MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Unwilling Professor (1954)
Arthur Porges
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Two college students who are failing their math class kidnap an alien they encounter and force it to do homework for everyone in their fraternity.

There are some cute mathematical passages. For example, here is an explanation of how badly the students were doing:

(quoted from The Unwilling Professor)

Ira's math instructor had informed him, with a kind of loathing respect, that his only salvation lay in recommencing the study of arithmetic -- taking five or ten years in the process -- and then retiring to a cave for perhaps another fifteen in the vain hope of digesting, through meditation and prayer, the multiplication table. After that, Irv might be ready for elementary algebra, but not, the professor hoped to a merciful God, in this unfortunate institution of higher learning.

And, when the alien sees the students' error-filled homework answers, he says:

(quoted from The Unwilling Professor)

Ah, I observe that you chaps are beginning the study of elementary mathematics. The limits are wrong on this integration: they should go from pi-over-two to pi-over-three first instead of to zero. There's a discontinuity at pi-over-three, and your result, that the center of gravity of this six-inch cube is nine feet to the right, looks somewhat implausible.

(Of course, the students don't know what a discontinuity is. But, fear not, the alien explains it.)

There are many things here that are hard to believe, not only that the alien looks exactly like a rabbit and speaks perfect British English (learned from the BBC), but that the professors accept the sudden increase in the the frat brothers' math homework grades instead of recognizing that they are somehow cheating. However, if you can suspend disbelief, it is a cute and humorous tale with a nicely twisted ending.

Originally published in Dynamic Science Fiction January 1954.

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 The Unwilling Professor
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. By a Fluke by Arthur Porges
  2. Pop Quiz by Alex Kasman
  3. The Men who Murdered Mohammed by Alfred Bester
  4. The Indefatigable Frog by Philip K. Dick
  5. Getaway from Getawehi by Colin Kapp
  6. The Mathematicians by Arthur Feldman
  7. Quanto scommettiamo ("How much do you want to bet?") by Italo Calvino
  8. Monster by Alex Kasman
  9. Unreasonable Effectiveness by Alex Kasman
  10. Ms Fnd in a Lbry by Hal Draper
Ratings for The Unwilling Professor:
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 (1 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
4/5 (1 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreHumorous, Science Fiction,
MotifAliens, Math Education,
TopicAnalysis/Calculus/Differential,
MediumShort 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)