofGroup Green
- friend ofBryan Grenfellfellow traveler from the same group
- ally ofSister Annamaria Roccaro
- ally ofClaude Majewski
- ally ofFelice Landryhostile but cooperating
- enemy ofLady EponeRichard kills her body when she tries to take his mind
- ally ofDougal
- ally ofBasil Wimborne
- partner ofMartha
- friend ofFelice Landryteasing banter
- led byMadame Guderian
- related toFelice LandryRichard has feelings for Felice, according to Claude
Key moments
- Book 1 · Ch 4Richard ignores the Poltroyan distress call
En route to Orissa with a temple cargo, Richard intercepts a Poltroyan distress signal near his course, refuses to stop to protect his fee, and orders it erased from the log.
- Book 1 · Ch 4Richard's conviction and ruin
The Poltroyans, rescued by a Lylmik cruiser, give their recording to the Magistratum. Richard is arrested on Assawompset, convicted, fined, loses his ship, and is banned from spaceflight and commerce.
- Book 1 · Ch 12Last meal in France
Richard meets fellow Exile-bound Stein at a village café and, over a lavish non-synthetic meal and three bottles of Yquem, they share their stories and speculate about life in the Pliocene.
- Book 1 · Ch 12Costume run to Lyon
Drunk Richard laments having no costume, so they fetch a pirate costume from a Lyon opera impresario in exchange for a case of Mouton-Rothschild.
- Book 1 · Ch 12Arrival at the auberge
The costumed pair arrive drunk at l'Auberge du Portail, pound on the door with the axe, and are put to bed by attendants.
- Book 1 · Ch 20Group Green enters the time-gate
At five hundred hours Mishima leads the eight travelers through the garden to the Guderian cottage cellar. Bryan, Stein, Richard and Felice are translated first.
- Book 1 · Ch 22Arrival in Exile
Richard crosses through the time-portal to the Pliocene, shakes off the disorientation, surveys the landscape and is hurried toward Castle Gateway by a guardian.
- Book 1 · Ch 22Richard meets Epone
Richard escapes his guide into the castle and enters Epone's chamber, where she seduces and then mentally crushes him.
- Book 1 · Ch 22Metafunction testing
Strapped into a chair with a coronet, Richard is tested by Epone for farspeak, coercion, psychokinesis, creativity and redaction, and fails. She orders him sent north to Finiah with others.
- Book 1 · Ch 26Claude imprisoned in the people pen
Claude, realizing he was tricked, explores the compound, meets Basil, observes the other prisoners and the chalicotheres, and finds Richard catatonic.
- Book 1 · Ch 26Felice and Amerie join; Richard treated
Felice and Amerie are brought in, learn of the collars, share news of Epone and the broodmare fate, and Amerie drugs the catatonic Richard.
- Book 1 · Ch 26Prisoners ride out through the barbican
A file of ten riders, including prisoners, enters the barbican passage. Bryan waves to Claude, who silently wishes him luck finding Mercy, then returns to the dormitory to help with Richard.
- Book 1 · Ch 29Richard wakes in the caravan
Drugged and hungover, Richard wakes on a chaliko riding north toward Finiah, and Claude explains the Tanu, the guards and the fate of the missing Greenies.
- Book 1 · Ch 29Rest stop and escape plan
At a fort, Felice, Amerie and Claude ask Richard to find the Pliocene polestar to support their escape plan. Richard grudgingly agrees.
- Book 1 · Ch 29Richard attempts star-sighting
Riding on, Richard builds a twig cross-sight and notes stars to locate the Pliocene pole by later comparison.
- Book 1 · Ch 31Arrival at the sleeping-stop fort
The caravan reaches a palisaded fort; Waldemar announces a rest until sunset, Amerie is asked to say Mass, and Epone takes Dougal away.
- Book 1 · Ch 33Felice outlines the escape plan
Felice wakes Claude and Richard, forces Richard to cooperate, and reveals the hidden golden dagger she will use.
- Book 1 · Ch 33The ambush
At dawn, to Basil's signal, amphicyons attack Epone and her chaliko; disguised Richard kills Waldemar.
- Book 1 · Ch 33Bear-dogs destroy the soldiers
Amphicyons attack and slaughter the soldiers; Richard, Basil, Dougal and the ronin kill the survivors, and the last bear-dogs leap off the cliff.
- Book 1 · Ch 33Epone killed with iron
The remains of Epone seize Richard's mind; guided by Dougal's cry about iron, Richard stabs her heart with a knife, freeing himself. Dougal then discards a golden hoop in the lake.
- Book 1 · Ch 35Escape by lake
The freed prisoners split: most sail south with Basil toward the Jura, while Group Green's remnant sails east, then hides among marshy islands from Tanu catboats.
- Book 1 · Ch 35Yosh parts ways
Yosh refuses to join either party, gives the Green group tools and a bow, and stays to deal with Tat's body before heading north alone.
