Characters from Decision at Doona, first book in the Doona trilogy:
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Humans/ Terrari — Doona Colony
Kenneth "Ken" Reeve
Husband of Patricia, father to Ilsa and Todd, Ken is the viewpoint character for much of the novel. His official title on the Doona settlement mission is Jack of All Trades. Ken is elected by the settlers to initiate first contact with the Hrrubans.- Jack of All Trades: Ken's official job title for the Doona colony, and what he trained for while still on Earth. He mentions early on in the book that it can be risky to take as many general courses as he did, without specializing in a single field, but his gamble paid off when he and his family were selected for "active duty," i.e. being sent to colonize a far-off planet.
Patricia "Pat" Reeve
Married to Ken, mother of Ilsa and Todd. Patricia struggles to control her son Todd's behavior, but moving to Doona gives her hope for her children's future.- Hysterical Woman: Patricia is often described bursting into tears, needing to be comforted by her husband Ken.
Ilsa Reeve
Ken and Patricia's daughter, Ilsa is a quiet, sober 10 year old who has spent much of her life helping her mother look after her wild younger brother.- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Polite and withdrawn, Ilsa is the responsible sibling. She spends as much time worrying about her little brother as her parents do.
- Forgettable Character: Ilsa's parents spend so much time worrying about Todd's antics that they often forget or ignore Ilsa. When Marie McKee is poisoned by the native rroamal vine, Patricia even forgets Ilsa was told to stay in the Reeve's cabin and starts making dinner for the colonists gathered at the McKee's house.Full dark has settled when Ilsa knocked apologetically at the door.
"I waited and waited and I'm awful hungry, mother, and is Maria alright?" She asked tentatively.
"Oh good heavens, I completely forgot we don't have an automat feeder," Pat cried, full of remorse for her neglect of the biddable child.
Todd Reeve
Ken and Patricia's son, a wild and rambunctious 6 year old whose uncontrollable outbursts and put him at odds with the behavioral restrictions on Earth. As difficult of a time Todd has relating to his Terrari peers, he immediately falls in with the Hrrubans, particularly the young Hrriss.- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The foolish sibling. Todd's wild behavior and lack of awareness contributed to many of the Reeve's issues back on the crowded Earth.
- Going Native: Played straight in that Todd prefers the company of the native Hrrubans to that of his human peers, and is delighted when Hrrestan proposes that the Hrrubans will assume babysitting duty over Todd, and doubly so when his parents accept the offer. Played with, in that the Hrrubans aren't actually native to Doona, but are an intelligent alien species with a technological level surpassing Earth's — but Todd still excels in his study of Hrruban language, culture, and customs, to the point that he's the only human capable of serving as an ambassador to the First Speaker because he's the only human who can speak high/ formal Hrruban, better even than some of the Hrruban technicians themselves.
- Interspecies Friendship: With Hrriss, a young Hrruban. The two are nearly inseparable.
Hu Shih
A Metropologist and leader of the Doona Settlement. He is fiercely devoted to upholding the Non-Cohabitation Principle, and advocates for the settlers to leave Doona in order to avoid inflicting lasting cultural harm on the Hrrubans. He is married to Phyllis.Phyllis Hu
Wife of Shih.Sam Gaynor
One of the men assigned to the Doona Colony. Sam turns out to be highly allergic to the Hrrubans, requiring a "massive dose" of antihistamines before he can interact with the furry, cat-like aliens. His wife, Aurle, arrives on Doona after the first winter.Aurle Gaynor
Married to Sam Gaynor.Victor Solinari
The storemaster of the Doona Colony. Married to Anne Solinari.Anne Solinari
Victor's wife.Lee Lawrence
The socio-psychologist of the Doona settlement mission, married to Sally Lawrence.Sally Lawrence
Wife of Lee Lawrence, Sally brings her guitar from earth.Macy "Mace" McKee
A settler assigned to the Doona Colony, Mace is a man of many talents — including glass blowing and gem cutting. His wife Dot and twin daughters join the colony after the first winter.Dot McKee
Mace's wife and mother of the McKee twins.Marie McKee
One of Macy and Dot's twins, Marie nearly died when she was poisoned by the native rroamal vines of Doona. Mrrva's medical knowledge saved her life.Ezra Moody
The doctor assigned to the Doona colony. Ezra is also mentioned to have brought a violin from earth. He is married to Kate Moody, the colony pediatrician.Kate Moody
The colony's pediatrician and Ezra's wife, Kate Moody arrived with the women and children after the first winter. Though she has a stern demeanor, she's fiercely protective of the colony's children (even Todd, with whom she quickly became fed up with during the long journey from Earth).Bill Moody
Ezra and Kate's son, Bill is often given the job of running messages between the adults of the Doona Colony.Martin Ramasan
One of the men assigned to the Doona colony. Married to Fawzia.Fawzia Ramasan
Married to Martin Ramasan.Alfred Ramasan
Martin and Fawzia's son.Ben Adjei
Veterinarian and animal handler assigned to the Doona Colony, Ben's animal expertise comes from years of training on Earth. Married to Akosua.- Horse of a Different Color: Rides a bull at one point — see Horseback Heroism.
