The Door into Summer

Robert A. Heinlein

1957

Dan Davis is an inventor. Taking the opportunity of a hitch in the military he learned as much as he could about mechanics and electronics and how the two could be linked. Once out on the streets he sees an opening in the market for truly labour saving devices. Ones that could be shown how to do a job and left to repeat it ad infinitum. Along with his buddy from the army, Miles Gentry, he set up a small company to manufacture and sell his invention. Thus was Hired Girl Inc. born! Dan's quite happy with just Pete his rag eared cat for company but the company soon needs a secretary to answer all the queries it's generating. When the very well qualified Belle Darkin applies, neither Dan or his partner hesitate and when her interest is transferred to Dan himself, she is not so difficult to look at that he found taking her round with him more of a pleasure than a chore. The couple were soon engaged along with a substantial block of shares being exchanged as an engagement present.

But not all is well! Pete the cat fully reciprocates Belle's loathing of him and Mike's stepdaughter Ricky is put off by her too!

Will Dan's married life be happy? Will it be long?

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This is a Gollancz Classic Science Fiction edition

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