MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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What the Revolution Requires (2020)
Timons Esaias
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A minimalist short story in which an author seeks to write a ground breaking work of mathematical fiction:

(quoted from What the Revolution Requires)

Raymond had several plotlines laid out, all their steps organized and ready. He intended to expose his protagonist to the irrational, and even the heavily imaginary.

Allan Goldberg brought it to my attention when this story appeared in the January 2020 issue of the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics.

More information about this work can be found at scholarship.claremont.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 What the Revolution Requires
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Stranger than Fiction by Marc Forster (Director) / Zach Helm (Screenplay)
  2. The Geometry of Narrative by Hilbert Schenck
  3. Arcadia by Iain Pears
  4. A House for Living by Nicolette Polek
  5. Folk Music Festivals and Mathematics Conferences by Erik Talvila
  6. The First Task of My Internship by Ziyin Xiong
  7. I Had to Call In a Mathematician by Erik Talvila
  8. A Good Problem to Have by B.J. Novak
  9. The Argentine Ant by T.C. Boyle
  10. The Rubbish Researchers Puzzle by Michael W. Lucht
Ratings for What the Revolution Requires:
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:
1/5 (1 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
3/5 (1 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreHumorous,
Motif
Topic
MediumShort Stories, Available Free Online,

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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)