- Horseback Heroism: When Commander Landreau's Spacedep forces have rounded the colonists up in the barn and have started herding the huge snakes of Doona towards the colonists, Ben and his wife lead a charge out of the barn while astride the bull. The charge distracts Spacedep for long enough that the colonists are able to turn the tide of battle."The main door had been flung wide and from the barn charged every head of the stock— horses, cattle, pigs. Leading them on the bull, a pitchfork carried like an archaic lance, was Ben Adjei, his wife clinging to him on the back of their improbable mount. The guards were overrun by this unlikely cavalry before they could recover their rifles."
Akosua Adjei
Wife of Ben Adjei.Abe Dautrish
One of the men assigned to the Doona colony. Married to Becky Dautrish.Becky Dautrish
Wife of Abe Dautrish.Buzz Eckerd
One of the men assigned to the Doona colony. Married to Anne Eckerd.Anne "Anneck" Eckerd
Buzz's wife, everyone calls her "Anneck" to avoid confusion with Anne Solinari. Humans/ Terrari — Other
Captain Ali Kiachif
Captain of the passenger and cargo transport ship Astrid, Ali Kiachif is brash and practical. His ship's schedule is packed tight with the amount of deliveries he has to make, and he doesn't have time for the "nonsense" the colonists are spouting about upholding the Non-Cohabitation Principle.Commander Al Landreau
A militaristic man in the employ of Earth's Spacedep (Space Department), Landreau doesn't believe the colonists when the tell him they've found sentient aliens inhabiting Doona. As Spacedep was in charge of surveying Doona prior to clearing it for colonization, it's Landreau's people who would get the blame for missing something as important as a sentient alien species on the surface of the planet (not to mention the other dangerous fauna discovered by the colonists). Landreau is quick to look down on others, and is even willing to subject children as young as Todd to invasive interrogation techniques if it means he gets answers.Mr. E. K. Chaminade
A representative of Earth's Codep (Colonian Department), Mr. Chaminade leads a contingent of investigators to Doona to suss out whether the colonists' claims of intelligent native life are true or not. Without proof of a sentient alien species, Doona would remain under Codep's jurisdiction.Admiral Afroza Sumitral
An admiral in Earth's Alredep (Alien Relations Department), Sumitral's people would take control of the Doona colony should evidence of a sentient alien species be brought to light. Hrrubans — Doona
Hrrubans in General
- Cat Folk: The Hrrubans are described as resembling cat who walk upright.
- Fantastic Naming Convention: All male names begin with "Hrr-" and all female names begin with "Mrr-"
- Mistaken for Aliens: Inverted, the Hrrubans on Doona are mistaken for natives by the humans colonizing the planet.
Hrrestan
Mrrva
Mother to Hrriss and practiced in the art of using the native plants of Doona for medicinal purposes.Hrriss
Son of Hrrestan and Mrrva, Hrriss is young Hrruban who befriends Todd Reeve.- Interspecies Friendship: With Todd Reeve."Hrriss has ever been a lone cub— which happens to some— but in Zodd he has found a heart that reaches to his, and a mind that understands all that is not easy to say in words. This is rare."Hrrestan, on the friendship between Hrriss and Todd
Hrrula
Hrran
Mrrim
Hrrubans — Other
