Plot Summary
Unexpected Proposals and Peril
At a lively academic party, Zeb Carter and Deety Burroughs meet and, through a whirlwind of witty banter and a passionate tango, find themselves engaged to be married within minutes. Their connection is immediate, but the night turns dangerous when a car bomb nearly kills Deety, her father Jacob, and their friend Hilda. The group realizes someone is targeting Jacob for his controversial mathematical work. Forced to flee, they band together—two couples, newly formed and deeply bonded by crisis—setting the stage for a journey that will test their intellect, courage, and hearts.
Escape from the Black Hats
Zeb's quick thinking and advanced flying car, Gay Deceiver, save the group from a second assassination attempt. As they evade pursuit, the four debate who wants Jacob dead and why. The answer seems tied to his research in six-dimensional geometry. The group's trust in each other deepens as they realize the threat is not just personal but possibly cosmic. Amidst danger, Zeb and Deety's impulsive engagement is solidified, and Hilda and Jacob, longtime friends, decide to marry as well, forming a new family unit forged in adversity.
Sanctuary at Snug Harbor
The group retreats to Snug Harbor, Jacob and Deety's secret, fortified mountain hideaway. Here, the two couples celebrate double weddings and begin to relax, but the threat of the mysterious "Black Hats" lingers. The couples' relationships blossom in the safety of their sanctuary, and the group's dynamic shifts from survival to planning. They realize that Jacob's invention—a continua device capable of traveling through time, space, and alternate universes—may be the reason for the attacks. The device becomes both their greatest asset and the source of their peril.
Honeymoons and New Alliances
In the peaceful days that follow, the newlyweds settle into domestic routines, sharing chores, stories, and dreams. The women discuss the nature of men and women, the meaning of marriage, and the importance of mutual respect. The men, meanwhile, bond over engineering and philosophy. The group's unity is tested and strengthened as they prepare for the next phase: using the continua device to escape their pursuers and explore the multiverse. The sense of family, both chosen and biological, becomes their anchor.
The Continua Craft Revealed
Jacob explains the principles behind his invention: a six-dimensional space-time "twister" that allows travel not just through time and space, but across alternate realities. The group debates the mathematics and philosophy of such travel, using analogies and models to grasp the mind-bending implications. Hilda, ever the practical skeptic, demands a demonstration. The device is installed in Gay Deceiver, and the group prepares for their first jump, aware that they are about to become pioneers in a new kind of frontier.
The Number of the Beast
Jacob reveals the staggering number of accessible universes—six to the sixth to the sixth power, the so-called "Number of the Beast." The group realizes that their invention is not just a scientific breakthrough but a potential weapon of unimaginable power. The "Black Hats" are revealed to be non-human, possibly alien, entities determined to suppress this knowledge. The group's mission shifts from mere survival to a quest: to explore, to find a safe haven, and to keep the continua device out of the wrong hands.
Flight, Danger, and Double Weddings
The group's flight continues, with close calls and narrow escapes. They use the continua device to fake their deaths and evade pursuit, moving from one universe to another. Along the way, they formalize their family bonds with double weddings, and Hilda and Deety both become pregnant, adding urgency to their quest for safety. The group's unity is tested by stress, but their love and mutual respect carry them through. They realize that their greatest strength is their ability to work together as equals.
Building a Family Fortress
The group finds a new home in an alternate Earth—"Beulahland"—where the climate is mild, the population sparse, and the culture free of the taboos that would allow "Black Hats" to hide. They build a life, blending domesticity with vigilance. The women insist on being equal partners in all decisions, challenging the men's protective instincts. The group debates the ethics of exploration, the responsibilities of power, and the meaning of home. Their new life is peaceful, but the threat of the "Black Hats" and the lure of the multiverse remain.
The First Jump: Worlds Beyond
With the continua device fully operational, the group begins systematic exploration of alternate universes. They encounter worlds both familiar and strange: some are eerily similar to their own, others are products of fiction, myth, or nightmare. Each jump brings new challenges—alien cultures, physical laws, and moral dilemmas. The group's skills and relationships are tested as they navigate these worlds, always searching for a place where they can be safe, raise their children, and perhaps make a difference.
Encounters with Fictional Realms
The group discovers that the continua device can access not just alternate histories but the worlds of fiction and imagination—Oz, Wonderland, Barsoom, and more. They meet characters from literature, confront the boundaries between reality and story, and debate the philosophical implications. Are these worlds "real"? What does it mean to be a character in someone else's story? The group's adventures become a meditation on the power of imagination, the nature of consciousness, and the infinite possibilities of existence.
The Search for Safe Haven
The group's search for a permanent home is fraught with peril. They encounter universes ravaged by war, disease, or environmental collapse. In some, the "Black Hats" are ascendant; in others, humanity has triumphed or vanished. The group faces loss, disappointment, and the temptation to give up. But their determination, ingenuity, and love for each other drive them onward. They learn to trust their instincts, rely on each other's strengths, and accept that safety is never absolute—only earned, moment by moment.
