MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Robot's Math Lessons (2019)
Yoon Ha Lee
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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In this very short story, intentionally incorrect mathematical formulas result in an unusual friendship between a servitor and a human child.

The story was posted as free "flash fiction" on the author's website and was published by Simon and Schuster in 2019 in an anthology of stories that take place in the same universe as Ninefox Gambit.

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 Robot's Math Lessons
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Ninefox Gambit by Yoon Ha Lee
  2. Diaspora by Greg Egan
  3. The Woman Who Shook the World-Tree by Michael Swanwick
  4. The Axiom of Choice by David W. Goldman
  5. Perturbation - For Nature Computes On A Straight Line (In Seven Balancing Acts) by Vijay Fafat
  6. The Discrete Charm of the Turing Machine by Greg Egan
  7. Axiom of Dreams by Arula Ratnakar
  8. 3-adica by Greg Egan
  9. Risqueman by Mike Wood
  10. Altogether Elsewhere, Vast Herds of Reindeer by Ken Liu
Ratings for The Robot's Math Lessons:
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:
GenreScience Fiction,
MotifFemale Mathematicians,
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)