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The Shooting Gallery features 73 characters. Many are incidental in nature and serve a mechanical purpose, others make a notable one time appearance. Fourteen are primary actors; their Diphra PDF index entry appears below. It includes a brief summary of what occurred to them in the first two books, and the pages on which they appear in the third book. The number of page entries is a measure of their importance to the story. One is new to the series; others were in the background, and now get closer attention.They fit into these categories:
The Entrepreneurs: Freddy and Andy. It is Freddy’s brainchild that gives this book its title. The Shooting Gallery is introduced on the second day and is one of the main events on the third.
The Free Agents: Geoff, Tony, Danny, Leonard. Whether it is their goal or their fate, these are the characters that help move the story along with some comic relief, spicy antics and even some approved activity.
The Seekers: Kurt & Sid. These two are the surprise story—no one is more surprised than they.
The Six Lovers: Julian & Mark, Nick & Tom, Jack & Robin. These are romances that began in the previous books. Following them grow and develop, noting their similarities and differences, is the main business of these books. The characters are not aware of their common status; that is for the reader to know about. This connection is central to the theme of the series.
The Entrepreneurs:
Freddy: Star scout from Troop 118; devised the Shooting Gallery. [126-30, 224-36, 239-43]
Andy Ashbaugh: Life scout in the Tiger patrol. Skilled accomplice in Brad’s favorite pastime of torching farts. [31-2, 51-60, 126-30, 224-236, 239-43]
The Free Agents:
Geoff Staples: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 419, Atlanta. Life scout, recently from Burbank, California. English/Cambodian descent, poker club member, sophisticated and experienced. Danny’s co-worker in the supply duty; tutored Danny in sexual techniques. Respects Nick’s intellect and tutors him as well. [3, 11-16, 33-47, 112-20, 131-38, 171-77, 185-7, 189, 197-8, 205-9, 237-8]
Tony Johnson: First Class scout in the Tiger patrol. Talented, comical, and usually in need of points. He tends to annoy his patrol leader, and is frequently penalized for simple infractions and oversights. He is the troop’s most talented actor and clown. [31-2, 51-60, 127-8, 130, 174, 186, 224-36, 239-43, 245]
Danny Laskey: Star scout, newly appointed Senior Patrol Leader of Troop Nine. He bypassed several able scouts because Scoutmaster Mark sees him as the best potential leader to become Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He has had a crush on Julian for a little more than a year. Though he lives across the fence, he and Julian have only had a nodding acquaintance prior to this camp. Gets sunburned on the first day of camp. In Part 2 he was taught some advanced lovemaking techniques by Geoff. He agrees to provide cover for Tom and Nick’s unauthorized sleeping arrangement in the supply tent. [3, 6-10, 50, 81, 96-101, 103-11, 121, 131-8, 148-55, 166-7, 172-4, 185-7, 189-96, 203, 206-9, 219]
Leonard Stafford: Waterfront Director at Camp Walker. Has an uncanny ability to remember names and faces. Enjoys keeping track of camp romances. Develops a Platonic fondness for Julian. [14-15, 19, 61-2, 68, 112-20, 128, 132, 140-1, 143-4, 185, 196-7, 217, 249]
The Seekers:
Kurt Davis: Star scout in the Zebra patrol. [22-31, 48-9, 64-74, 76-7, 123-5, 139, 191-6]
Sid Thomas: First Class scout in the Wolf patrol. Julian’s friend from school and Cub Scouts. He is known for his prankster sense of humor and his extremely skinny physique. His mother bought him a new turquoise air mattress for camp. In Part 2 his snorkel became an unexpected enabler when Julian borrowed it to investigate Doug and Paul’s underwater activity. Their friendship becomes more personal as a result. [18-20, 23-31, 48-9, 64-74, 121-5, 191-6, 213-14]
The Lovers:
Julian Forrest: First Class scout, main protagonist. Unaware that he has inherited extraordinary artistic talent from his father, a Greenwich Village sculptor whom he has never known. Serious, single minded, and determined from an early age to spend his life with Mark, a neighbor. The first night at camp, his romance begins when Mark invites him to stay in the cabin. His five year crush blossoms into a full active, though secret, romance. He has been staying in the scoutmaster’s cabin since the first day. His talent for acting comes to the fore the next day when he takes part in the lifesaving class. He learns to experiment in sex play with other scouts in Part 2. His goal is to serve Mark better; he works hard to improve his swimming and his drawing ability. [3-4, 6-10, 18-31, 48, 50, 51-2, 61-3, 75-83, 84-93, 96-102, 103-11, 121-25, 131-8, 139-44, 148-9, 153-5, 156-9, 160, 178-83, 189-97, 199-200, 208, 211-12, 217-8, 222]
Mark Schaefer: Scoutmaster of Troop Nine. He is a retail purchasing agent and manager. When he was a senior in college, he was asked to replace his former scoutmaster who died suddenly from a heart attack. His marriage of convenience has helped him to devote his personal time to scouting. After a year of denial, succumbs to Julian’s relentless amorous pursuit on the first night at Camp Walker. He decides to permit Julian’s advances by inviting him to stay in the cabin. He has never taken such a risk before. His skill as a leader is apparent and the cause of envy by the other scoutmasters. In Part 2 he was appointed to coach a water polo team. In order to help his Junior Assistant Scoutmaster save face, he installed an official farting post. [3-4, 6-9, 12-13, 76-9, 84-93, 96, 102, 148-54, 156-159, 166-8, 171-7, 185-8, 196-200, 203-10, 214, 217-23, 238]
Nick Harrison: Secondary protagonist, a Life scout. Troop Scribe, member of the Flaming Arrow patrol. A talented writer who has had a devoted crush on Tom for three years. Appointed to mentor Julian as a troop journalist. His relationship with Tom has flowered unexpectedly, and he and Tom have begun to sleep together in the camp supply tent. Earns his Lifesaving rating and coaches Julian in swimming. Is befriended by Geoff. [4-9, 11-16, 33-47, 50, 61-3, 75-83, 96-102, 139-47, 148-9, 153-5, 160-3, 166-170, 178-84, 189-96, 208-9, 219-20]
Tom Dawson: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 9 and Eagle scout. A star swimmer and football player. A secondary protagonist that relies heavily on the analytic ability of his protégé, Nick Harrison. He helps Julian at the first free swim at the lake as a ploy. But his plan to seduce Julian gets derailed by Nick. His whole sexual world gets turned upside down when he allows Nick to show him a new way to make love. Recruited into the Poker Club the next day. Outstanding leadership ability, his fetish for fresh adolescent backsides is quenched by the discovery that he is in love with Nick. He makes the decision to commandeer the troop supply tent to serve as a bedroom for himself and Nick for the remaining days at camp. Chosen to captain Mark’s water polo team. [4-9, 11-15, 23, 25, 33, 39, 42-4, 51-60, 76-82, 96-102, 139-47, 148-55, 160-63, 166-70, 178-83, 189-96, 203-9, 219-20]
Jack Haley: Junior Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 152, Atlanta. Eagle scout, recruited by Geoff to join Brian’s private poker game. On Wednesday, he and Robin were matched in the second poker game; they have been obsessed with each other since. They met the next day and found a private place to meet along the east lakeshore. [245-9]
Robin Simmons: Life scout in the Lynx patrol. He and Casey are invited by Tom to join the Poker Club. He falls in love with Jack at first sight. He is a skilled boatman, and takes Jack on a magical ride along the east shore where they finish what they had started after the poker game. [244-9]
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