MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Holmes-Ginsbook Device (1969)
Isaac Asimov
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Contributed by "William E. Emba"

A scientist recounts how, stung by his former professor hogging all the credit for figuring out a way to safely light cigarettes and girlwatch at the same time, he and a collaborator (using geometry and topology) beat him in the race to read and girlwatch at the same time.

(For those not in the know, it is a parody of James Watson THE DOUBLE HELIX.)

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 Holmes-Ginsbook Device
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. The Accidental Time Machine by Joe Haldeman
  2. The Mathenauts by Norman Kagan
  3. Dimensional Analysis and Mr Fortescue by Eric St. Clair
  4. Narrow Valley by R.A. Lafferty
  5. The Heart on the Other Side by George Gamow
  6. Getaway from Getawehi by Colin Kapp
  7. Post-Bombum [aka Post-Boomboom] by Alberto Vanasco
  8. The Tale of the Big Computer (aka The End of Man?) by Hannes Alfven (writing as Olof Johannesson)
  9. The Pacifist by Arthur C. Clarke
  10. The Four-Color Problem by Barrington J. Bayley
Ratings for The Holmes-Ginsbook Device:
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, Science Fiction,
Motif
TopicGeometry/Topology/Trigonometry,
MediumShort Stories,

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Exciting News: The 1,600th entry was recently added to this database of mathematical fiction! Also, for those of you interested in non-fictional math books let me (shamelessly) plug the recent release of the second edition of my soliton theory textbook.

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)