The Ethics of Exploration
As the group explores, they grapple with the ethical implications of their power. Should they intervene in the worlds they visit? What are the consequences of their actions? The continua device is both a tool and a weapon, and the group debates how to use it wisely. They encounter societies with different values, face moral dilemmas, and are forced to confront their own prejudices and assumptions. The women, especially, insist on being equal partners in these decisions, challenging the men to rethink their roles and responsibilities.
The Rescue of Maureen
The group is recruited by the legendary Lazarus Long and the Howard Families to attempt a daring rescue: to snatch Maureen Johnson, Lazarus's mother, from her own death in the past. The mission requires precision, courage, and trust. The group debates the ethics and risks of time travel, the possibility of paradox, and the meaning of family across generations and universes. The rescue is successful, but not without cost. The group gains new allies, new perspectives, and a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all things.
The Long Family and Tertius
The group is welcomed into the extended Howard Family on Tertius, a world where longevity, freedom, and diversity are celebrated. They meet legendary figures, form new relationships, and are offered the chance to become "Found Howards" themselves. The blending of families, cultures, and technologies creates both opportunities and challenges. The group debates the meaning of immortality, the responsibilities of power, and the importance of love and loyalty. They find a new sense of belonging, but the lure of exploration remains.
The Convention of All Worlds
The group attends a grand convention on Tertius, where characters from every universe—real, fictional, and mythic—gather to debate, celebrate, and share stories. The boundaries between reality and imagination blur as authors, heroes, and legends mingle. The group reflects on their journey, the lessons learned, and the infinite possibilities that remain. The convention becomes a metaphor for the multiverse itself: a place where every story is true, every dream is possible, and every person matters.
The Nature of Reality
The group, now seasoned travelers, debates the nature of reality. Are they "real" or "imaginary"? What is the difference? They explore the concepts of solipsism, pantheism, and the power of imagination. The continua device becomes a symbol of human creativity and the quest for meaning. The group concludes that reality is what we make of it—through love, courage, and the willingness to dream. They accept that they are both characters in a story and authors of their own destinies.
The Final Confrontation
The "Black Hats" make one last attempt to destroy the group and seize the continua device. The final confrontation is both physical and metaphysical, testing the group's unity, ingenuity, and resolve. With the help of allies from across the multiverse, they defeat the enemy—not by violence alone, but by understanding, compassion, and the refusal to be ruled by fear. The victory is bittersweet, as the group realizes that the struggle between good and evil, order and chaos, is never truly over.
New Beginnings, Infinite Possibilities
With the threat vanquished and their family secure, the group looks to the future. They have found a home, but the lure of the multiverse remains. The continua device is both a legacy and a responsibility, and the group vows to use it wisely. They celebrate their victories, mourn their losses, and embrace the infinite possibilities that lie ahead. The story ends not with a conclusion, but with an invitation: to dream, to explore, and to create new worlds—together.
Characters
Zebadiah John Carter
Zeb is a tall, rugged, and quick-witted engineer with a penchant for self-deprecating humor and a deep sense of responsibility. Initially averse to commitment, he is swept into marriage with Deety by circumstance and chemistry. Zeb's practical skills, piloting expertise, and "wild talent" for sensing danger make him the group's de facto protector. He struggles with the burden of leadership, preferring action to debate, but grows into his role as both husband and family anchor. His relationship with Deety is passionate and equal, and his respect for Hilda and Jacob deepens as they face challenges together. Zeb's journey is one from isolation to belonging, from cynicism to hope.
Dejah Thoris "Deety" Burroughs Carter
Deety is a brilliant, strong-willed mathematician and computer scientist, fiercely independent yet deeply loyal. Her quick mind, emotional honesty, and physical confidence make her both formidable and endearing. Deety's relationship with Zeb is a partnership of equals, marked by mutual respect, playful banter, and deep affection. She insists on being an active participant in all decisions, challenging traditional gender roles and demanding equality. Deety's journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to balance vulnerability with strength, intellect with emotion, and individuality with family.
Hilda Corners Burroughs
Hilda, known as "Sharpie," is a petite, sharp-tongued, and fiercely intelligent woman with a talent for organization, negotiation, and psychological insight. A survivor of multiple marriages and adventures, she brings wisdom, humor, and toughness to the group. Hilda's relationship with Jacob is both romantic and practical; she manages his affairs, challenges his assumptions, and supports his genius. As captain, she insists on discipline, equality, and mutual respect. Hilda's journey is one of transformation—from "Aunt Hilda" to leader, from caretaker to equal partner, from skeptic to believer in the infinite.
Jacob Jeremiah Burroughs
Jacob is a brilliant mathematician and engineer, creator of the continua device. He is both absent-minded and deeply loving, often lost in thought but fiercely protective of his family. Jacob's relationship with Deety is that of mentor and father, while his bond with Hilda is romantic and collaborative. He struggles with the responsibilities of leadership, often defaulting to logic over emotion, but learns to value the insights and strengths of others. Jacob's journey is one of humility, as he learns that genius alone is not enough—that love, trust, and partnership are essential.
Hilda and Deety (as a unit)
The relationship between Hilda and Deety is central to the story's exploration of gender, power, and family. Both women insist on equality, challenge male authority, and demand to be heard. Their alliance is both practical and emotional, providing support, perspective, and strength. Together, they represent the new paradigm of partnership—one in which women are not just companions but co-creators, leaders, and adventurers.
