World as Myth
Encyclopedia
The idea of World as Myth was created by science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein
in his book The Number of the Beast
. According to this idea, myths and fictional worlds exist as an almost infinite number of universes which are parallel
to our own. In this multiverse, Heinlein's Future History
timeline is merely a few of the vast number of constituent universes that comprise the World as Myth. In The Number of the Beast, our characters travelled to multiple fictional universes, including several of Heinlein's own. Others included E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman series, Frank L. Baum's Oz books, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
Robert A. Heinlein
Robert Anson Heinlein was an American science fiction writer. Often called the "dean of science fiction writers", he was one of the most influential and controversial authors of the genre. He set a standard for science and engineering plausibility and helped to raise the genre's standards of...
in his book The Number of the Beast
The Number of the Beast (novel)
The Number of the Beast is a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein published in 1980. The first edition featured a cover and interior illustrations by Richard M. Powers...
. According to this idea, myths and fictional worlds exist as an almost infinite number of universes which are parallel
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
to our own. In this multiverse, Heinlein's Future History
Future History
The Future History, by Robert A. Heinlein, describes a projected future of the human race from the middle of the 20th century through the early 23rd century. The term Future History was coined by John W. Campbell, Jr. in the February 1941 issue of Astounding Science Fiction...
timeline is merely a few of the vast number of constituent universes that comprise the World as Myth. In The Number of the Beast, our characters travelled to multiple fictional universes, including several of Heinlein's own. Others included E.E. Doc Smith's Lensman series, Frank L. Baum's Oz books, and Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
See also
- Fictional universeFictional universeA fictional universe is a self-consistent fictional setting with elements that differ from the real world. It may also be called an imagined, constructed or fictional realm ....
- Parallel universe (fiction)Parallel universe (fiction)A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
- Robert A. Heinlein bibliographyRobert A. Heinlein bibliographyThe science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein was productive during a writing career that spanned the last 49 years of his life; the Robert A. Heinlein bibliography includes 32 novels, 59 short stories and 16 collections published during his life. Four films, two TV series, several episodes of a...
- Simulated realitySimulated realitySimulated reality is the proposition that reality could be simulated—perhaps by computer simulation—to a degree indistinguishable from "true" reality. It could contain conscious minds which may or may not be fully aware that they are living inside a simulation....