MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Let's Play With Numbers [Suuji de Asobo] (2018)
Murako Kinuta
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Contributed by Chu-Wee Lim

The story follows Tateki Yokobe, a freshman in the math department of Yoshida University. Though formerly a top student, Yokobe quickly realises his eidetic memory is of no use in understanding highly abstract mathematical concepts. With the help of his friends though, he may well have a chance of surviving the course.

College-level mathematics is featured prominently in the manga series, including concepts in analysis, algebra and topology. For example, during the first lecture, our protagonist is utterly lost when he sees the definition of real numbers using Dedekind cuts for the first time.

Five volumes have been published so far (as of 2/2021) but no English translation has yet appeared. A free sample (in Japanese) is available here.

(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 Let's Play With Numbers [Suuji de Asobo]
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Math Girls by Hiroshi Yuki
  2. The Manga Guide to Calculus by Hiroyuki Kojima
  3. Golden Math [Suugaku Golden] by Kuramaru Tatsuhiko
  4. Proof Geometric Construction Can Solve All Love Affairs by Takahashi Manbou (lyricist) / Ane Manbou (illustrator)
  5. A Certain Ambiguity: A Mathematical Novel by Gaurav Suri / Hartosh Singh Bal
  6. Prime Suspects: The Anatomy of Integers and Permutations by Andrew Granville / Jennifer Granville / Robert J. Lewis (Illustrator)
  7. Ultima lezione a Gottinga [Last lecture at Göttingen] by Davide Osenda
  8. The Manga Guide to Regression Analysis by Shin Takahashi / Iroha Inoue
  9. The Manga Guide to Linear Algebra by Shin Takahashi / Iroha Inoue
  10. Who Killed Professor X? by Thodoris Andriopoulos / Thanasis Gkiokas
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Categories:
GenreDidactic,
MotifAcademia, Math Education,
TopicAnalysis/Calculus/Differential, Real Mathematics,
MediumGraphic Novel/Comic Book/Manga,

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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)