Dictator Thayne is the ultimate unseen antagonist of The Ends of Time, the central political figure whose existence and rule fuel the entire conflict. His power, image, and influence are absolute.
Thayne’s personality is entirely from the nature of his regime and the intense reaction he provokes.
Totalitarian Authority: He is the undisputed “Dictator,” which immediately defines him as a tyrant who wields absolute power. His rule, dubbed the “New Rule,” is enforced by a vast, militarized police state, complete with human Planetary Police officers and frightening Planetary Police robots. This demonstrates a systematic and ruthless application of control, suggesting Thayne is a figure who demands total submission and tolerates no dissent.
Imperial Image: His public image is one of imposing, almost divine, authority. He is described as wearing a long red robe and a high, futuristic collar. This attire is designed to be intimidating and distinctive, projecting an image of untouchable, perhaps archaic, royalty and power, reinforcing his dictatorship.
Self-Preservation and Control: Thayne is deeply invested in the security of his own life and regime. He employs a personal bodyguard named Gunther, indicating a justifiable fear of assassination and a need for close, armed protection. Furthermore, his regime’s interest in the Farrow family, specifically Ben Farrow as his direct ancestor, suggests a profound, almost obsessive interest in controlling his own past and lineage to secure his future dominance.
Thayne’s challenges are unique to a ruler in a time traveling universe:
The most immediate and active threat is The Stranger (Gary) and the rebel movement. Their goal is not merely to overthrow him, but to erase him by targeting his ancestors.
The Existential Threat: This conflict is not political or military; it is existential. The rebels aim to destroy the timeline that produces him, a challenge that requires him to police the past as aggressively as he polices the present.
His challenge is maintaining the integrity of the “New Rule” against both internal and temporal threats.
He must enforce constant surveillance and use overwhelming force to crush dissent, a continuous effort that defines his reign.
Thayne’s greatest philosophical challenge is the inherent fragility of his own reality.
Because time travel exists, his rule is never truly secure. Any small change in the past could unravel his entire future. This forces him to be constantly vigilant and perhaps paranoid, knowing that history is a tool his enemies can wield against him.
Thayne displays himself to be the absolute, immovable source of all law and order in his universe.
The Regal Tyrant: His red robe and collar are a visual display of his imperial power. He is meant to be seen as the center of the world, commanding armies of human and mechanical police.
The Secure Despot: The presence of his bodyguard, Gunther, suggests a display of overwhelming personal security, warning potential attackers that he is untouchable.
The Historical Anchor: By having his forces actively pursue and defend his ancestors, he displays himself as a figure who believes his dominance is ordained by time itself, making his life and lineage a matter of state security.
