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.

THE PARALLEL BOOKS OF ROBERT A. HEINLEIN'S PARALLEL UNIVERSES

Most fans of Heinlein know of The Number of the Beast and that it deals with parallel universes. What most do not realize is that The Number of the Beast was only one of two books he wrote about these parallel universes, although it was the only one published. No one is exactly sure why the other text never got published, although there have been many theories. ​

A recent examination of the fragments of this parallel text that survived (along with Heinlein’s handwritten notes) made it clear that the fragments, if put together properly, constituted the complete unpublished book. It has taken us about three years to put these pieces together and deal with certain other issues, but we can finally announce that Robert A. Heinlein’s The Pursuit of the Pankera will be published on March 24, 2020.

​We have been very fortunate that the complete manuscript was discovered and that the new book is entirely Heinlein. No additional author was asked to provide “fillers.” The book did go through a rigorous editing process, as would any new title being published, but other than that, it is as Heinlein left it.

​Students of science fiction and keen fans of Heinlein have known about the unpublished text, often referring to it as the “alternate” text to The Number of the Beast. This has led to speculation that the new book is simply a variant of the published book. In fact, it is a totally different book.

​The two books do share a common beginning (approximately one-third of the book), but then diverge completely. We have created a side-by-side comparison of the books showing the divergence. The point of divergence is clearly marked, and you can judge for yourself how similar or different the two parallel texts are.

​You may compare the two texts in a side by side comparison of the two chapters by CLICKING HERE (the comparison is in a PDF document and may require you to download it). [ http://www.arcmanor.com/as/Pankera-Comparison.pdf ]