Contributed by
Dr. Allan Goldberg
I own many of the titles found on your web site, and find the commentary there enlightening and enjoyable.
I am not a mathematician, but have a strong interest in many mathematical subjects. Please forgive my lack of mathematical sophistication.
I just finished ["Murder on the Einstein Express and Other Stories"] and have the following comments:
In my opinion, the reason the editors of the series didn't adequately proof it for syntax is that they didn't understand it.
The first story, Normed Trek, becomes clear once you consider it's relation to a Fourier series, the clunker term involving ln x, and the incompatibility of transcendental and non-transcendental functions. The mathematical equivalent of a "quest" for love is a cute touch.
The second story, the Cantor Trilogy, provides a nice twist ending presumably having a "traditional" mathematician using the liar's paradox to foil computer infallibility
The third story, In Search of Future Time, is a convoluted attempt to explain dreams in the context of the ever evolving computer-brain interface.
The fourth story, Murder on the Einstein Express, is a mixed bag of SOMETIMES well written informal vignettes expounding on counterintuitive or controversial aspects of mathematics and physics. The plagiarism section made no sense until I consulted the author's the Science Behind the Fiction section. The tie in with Borges is a nice touch.
All in all, this short anthology is of diverting interest and if properly proofed and edited, could have been much clearer and entertaining.
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