MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Distances (2008)
Vandana Singh
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Note: This work of mathematical fiction is recommended by Alex for hardcore fans of science fiction.

Most members of Anasunya's species have "a gift". Since she has a gift of mathematics, she leaves her aquatic home and begins working at the Temple of Mathematical Arts. She has a gift that allows her to intuitively understand, almost to live in equations and is asked by another alien species to study equations describing an intricate higher dimensional geometric object that is beyond their understanding. As she studies it, she comes to think that the embedded, self-intersecting, 4-dimensional sub-manifold may not be merely interesting and beautiful in an abstract sense, but may have tremendous significance in the real world as well.

This is a beautifully written bit of mathematical fiction by an author who apparently knows mathematics pretty well. Highly recommended for fans of "hard" science fiction.

More information about this work can be found at www.amazon.com.
(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 Distances
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. The Clockwork Rocket [Orthogonal Book One] by Greg Egan
  2. Diaspora by Greg Egan
  3. Ratner's Star by Don DeLillo
  4. Ambiguity Machines: An Examination by Vandana Singh
  5. Luminous by Greg Egan
  6. Eifelheim by Michael Flynn
  7. Exordia by Seth Dickson
  8. The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky
  9. Incandescence by Greg Egan
  10. Factoring Humanity by Robert J. Sawyer
Ratings for Distances:
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:
5/5 (1 votes)
.
Literary Quality:
4/5 (1 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreScience Fiction,
MotifAliens, Higher/Lower Dimensions, Female Mathematicians, Math as Beautiful/Exciting/Useful, Religion,
TopicGeometry/Topology/Trigonometry, Mathematical Physics,
MediumNovels,

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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)