Lucas Garner
Encyclopedia
Lucas Launcelot Garner is a fictional character in Larry Niven
's Known Space
Universe.
Born in 1939, he lived well into the 22nd century. This was because advances in medical science kept pushing his life expectancy
ahead of his age. He spent the last few decades of his life confined to a travel chair because medicine could replace every part of his body except his nervous system (which was slowly dying, from the legs up, of old age
).
Despite being over 160 years old, he made at least two trips into space in the early 22nd century. The first trip was to the outer solar system in pursuit of Kzanol the thrint
, after the latter was inadvertently released from stasis
. The second trip was to the planet Mars
in pursuit of Phssthpok, the Pak
who had abducted Belter
Jack Brennan
.
He is friends with Belters Lit Shaeffer
and Nick Sohl
, both of whom served as First Speaker of The Belt on separate occasions.
He served as a member of the ARM for over a century, first as an operative
and later as a supervisor
. Immediately prior to his retirement
, he was Gil Hamilton
's boss.
Garner is featured in the following novels:
and in the short story:
He also plays a lesser role in the Gil Hamilton stories:
with a cameo appearance
in:
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
's Known Space
Known Space
Known Space is the fictional setting of some dozen science fiction novels and several collections of short stories written by author Larry Niven. It has also in part been used as a shared universe in the Man-Kzin Wars spin-off anthologies sub-series....
Universe.
Born in 1939, he lived well into the 22nd century. This was because advances in medical science kept pushing his life expectancy
Life expectancy
Life expectancy is the expected number of years of life remaining at a given age. It is denoted by ex, which means the average number of subsequent years of life for someone now aged x, according to a particular mortality experience...
ahead of his age. He spent the last few decades of his life confined to a travel chair because medicine could replace every part of his body except his nervous system (which was slowly dying, from the legs up, of old age
Old age
Old age consists of ages nearing or surpassing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle...
).
Despite being over 160 years old, he made at least two trips into space in the early 22nd century. The first trip was to the outer solar system in pursuit of Kzanol the thrint
Thrint
The Thrintun , in Larry Niven's fictional Known Space universe, were a long-extinct species which ruled the galaxy through telepathic mind control. Humans knew them as "Slavers", since "Thrint" is unpronouncable to the human larynx...
, after the latter was inadvertently released from stasis
Stasis
The term stasis may refer to* A state of stability, in which all forces are equal and opposing, therefore they cancel out each other....
. The second trip was to the planet Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
in pursuit of Phssthpok, the Pak
Pak Protector
Pak Breeders and Pak Protectors are two forms of fictional life in Larry Niven's Known Space universe. The Pak first appeared in "The Adults," which appeared in Galaxy in 1967; this story was expanded into the novel Protector by Larry Niven...
who had abducted Belter
Belter (Niven)
In Larry Niven's fictional Known Space universe, a Belter refers to a resident of the Asteroid Belt around Sol, sometimes known as the Sol Belt to differentiate it from Alpha Centauri's Serpent Swarm....
Jack Brennan
Protector (novel)
Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by Larry Niven, set in his Known Space universe. It was nominated for the Hugo in 1974, and placed fourth in the annual Locus poll for that year....
.
He is friends with Belters Lit Shaeffer
Lit Shaeffer
Charles Martin Shaeffer is a fictional character in Larry Niven's Known Space universe.His nickname is "Little" Shaeffer and is known to most of his friends simply as "Lit"....
and Nick Sohl
Nick Sohl
Nicholas Brewster Sohl is a fictional character in Larry Niven's Known Space universe.A Belter, born in the mid 21st century, he is First Speaker for the Belt Political Section when Phssthpok the Pak Protector arrives in the Solar System in the early 22nd century.Together with Lucas Garner they...
, both of whom served as First Speaker of The Belt on separate occasions.
He served as a member of the ARM for over a century, first as an operative
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
and later as a supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
. Immediately prior to his retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
, he was Gil Hamilton
Gil Hamilton
Gilbert Gilgamesh Hamilton is a fictional character in the Known Space universe created by Larry Niven. He is one of the few science fiction detectives to appear in the genre...
's boss.
Garner is featured in the following novels:
- World of PtavvsWorld of PtavvsWorld of Ptavvs is a science fiction novel by Larry Niven, first published in 1966 and set in his Known Space universe. It was Niven's first published novel and is based on a 1965 short story of the same name.-Plot summary:...
- ProtectorProtector (novel)Protector is a 1973 science fiction novel by Larry Niven, set in his Known Space universe. It was nominated for the Hugo in 1974, and placed fourth in the annual Locus poll for that year....
and in the short story:
- Intent to Deceive
He also plays a lesser role in the Gil Hamilton stories:
- Death by EcstasyDeath by EcstasyDeath by Ecstasy is a novella in the Known Space universe by Larry Niven. It is the first of five Gil Hamilton detective stories, and provides most of the backstory for the character....
- The Defenseless DeadThe Defenseless DeadThe Defenseless Dead is a novella in the Known Space universe by Larry Niven. It is the second of five Gil Hamilton detective stories. It was published in 1973 in the Roger Elwood anthology Ten Tomorrows....
with a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in:
- The Patchwork GirlThe Patchwork GirlThe Patchwork Girl is a story in Known Space by Larry Niven. It is the fourth of five Gil Hamilton detective stories and the first to be published as a stand-alone novel. It was published alone as a novel in 1986 . It was later included in the Gil Hamilton anthology Flatlander.In a break from his...