Ishmael was a character from Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick, who, at the novel's beginning, signs on as a sailor aboard Captain Ahab's ship, and through whose eyes most of the story's narration develops. Ishmael's literary legacy as a character, that of the chronicler of his captain's quest to avenge himself upon the singular target of his hatred, later prompted The Doctor, when invited by Qatai to join him on his own quest in hunting the telepathic pitcher plant, to decline, stating that he wouldn't want to be Ishmael to Qatai's Ahab. (VOY: "Bliss")
John Colicos described Kor's role in DS9: "Blood Oath" as being the Ishmael "who lives to tell the story". ("The Sword of Colicos", Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - The Official Poster Magazine, issue 8)