MathFiction: Sidewise in Time (Murray Leinster)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Sidewise in Time (1934)

Murray Leinster
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Contributed by William E. Emba.

"The protagonist is a frustrated mathematician, whose genius (which Leinster makes some attempt to convey) is not recognized by his teachers and peers. So when reality goes blooey, and the mathematician is the only person to realize what is going on, he leaps at the opportunity to become a somebody in an alternative reality. At one point, when questioned why he is such a megalomaniac, he says rather matter of factly that it beats being a Jerkwater U math professor."

Contributed by Robert W. Franson

This classic story first appeared in Astounding, June 1934.

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 Sidewise in Time

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

The Fifth-Dimension Catapult by Murray Leinster
The Fourth-Dimensional Demonstrator by Murray Leinster
The Ethical Equations by Murray Leinster
Mimsy Were the Borogoves by Lewis Padgett (aka Henry Kuttner and Catherine L. Moore)
Through the Black Board by Joel Rogers
The Professor's Experiments - The Dimension of Time by Paul Bold
What Dead Men Tell by Theodore Sturgeon
The Lost Comet by Ronald Sherin
Inflexible Logic by Russell Maloney
The Mobius Trail by George Smith

Ratings for Sidewise in Time:

Ratings

Have 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:
2.5/5 (2 votes)

Literary Quality:
2.5/5 (2 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Science Fiction,
Motif	Genius, Math Education,
Topic
Medium	Short 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)