The Terminal List

Content Warning: This section discusses violence and torture, sexual assault, suicide, and racism.

Reece is the novel’s protagonist, and on the surface, he appears like a stereotypical Navy SEAL: hyper-masculine, aggressive, and hardworking. However, Carr presents Reece as a deep student of war who collects hundreds of books on various war subjects to perfect his craft. He can see both sides of every argument and can be critical of institutions, such as the US Navy, from which he has benefitted from. He is more of a “poet-warrior” than a stereotypical warrior.

He has an extremely strong moral code; however, he accepts it when that moral code leads him toward violence. His deep loyalty to his troops and family leads him to kill multiple people, and he believes that avenging his loved ones is morally right. Additionally, Reece builds friendships because of his moral code. For example, he refuses direct orders and goes to rescue Liz, leading to a lifetime of friendship and loyalty.

Reece takes extreme pride in being a good father and son, and his character arc demonstrates Father-Child Bonds as a Motivational Force. While he was a good husband, he emphasizes the importance of his role as a father more often.