MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

Home All New Browse Search About

...
The Indefatigable Frog (1953)
Philip K. Dick
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
...

A parody of science utilizing the old "Zeno's Paradox". Originally appeared in Fantastic Story Magazine (July 1953) and republished recently in The Ascent of Wonder.

Contributed by Hauke Reddmann

A funny story where annoyingly physics gets in the way of Gedankenexperiments. Two professors clash about whether Zenos paradox is for real: Can a frog which makes jumps of 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8... really reach 2? Math says yes, but they agree to solve it experimentally. One prof maliciously puts the other in the companionsship of the frog. Now *he* must run too from the doomsday device which also halves his size which each step. It ends obviously - as soon as he is smaller than atoms, he passes easily through the backdoor of the contraption, and out of the shrinking field, where he regrows. The most funny thing is the end: The prof is not angry about the other playing such a prank on him, but about Nature which ruined the experimental setup with her dreckeffekts.

More information about this work can be found at ebbs.english.vt.edu.
(Note: This is just one work of mathematical fiction from the list. To see the entire list or to see more works of mathematical fiction, return to the Homepage.)

Works Similar to The Indefatigable Frog
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. The Men who Murdered Mohammed by Alfred Bester
  2. The Unwilling Professor by Arthur Porges
  3. And He Built a Crooked House by Robert A. Heinlein
  4. No-Sided Professor by Martin Gardner
  5. Narrow Valley by R.A. Lafferty
  6. Getaway from Getawehi by Colin Kapp
  7. Quanto scommettiamo ("How much do you want to bet?") by Italo Calvino
  8. Ms Fnd in a Lbry by Hal Draper
  9. The Mathenauts by Norman Kagan
  10. The Push of a Finger by Alfred Bester
Ratings for The Indefatigable Frog:
RatingsHave 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:
3/5 (3 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
4/5 (3 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreHumorous, Science Fiction,
Motif
Topic
MediumShort Stories,

Home All New Browse Search About

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)