Ulf Reichstein-Markham
Encyclopedia
Ulf Reichstein-Markham is a recurring character from the Man-Kzin Wars
series of books. Along with Buford Early
and Chuut-Riit, Reichstein-Markham is both one of the few major recurring characters, and one of the few characters to have a large role in stories written by more than one author.
Reichstein-Markham was born on Wunderland in 2390, the son of a solar system
Belter
. Following the occupation of Wunderland by the Kzin
ti in the First Man-Kzin War, at the age of 18 he joined the "Free Wunderland Navy," what purported to be a resistance group but was little more than a band of space pirate
s occupying the Serpent Swarm (Alpha Centauri
's asteroid belt
). He was responsible for the capture of the United Nations
spaceship Catskinner, whose crew later were responsible for the assassination
of Chuut-Riit. He also came under the control of a Thrint
who escaped its Slaver stasis field before being destroyed by the Catskinner AI.
By the time Wunderland was liberated in 2420, Reichstein-Markham had become an admiral
, and then was chosen to be Minister of War for the free Wunderlander government. He finally died in the year 2443 after being selected to chair the Interworld Commission, an early form of pan-human government established after the peace treaty with the Kzin was signed. Prior to his death, he had used his position to give the secret of hyperdrive
to the Kzin disguised as a diplomatic packet, in the hopes of creating a lasting peace of equality between the two races. Although he did not live to see it, Reichstein-Markham's treachery meant that, far from his intentions, the Kzin would grow strong enough to launch four additional wars of conquest against the human worlds.
Man-Kzin Wars
The Man-Kzin Wars is a series of military science fiction short story collections , as well as the eponymous conflicts between mankind and the Kzinti that they detail...
series of books. Along with Buford Early
Buford Early
Buford Early is a recurring character from the Man-Kzin Wars series of books. Along with Chuut-Riit and Ulf Reichstein-Markham, Early is both one of the few major recurring characters, and one of the few characters to have a large role in stories written by more than one author.Early was born on...
and Chuut-Riit, Reichstein-Markham is both one of the few major recurring characters, and one of the few characters to have a large role in stories written by more than one author.
Reichstein-Markham was born on Wunderland in 2390, the son of a solar system
Solar System
The Solar System consists of the Sun and the astronomical objects gravitationally bound in orbit around it, all of which formed from the collapse of a giant molecular cloud approximately 4.6 billion years ago. The vast majority of the system's mass is in the Sun...
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....
. Following the occupation of Wunderland by the Kzin
Kzin
The Kzinti are a fictional, very warlike and bloodthirsty race of cat-like aliens in Larry Niven's Known Space series....
ti in the First Man-Kzin War, at the age of 18 he joined the "Free Wunderland Navy," what purported to be a resistance group but was little more than a band of space pirate
Space pirate
Space pirates are a type of stock characters from science fiction. They operate as pirates in outer space and travel by spacecraft; as opposed to the more traditional pirates on the high seas of Earth, who travel by boat...
s occupying the Serpent Swarm (Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri is the brightest star in the southern constellation of Centaurus...
's asteroid belt
Asteroid belt
The asteroid belt is the region of the Solar System located roughly between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter. It is occupied by numerous irregularly shaped bodies called asteroids or minor planets...
). He was responsible for the capture of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
spaceship Catskinner, whose crew later were responsible for the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of Chuut-Riit. He also came under the control of a 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...
who escaped its Slaver stasis field before being destroyed by the Catskinner AI.
By the time Wunderland was liberated in 2420, Reichstein-Markham had become an admiral
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
, and then was chosen to be Minister of War for the free Wunderlander government. He finally died in the year 2443 after being selected to chair the Interworld Commission, an early form of pan-human government established after the peace treaty with the Kzin was signed. Prior to his death, he had used his position to give the secret of hyperdrive
Hyperdrive
Hyperdrive is a name given to certain methods of traveling faster-than-light in science fiction. Related concepts are jump drive and warp drive....
to the Kzin disguised as a diplomatic packet, in the hopes of creating a lasting peace of equality between the two races. Although he did not live to see it, Reichstein-Markham's treachery meant that, far from his intentions, the Kzin would grow strong enough to launch four additional wars of conquest against the human worlds.