The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes
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3.7 • 3 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
"An absolutely essential and 'must read' novel for the legions of Robert Heinlein fans, The Pursuit of the Pankera: A Parallel Novel About Parallel Universes is an extraordinary work of science fiction"—Midwest Book Review
"Heinlein still offers a rollicking ride even after all these years."—The Oklahoman
The Pursuit of the Pankera is one of the most audacious experiments ever done in science fiction by the legendary author of the classic bestseller Starship Troopers.
Robert A. Heinlein wrote The Number of the Beast, which was published in 1980. In the book Zeb, Deety, Hilda and Jake are ambushed by the alien "Black Hats" and barely escape with their lives on a specially configured vehicle (the Gay Deceiver) which can travel along various planes of existence, allowing them to visit parallel universes.
However, unknown to most fans, Heinlein had already written a "parallel" novel about the four characters and parallel universes in 1977. He effectively wrote two parallel novels about parallel universes. The novels share the same start, but as soon as the Gay Deceiver is used to transport them to a parallel universe, each book transports them to a totally different parallel world.
From that point on the plot lines diverge completely. While The Number of the Beast morphs into something very different, more representative of later Heinlein works, The Pursuit of the Pankera remains on target with a much more traditional Heinleinesque storyline and ending, reminiscent of his earlier works.
The Pursuit of the Pankera was never published and there have been many competing theories as to why (including significant copyright issues in 1977). Over time the manuscript was largely forgotten but survived in fragments. A recent re-examination of these fragments, however, made it clear that put together in the right order they constituted the complete novel.
And here it finally is: Robert A. Heinlein's audacious experiment. A fitting farewell from one of the most inventive science fiction writers to have ever lived: a parallel novel about parallel universes as well as a great adventure pitting the forces of good versus evil only the way Heinlein could do.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This posthumous reconstruction of fragments from SFWA Grand Master Heinlein (1907 1988) comes together to form an alternate version of his 1980 novel, The Number of the Beast, that is of academic interest but minimal entertainment value. The first third of the plot remains the same, as an alien attack on San Francisco leads four characters to flee in a vehicle awkwardly named The Gay Deceiver, which has the ability to travel to parallel universes, but diverges as their pulpy adventures take them through different planes of existence than in the original, including a sojourn in the Land of Oz. It's a fascinating window into Heinlein's creative process, but suffers from a meandering structure and often offensively dated prose. Most egregious are the characterizations of the female characters; one woman's nipples are described as "pretty pink spigots are barometers of her morale," and indeed the state of her nipples is how her mood is determined by the men around her throughout. This is for Heinlein scholars and diehard fans only.