- Book 1 · Ch 35Trek into the highlands
The Green group lands in a swamp, passes a rhino herd, crosses the fort trail and climbs a ridge, where they camp and Felice spots the distant fort's fires.
- Book 1 · Ch 37Sabertooth encounter
While resting in a stream pool, the group is approached by a sabertooth; Felice mentally calms it and it withdraws.
- Book 1 · Ch 37Amerie nearly drowns
Crossing the decamole bridge, Amerie's leg spasms and she falls into rapids. Felice rescues her, Claude revives her, and her arm is found broken.
- Book 1 · Ch 37Camp dispute and Claude's burial
Richard rejects Felice's torc plan and declares he will go north. Claude walks off and buries Gen's ashes at a spring, and befriends a small cat.
- Book 1 · Ch 39Refuge in the Tree
Madame Guderian shelters Group Green's remnant with the Lowlives in the giant sequoia, explaining Firvulag help, torcs, and the exotics' nature, and proposes they join her plan.
- Book 1 · Ch 39Fitharn tells Brede's Tale
Fitharn recites the tale of the Ship's death, the Grave's consecration and the first Great Ordeal, hinting at aircraft and the Spear at the Grave.
- Book 1 · Ch 39Expedition chosen
Madame decides a seven-person party must set out immediately to find the Grave, leaving Amerie behind to heal the people.
- Book 1 · Ch 39Madame persuades Richard
Madame uses telepathic pressure and compassion to overcome Richard's refusal; he agrees to join the expedition and fly the aircraft back.
- Book 1 · Ch 41Boar ambush on the marsh trail
A giant Kubanochoerus boar charged the line of hikers, killing Stefanko and wounding Burke. Fitharn drove it into the swamp where Felice and Richard killed it.
- Book 1 · Ch 41Party splits
Madame Guderian decides Fitharn will take the wounded Burke back to Amerie while the others, including Martha, continue toward Sugoll and the Danube.
- Book 1 · Ch 41Party heads for the river
After Madame's tale, dusk falls and Felice urges crossing the Rhine before moonrise; Claude and Madame climb down to the water.
- Book 1 · Ch 42Crossing the Fungus Forest
The five travelers spend eight days through the fungus-filled Black Forest, then emerge with relief into a sunny alpine meadow with a tarn.
- Book 1 · Ch 42Richard and Martha become lovers
At the tarn Martha and Richard make love; she tells her history on Manapouri and in the Tanu breeding system, and he confesses his own crime.
- Book 1 · Ch 43Meeting with Sugoll
Led by the Bogle to an alpine meadow, the travelers are overwhelmed by the Howling Ones' mental projections, and meet Sugoll, who delivers his challenge by revealing and hiding his true form.
- Book 1 · Ch 45Rama's gift of fruit
A wild rama leaves two fruits near the camp; Claude trades her salmon, and she takes it away to her family.
- Book 1 · Ch 45Arrival at the Ries crater
After a hot trek, with Martha hemorrhaging and carried on a litter, the party reaches the pass and sees the crater rim, confirming Richard's navigation.
- Book 1 · Ch 45Lugonn's tomb and the Spear
The party finds Lugonn's skeleton without a torc; Felice rages and is subdued, then they recover the Spear and powerpack and move to Number Four Aircraft.
- Book 1 · Ch 45Planning priorities
The group debates whether to fix the flyer first or also test the Spear before heading home; Madame decides to do both while time remains before the Truce.
- Book 1 · Ch 45Entering the flyer
Felice runs ahead and goes hunting. Richard and Martha find the Spear by the flyer and enter the aircraft to examine it.
- Book 1 · Ch 46Planning the Finiah raid
Around the campfire the group discusses the flyer, the Spear and the air raid on Finiah. Madame overrules Claude's objection and insists on providing a metapsychic screen; Claude will fire the Spear.
- Book 1 · Ch 46Richard and Martha's night walk
Martha, frail and ill, asks Richard if they can return after the Finiah attack. He promises they will find a private home, and they affirm their love.
- Book 1 · Ch 46Flyer's maiden flight
Richard powers up the restored flyer, lifts off, performs maneuvers over the Ries crater, then shoots vertically toward the ionosphere to learn its handling.
- Book 1 · Ch 47Madame returns with the Spear
After a day of watching circling raptors, Amerie spots the high aircraft; it lands at Hidden Springs after dark, and villagers hide it with nets. Madame announces they have brought the Spear, and the bleeding Martha is rushed to Amerie.
- Book 1 · Ch 48Strike on Finiah and the mine
The flyer hovers over Finiah; Claude breaches the wall and blasts the mine into a lava eruption while the Flying Hunt attacks with ball lightning.
- Book 1 · Ch 48Crash and rescue
The injured crew crash-land; Felice carries Claude out and Amerie assures him they will recover.
- Book 1 · Ch 49Richard departs with Martha
Richard takes Martha's body in the damaged flyer, discarding the Spear, and flies off despite Amerie's pleas.