haven't read the trilogy for a long time but I don't think that 5 or 23 is used as the devil's number. I believe he's playng with the Discordian rule that anything can be shown to have some relation to the number 5 (or 23) if you work hard enough. Frinstance "Azizi" has 5 letters: 2 consonants & 3 vowels.

It's a good book.

clint