Han Pritcher
Encyclopedia
Han Pritcher is a fictional character
from Isaac Asimov
's Foundation Series. He is an important character in the second part of Foundation and Empire
and the first part of Second Foundation
.
in the Foundation Navy, focusing on intelligence and espionage
, and he was twice decorated for bravery; being given the Order of Merit for bravery beyond the call of duty. He had a problem with authority, which limited his career somewhat, and was marked as insubordinate, and as not maintaining a correct attitude to superior officers. He was a member of the Democratic Underground on Terminus
, planning to overthrow Mayor Indbur III.
In the months prior to the Mule
's assault on the Foundation, Pritcher was ordered by Mayor Indbur III to investigate the Independent Traders of Haven, which Pritcher described as "a rat hole in space that, it seems, does not pay its taxes." Instead, he chose to investigate what was happening on Kalgan, contrary to orders.
He helped Toran and Bayta Darrell abduct Magnifico Giganticus, the clown of the Mule
, from Kalgan; ignorant of Magnifico's true identity as the Mule himself. Pritcher initially opposed the Mule and his attempts to conquer the Foundation, attempting to assassinate the Mule in a suicide attack, but the Mule was able to utilize his mental control to convert Pritcher into one of his most loyal followers, following which Pritcher was promoted to Colonel
and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
.
Subsequent to his conversion, he led six unsuccessful searches for the Second Foundation
; on the final one, he was accompanied by Bail Channis
, whom the Mule suspected of being an agent of the Second Foundation.
His later history is alluded to briefly in the second part of Second Foundation. He succeeded the Mule as First Citizen of the Union of Worlds, and he besieged Terminus
, the resurgent capital of the Foundation, for a time. However, his attempt to hold the Union of Worlds together did not succeed, and eventually it separated into several distinct national bodies.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
's Foundation Series. He is an important character in the second part of Foundation and Empire
Foundation and Empire
Foundation and Empire is a novel written by Isaac Asimov that was published by Gnome Press in 1952. It is the second book published in the Foundation Series, and the fourth in the in-universe chronology...
and the first part of Second Foundation
Second Foundation
Second Foundation is the third novel published of the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, and the fifth in the in-universe chronology. It was first published in 1953 by Gnome Press....
.
Fictional history
Pritcher was born in 267 F.E. He studied at the Academy of Sciences, majoring in hyper-engineering. He became a CaptainCaptain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....
in the Foundation Navy, focusing on intelligence and espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
, and he was twice decorated for bravery; being given the Order of Merit for bravery beyond the call of duty. He had a problem with authority, which limited his career somewhat, and was marked as insubordinate, and as not maintaining a correct attitude to superior officers. He was a member of the Democratic Underground on Terminus
Terminus (planet)
Terminus is a fictional planet at the edge of the Galaxy in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, home of the Foundation .-Position in the universe:Terminus is the sole planet orbiting an isolated star...
, planning to overthrow Mayor Indbur III.
In the months prior to the Mule
Mule (Foundation)
The Mule is a fictional character from Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. One of the greatest conquerors the galaxy has ever seen, he is a mentalic who has the ability to reach into the minds of others and "adjust" their emotions, individually or en masse, using this capability to forcibly enlist...
's assault on the Foundation, Pritcher was ordered by Mayor Indbur III to investigate the Independent Traders of Haven, which Pritcher described as "a rat hole in space that, it seems, does not pay its taxes." Instead, he chose to investigate what was happening on Kalgan, contrary to orders.
He helped Toran and Bayta Darrell abduct Magnifico Giganticus, the clown of the Mule
Mule (Foundation)
The Mule is a fictional character from Isaac Asimov's Foundation series. One of the greatest conquerors the galaxy has ever seen, he is a mentalic who has the ability to reach into the minds of others and "adjust" their emotions, individually or en masse, using this capability to forcibly enlist...
, from Kalgan; ignorant of Magnifico's true identity as the Mule himself. Pritcher initially opposed the Mule and his attempts to conquer the Foundation, attempting to assassinate the Mule in a suicide attack, but the Mule was able to utilize his mental control to convert Pritcher into one of his most loyal followers, following which Pritcher was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and eventually rose to the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
Subsequent to his conversion, he led six unsuccessful searches for the Second Foundation
Second Foundation
Second Foundation is the third novel published of the Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, and the fifth in the in-universe chronology. It was first published in 1953 by Gnome Press....
; on the final one, he was accompanied by Bail Channis
Bail Channis
Bail Channis is a fictional character from Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series. He is described as a handsome and popular character, very self-confident and intelligent.- Fictional history :...
, whom the Mule suspected of being an agent of the Second Foundation.
His later history is alluded to briefly in the second part of Second Foundation. He succeeded the Mule as First Citizen of the Union of Worlds, and he besieged Terminus
Terminus (planet)
Terminus is a fictional planet at the edge of the Galaxy in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, home of the Foundation .-Position in the universe:Terminus is the sole planet orbiting an isolated star...
, the resurgent capital of the Foundation, for a time. However, his attempt to hold the Union of Worlds together did not succeed, and eventually it separated into several distinct national bodies.