Captain Thorne
A court-martialed former cadet who steals a spaceship and escapes prison with Cinder.
Captain Carswell Thorne is a former cadet from the American Republic Military, court-martialed and sentenced to prison for stealing a spaceship. He is already incarcerated when Cinder is brought to New Beijing prison, and together they escape. He later teams up with Cinder, helping her navigate space aboard the Rampion.
- Role
- Former cadet from the American Republic Military, court-martialed for theft, referred to as Captain
- Affiliation
- American Republic Military (former, court-martialed), fugitive ally of Cinder
- First Appears
- Scarlet (2013)
- Status
- Alive (escapes with Cinder)
- Ship
- Rampion
Lore & Background
Thorne's early life is not detailed in the source, but he was a cadet in the American Republic Military until he stole a spaceship, leading to a court-martial and a 6-year prison sentence. He was already in New Beijing prison when Cinder was brought in, and they escaped together. After fleeing aboard the stolen ship—now named the Rampion—Cinder passes out due to system overload after takeoff, and Iko reboots her. Once in space, Thorne asks Cinder where she wants to go, and she chooses to look for Michelle Benoit. Thorne is present when Cinder reveals to him and Iko that she is Princess Selene.
In Their Own Story
Thorne meets Cinder in New Beijing prison, where he is serving a 6-year sentence. Together they escape, and Thorne pilots his stolen ship, the Rampion. Cinder passes out while trying to start the ship, and Thorne has to reboot her. They find problems with the autopilot, and Cinder inserts Iko's personality chip. Thorne asks Cinder where she wants to go; despite Dr. Erland telling her to go to Africa, she chooses to look for Michelle Benoit. Later, Thorne and Cinder land in Rieux, find Michelle Benoit's shelter, and are tracked by the military via Cinder's dead stepsister's ID chip. They barely escape Lunar wolf soldiers and track down Scarlet. At the end, Cinder reveals to Thorne and Iko that she is Princess Selene.
Reader's Guide
Captain Carswell Thorne is a runaway cadet from the American Republic Military, referred to as Captain. He is a fugitive who escapes with Cinder from New Beijing prison after being convicted and sentenced to a 6-year prison sentence. He stole a spaceship from the American Republic military, which becomes the Rampion. Thorne helps Cinder reboot the ship when she passes out, and they travel together to find Michelle Benoit. He is present when Cinder reveals her identity as Princess Selene to him and Iko.
Did You Know?
- Thorne was a cadet in the American Republic Military before being court-martialed and sentenced to prison for stealing a spaceship.
- He was already in New Beijing prison when Cinder was brought in, and they escaped together.
- Thorne stole the spaceship while he was a cadet, not during the events of the book.
- Cinder passes out after the ship takes off due to system overload, and Iko reboots her, not Thorne.
- Thorne is present when Cinder reveals to him and Iko that she is Princess Selene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Captain Thorne?
He is a young cadet who ran away from the American Republic Military and is called "Captain" despite never actually holding that rank. He first appears in Scarlet (2013) as a convicted fugitive serving a six-year sentence in New Beijing prison.
What is Captain Thorne's role in the story?
He has no special powers; his function is as a skilled pilot and fugitive who becomes Cinder's closest ally. He is the one who commandeers a military vessel and gets her off Earth.
How does Captain Thorne's story end in Scarlet?
He breaks out of New Beijing prison alongside Cinder, and the two of them flee into space together aboard the Rampion. He is confirmed to still be alive at the close of the novel.
Why is Captain Thorne important to the overall plot?
Without his knowledge of military hardware and his ability to fly a stolen ship, Cinder would have had no realistic means of leaving Earth or navigating the cosmos. He is essentially the key that unlocks her journey beyond the planet.
What ship does Captain Thorne fly?
He steals the Rampion from American Republic military forces and uses it as the primary craft for Cinder's escape. The ship becomes the main vehicle the group relies on during their time in space.
More in Characters & Cast
Related in The Lunar Chronicles
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in the The Lunar Chronicles universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record