MathFiction: The Tachypomp (Edward Page Mitchell)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Tachypomp (1873)

Edward Page Mitchell
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I can't believe this story is as old as it is! First published in Scribner's Magazine in 1873, it is only dated by its sexism and its contradition of Einstein. In order to win the hand of the beautiful Abscissa Surd, our hero must either invent a perpetual motion machine or figure out how to propel an object to an infinite velocity in a finite time. (These conditions are posed by her father...Abscissa has no say in the matter at all.) He does the latter...sort of.
Reprinted in Fantasia Mathematica.

Contributed by Anonymous

So cheery and uplifting! I first read this story in high school 40 years ago and remembered most details of this charming story! If I won the lottery, I would build a tachypomp!

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Works Similar to The Tachypomp

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

Scandal in the Fourth Dimension by Amelia Reynolds Long (as "A.R. Long")
Topsy-turvy (Sans Dessus Dessous) by Jules Verne
The Heart on the Other Side by George Gamow
Applied Mathematics by Percival Henry Truman
Barr’s Problem by Julian Hawthorne
Professor Morgan's Moon by Stanley Waterloo
The Story of Yung Chang by Ernest Bramah (Ernest Bramah Smith)
The Geometrics of Johnny Day by Nelson Bond
Round the Moon by Jules Verne
The Strange Case of Mr. Jean D. by Joao Filipe Queiro

Ratings for The Tachypomp:

Ratings

Have you seen/read this work of mathematical fiction? Then click here to enter your own votes on its mathematical content and literary quality or send me comments to post on this Webpage.

Mathematical Content:
2.25/5 (4 votes)

Literary Quality:
3.75/5 (4 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Humorous, Science Fiction,
Motif	Romance,
Topic
Medium	Short Stories,

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Where are the new works of mathematical fiction?: As you can see from this chronological listing, this database includes many works of mathematical fiction for each year from 1990 to 2025. Strangely, only two are listed for 2026, so far. Either less mathematical fiction is being published than in previous years or I'm just having more trouble finding it. If you know of any works of fiction that should be added to this list, especially recently published ones, please let me know. (Keep in mind that I do not include self-published works or children's fiction that just covers elementary mathematical concepts.) Thanks!

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)