# J. T. Maston — Topsy-Turvy character guide > J. T. Maston in Topsy-Turvy by Jules Verne. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Maston, Maston, Mrs. J. T. Maston **First appearance:** 0000-in-which-the-north-polar-practical-association-rushes-a-document-across-two-worlds ## Who they are A one-armed mathematician whose flair for spectacular calculations drives the Gun Club's wildest schemes, and whose single arithmetic slip can tilt the whole planet. ## Relationships ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _friendship_ Maston is Barbicane's most loyal and enthusiastic ally, sharing a deep bond over their ambitious scientific and engineering projects. ### [Capt. Nicholl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/capt_nicholl) _rivalry_ Nicholl and Maston are constant antagonists, trading barbs and opposing each other's views on the project's feasibility. ### [Alcide Pierdeux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/alcide_pierdeux) _friendship_ Pierdeux and Maston share a mutual respect and intellectual camaraderie, often discussing mathematical and scientific problems. ### [John Prestice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/john_prestice) _professional_ Maston and Prestice work together as part of the Baltimore Gun Club's inner circle, collaborating on project planning. ### [Sultan Bali](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/sultan_bali) _professional_ Maston interacts with Sultan Bali as a technical envoy, conveying the Gun Club's plans and requirements. ### [Eric Baldenak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/eric_baldenak) _professional_ Baldenak and Maston exchange technical information and coordinate their respective engineering duties. ### [Dean Toodrink](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/dean_toodrink) _friendship_ Toodrink and Maston are friendly colleagues, often joking and sharing a drink after work. ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _friendship_ Maston is Barbicane's most loyal and enthusiastic ally, sharing a deep bond over their ambitious scientific and engineering projects. ### [President Barbicane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/president_barbicane) _friendship_ Maston is Barbicane's most loyal and enthusiastic ally, sharing a deep bond over their ambitious scientific and engineering projects. ### [John Prestice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/john_prestice) _professional_ Maston and Prestice work together as part of the Baltimore Gun Club's inner circle, collaborating on project planning. ### [Eric Baldenak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/eric_baldenak) _professional_ Baldenak and Maston exchange technical information and coordinate their respective engineering duties. ### [Alcide Pierdeux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/alcide_pierdeux) _friendship_ Pierdeux and Maston share a mutual respect and intellectual camaraderie, often discussing mathematical and scientific problems. ## In the story ### [In Which the Arctic Regions Are Sold at Auction to the Highest Bidder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-the-arctic-regions-are-sold-at-auction-to-the-highest-bidder) Observes the auction intently, exchanging nods with Mrs. Scorbitt, visibly anxious during the bidding. ### [In Which Old Acquaintances Appear to Our New Readers, and in Which a Wonderful Man Is Described](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-old-acquaintances-appear-to-our-new-readers-and-in-which-a-wonderful-man-is-described) Reintroduced as the temporary Secretary of the Gun Club, a brilliant calculator who stayed behind during the moon voyage due to war injuries. He is the object of Mrs. Scorbitt's affection and a key figure in the N.P.P.A. ### [In Which the Possibility That Coal Mines Surround the North Pole Is Considered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-the-possibility-that-coal-mines-surround-the-north-pole-is-considered) Appears in caricatures alongside Barbicane, annoyed by the ridicule, with Mrs. Scorbitt sharing his indignation. ### [In Which a Telephone Communication Between Mrs. Scorbitt and J. T. Maston Is Interrupted](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-a-telephone-communication-between-mrs-scorbitt-and-j-t-maston-is-interrupted) Deeply engaged in mathematical calculations for the North Pole project; lives alone at Ballistic Cottage; interrupted by a telephone call from Mrs. Scorbitt and thrown to the floor by a lightning strike via the telephone wire. ### [In Which President Barbicane Says No More Than Suits His Purpose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-president-barbicane-says-no-more-than-suits-his-purpose) Credited by Barbicane as the brilliant calculator behind the plan to move the North Pole; acknowledged with cheers from the audience, deeply moving Mrs. Scorbitt. ### [Yes, Just Like Jupiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/yes-just-like-jupiter) Has become completely absorbed in the calculations for changing the Earth's axis, studying the subject exhaustively. ### [In Which Appears the French Gentleman to Whom We Referred at the Beginning of This Truthful Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-appears-the-french-gentleman-to-whom-we-referred-at-the-beginning-of-this-truthful-story) Noted as a skilled calculator and co-conspirator in the secret project, though he does not appear directly in the chapter. ### [In Which a Little Uneasiness Begins to Show Itself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-a-little-uneasiness-begins-to-show-itself) Refuses to disclose Barbicane's location or his own calculations to the Committee of Inquiry; later has his home raided by police. ### [What Was Found in the Notebook of J. T. Maston and What It No Longer Contained](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/what-was-found-in-the-notebook-of-j-t-maston-and-what-it-no-longer-contained) His notebook is seized and analyzed; he is imprisoned in Baltimore City Prison and refuses to reveal the location 'x'. ### [In Which J. T. Maston Heroically Continues to Be Silent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-j-t-maston-heroically-continues-to-be-silent) Imprisoned and heroically silent, he refuses to betray Barbicane and Nicholl's location despite daily pressure from the Inquiry Committee. ### [At the Close of Which J. T. Maston Utters an Epigram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/at-the-close-of-which-j-t-maston-utters-an-epigram) Imprisoned and interrogated for the last time; he refuses to reveal the secret location, utters an epigram about arithmetic, and remains defiant despite threats of hanging. ### [Very Short, but in Which "X" Takes a Geographical Value](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/very-short-but-in-which-x-takes-a-geographical-value) His secret is revealed by the telegram, potentially saving him from hanging but risking disappointment. ### [Which Contains a Few Interesting Details for the Inhabitants of the Earthly Sphere](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/which-contains-a-few-interesting-details-for-the-inhabitants-of-the-earthly-sphere) Reacts to the news of the cable from Zanzibar, declaring that there is no time to stop the operation. ### [In Which a Crowd of Dissatisfied People Break Into the Cell of J. T. Maston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-a-crowd-of-dissatisfied-people-break-into-the-cell-of-j-t-maston) Target of a lynch mob; escapes his cell with Mrs. Scorbitt's help. ### [What Had Been Done at Kilimanjaro During Eight Month of This Memorable Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/what-had-been-done-at-kilimanjaro-during-eight-month-of-this-memorable-year) Absent from the scene; his calculations are the basis of the project, but he is imprisoned and hidden away, unaware of the impending flaw. ### [In Which J. T. Maston Regrets That the Crowd Did Not Lynch Him When He Was in Prison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-j-t-maston-regrets-that-the-crowd-did-not-lynch-him-when-he-was-in-prison) Regrets not being lynched; suffers public mockery and is inconsolable after the operation's failure. ### [In Which This Story, as Truthful as It Is Improbable, Is Finished](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/in-which-this-story-as-truthful-as-it-is-improbable-is-finished) Discovers his fatal error of three zeros, is crushed by disgrace, and ultimately marries Mrs. Scorbitt on the condition he never calculates again. ### [Very Short, Since Enough Has Been Said to Make the World’s Population Feel Perfectly Sure Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/chapters/very-short-since-enough-has-been-said-to-make-the-world-s-population-feel-perfectly-sure-again) Mentioned as not figuring out any further calculations. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters/j_t_maston - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/topsy_turvy_se/characters