Andrei Ivanov

From The Great Machine

For other instances of the name "Ivanov(a)", see Ivanov(a) (disambiguation)

Andrei Ivanov (played by Robert Phalen) was the father of Ganya Ivanov and Susan Ivanova, and the husband of Sofie Ivanova.

He was a Russian Jew. And a scholar. A man devoted to logic and to reason. And above all...to peace.

Andrei was an intellectual and peace proponent living in St. Petersburg who was on the invitation "A-List" for other visiting intellectuals.

Your father used to say: "If regret could be harvested, Russia would be the world's fruit basket."

I remember.

You know, he would have liked this place.

I invited him, but he always refused. He said Humanity had no business in space until we had peace on Earth.

--(Rabbi Koslov and Ivanova, S1E14 TKO)

Andrei's obstinance and acerbic personality apparently put him at odds with a visiting lecturer who'd captured Susan's teenage fancy. The event is one Susan remembered fondly while belatedly sitting shiva for Andrei's passing:

Susan: When I was 13, I developed a passion for Kasharev, one of the radical neo-communist authors...

Koslov: Oye! Your father felt that Kasharev would be personally responsible for the destruction of Russian culture.

Susan: Exactly. But, he was invited to a reading by Kasharev, and I begged him to take me. Of course, he had no intention of going, but, uhh...I whined and pouted as only a thirteen year-old can, and eventually he was forced to surrender. So, after the reading, there was a question and answer session, and for days, I had been formulating...the perfect question with which to impress my idol. Y'know, the time comes, and I stand up, I'm trembling. So I ask my question...

Koslov: And?

Susan: He promptly said that it was the most foolish thing that he'd ever heard, and he no intention of bandying words with a bourgeois little twit who was barely out of diapers. I was crushed... But then Papa stood up, and he said that his daughter was neither bourgeois nor a little twit, and had been out of diapers for many, many years, while Kasharev's writing had yet to rise above the contents of those garments.

Koslov: THAT sounds exactly like Andrei!

Susan: He then added that were he not a man of peace, he would have horsewhipped Kasharev throught the streets of St. Petersburg, as his own father should have done many years ago.

Koslov: Bravo, bravo.

Susan:Well, of course, I was mortified. But then Papa took my hand and he turned, and as we walked out, he said to me: "It was a good question, dushenka."

--(Ivanova and Rabbi Koslov, S1E14 TKO)

Spoiler warning: Plot, character development, or ending details follow.

Andrei passed away in early 2258 while talking with Susan over an unauthorised Gold Channel command line. While he respected and loved Susan, he never properly expressed this love. (TKO)

Susan...I know I haven't been the best of fathers to you. But when your mother passed on and your brother was killed in the war I was too wrapped up in my own grief to pay attention to your needs. And when you joined Earthforce against my wishes...

You don't have to say this.

Yes, I must. There's no more time. I want you to know how proud I am of you, Susan. I always have been. But a father should give his daughter love as well as respect, and in that I failed you. I'm sorry. I'm ashamed. Forgive me. Thank you, Dushenka moya.

"Little soul" - You haven't called me that since I was... Papa?!!

-- (Andrei and Susan Ivanova, S1E03 Born to the Purple)