MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Astor Place Barber (2023)
Audrey Nasar
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Contributed by Allan Goldberg

A short piece that employs a humorous McGuffin to introduce the Barber's Paradox.

Both frequent site contributor Dr. Allan Goldberg and the Journal of Humanistic Mathematics think this is an example of "mathematical fiction", and so I will include an entry for it here in my database (even if I'm not sure I consider it to be one).

Citation: Audrey Nasar, "Astor Place Barber," Journal of Humanistic Mathematics, Volume 13 Issue 1 (January 2023), pages 316-317

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 Astor Place Barber
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Do Androids Dream of Symmetric Sheaves?: And Other Mathematically Bent Stories by Colin Adams
  2. Integration Bar by Erik Talvila
  3. The Rubbish Researchers Puzzle by Michael W. Lucht
  4. Actuarial / The Paradox Paradox by Buzz Mauro
  5. Private i by S. R. Algernon
  6. Mathematics Disputes with Death, and the Devil Intervenes by Thomas Reed Willemain
  7. Folk Music Festivals and Mathematics Conferences by Erik Talvila
  8. Multi-Colored Dome by Martin Gardner
  9. Freemium by Louis Evans
  10. A House for Living by Nicolette Polek
Ratings for Astor Place Barber:
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Categories:
GenreHumorous,
Motif
TopicLogic/Set Theory,
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)