Character Analysis
Phyllis is another geologist among the First Hundred, and also a Christian. When we first really get to know her, she's arguing with John on the merits of Christianity in the modern age. She tells him: "Outside of rational scientific thought is an enormous area of consciousness, an area more important than science. Faith in God is a part of that" (2.3.20). You may read that and think to yourself, okay, she's a Christian and a scientist. I've got this character pegged. But really, this is only the start of it.
Ms. Rich Moneybags
Phyllis believes faith in God is a part of that vast consciousness she refers to above, and as the novel progresses, we soon discover what the other parts are: power and cold-hard cash. Assuming, that is, they still use cash that is both hard and cold in the future.
Phyllis is our evil capitalist character. Once Mars starts to come along nicely, Phyllis relinquishes her scientific endeavors and joins the transnats to create the space elevator. Unlike Nadia, she doesn't build the elevator to improve the Martian lifestyle. Rather, as Frank notes:
As with many religious fundamentalists, business for her was part of the religion; the two dogmas were mutually reinforcing, part of the same system. Reason had nothing to do with it.
Ah, so Phyllis is someone who has removed rationality from her mode of operation—whether in her religious beliefs or her capitalistic enterprises. She doesn't consider Mars or its people when building her space elevator; she only considers what the space elevator can do for her.
Of course, the space elevator that was meant to be her ticket to power becomes her ticket into the cold, dark reaches of space. When the Clarke asteroid is sent launching away from Mars, Phyllis is on board. Her fate remains unknown, but chances are decent it's a bummer.