Lazarus Long
Lazarus is the oldest living human, a legend among the Howard Families. He is cunning, resourceful, and deeply human—capable of both great tenderness and ruthless pragmatism. Lazarus recruits the group for the rescue of his mother, Maureen, and becomes both ally and foil. His presence brings history, perspective, and a sense of the epic to the story. Lazarus's journey is one of reconciliation—with his past, his family, and the meaning of immortality.
Maureen Johnson
Maureen is Lazarus's mother, rescued from death by the group's daring intervention. She embodies the themes of family, resilience, and the power of love across time and space. Maureen's presence brings healing, wisdom, and a sense of closure to the story's generational arcs.
Libby Long (Elizabeth Andrew Jackson Libby Long)
Libby is a former male genius, now female through advanced technology. Her journey explores themes of identity, transformation, and the nature of genius. Libby's relationship with the group is both intellectual and emotional, providing new perspectives and challenging assumptions.
Gay Deceiver
Gay is more than a car—she is a character in her own right, with a distinct personality, voice, and sense of humor. As both vehicle and home, she is the group's constant companion, protector, and sometimes confessor. Gay's evolution from machine to "person" mirrors the group's journey from isolation to family.
Dora
Dora is the sentient starship of the Long Family, a counterpart to Gay Deceiver. Her personality is playful, loyal, and sometimes mischievous. Dora's relationship with Gay and the group highlights themes of identity, loyalty, and the blurring of boundaries between human and machine.
Plot Devices
Six-Dimensional Continua and the Number of the Beast
The central plot device is Jacob's invention: a six-dimensional continua device that allows travel not just through time and space, but across alternate universes—each a unique combination of physical laws, histories, and possibilities. The "Number of the Beast"—six to the sixth to the sixth power—represents the staggering infinity of accessible worlds. This device is both a tool for exploration and a source of danger, as it attracts the attention of the "Black Hats" and raises ethical questions about power, responsibility, and the nature of reality. The narrative structure uses jumps between universes to explore themes of identity, choice, and the meaning of home.
Multiperspectival Narrative and Rotating Authority
The story is told through multiple first-person perspectives—Zeb, Deety, Hilda, Jacob—each bringing unique insights, biases, and emotional arcs. This structure allows for deep psychological exploration, the blurring of objective and subjective reality, and the constant negotiation of power and authority. The group's practice of rotating command mirrors the story's themes of equality, partnership, and the rejection of traditional hierarchies.
Fictional Universes as Realities
The continua device allows access not just to alternate histories but to the worlds of fiction—Oz, Wonderland, Barsoom, and more. This device is used to explore the power of imagination, the nature of consciousness, and the idea that all stories are "real" in some sense. The group's encounters with fictional characters and worlds become a meditation on the relationship between author, character, and reader, and the infinite possibilities of existence.
The "Black Hats" and the Ethics of Power
The "Black Hats"—non-human, possibly alien entities—serve as both literal and symbolic antagonists. Their attempts to suppress the continua device force the group to confront questions of power, responsibility, and the ethics of intervention. The threat of the "Black Hats" drives the plot, but the real conflict is internal: how to use power wisely, how to build a just society, and how to balance safety with freedom.
Family, Partnership, and Gender Roles
The story uses the formation of a new family—two couples, later expanded—to explore themes of love, partnership, and the rejection of traditional gender roles. The women insist on equality, challenge male authority, and demand to be heard. The men learn to value partnership over dominance, and the group's unity becomes their greatest strength. The story's emotional arc is as much about building a new kind of family as it is about exploring new worlds.
Metafictional Convention and the Nature of Reality
The story culminates in a grand convention on Tertius, where characters from every universe—real, fictional, and mythic—gather to debate, celebrate, and share stories. This metafictional device allows for a meditation on the nature of reality, the power of imagination, and the infinite possibilities of existence. The boundaries between author, character, and reader blur, and the story ends with an invitation to dream, explore, and create new worlds.
Analysis
The Number of the Beast is both a rollicking adventure and a philosophical meditation on the nature of reality, the ethics of power, and the meaning of family. Heinlein uses the device of the continua craft to explore not just alternate histories but the worlds of fiction, myth, and imagination—suggesting that all stories are "real" in the sense that they shape our consciousness and our choices. The rotating narrative voices and shifting command structure reflect the story's commitment to equality, partnership, and the rejection of traditional hierarchies—especially in gender roles. The women are not just companions but co-creators, leaders, and adventurers, insisting on being heard and valued. The men, in turn, learn to value partnership over dominance, and the group's unity becomes their greatest strength. The story's emotional arc is one of transformation: from isolation to belonging, from fear to hope, from the search for safety to the embrace of infinite possibility. The final convention of all worlds is both a celebration and a challenge: to recognize that reality is what we make of it, that every story matters, and that the adventure never truly ends. In a modern context, the book is a call to embrace diversity, creativity, and the courage to dream—and to do so together, as equals, in a universe of infinite potential.
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