MathFiction: Time, Like an Ever Rolling Stream (Judith Moffett)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Time, Like an Ever Rolling Stream (1992)

Judith Moffett
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The aliens have come to save us from ourselves (which they do by passing environmental laws and sterilizing all humans to prevent overpopulation). One of the aliens, as a pet project, recruits eight young math prodigies to locate the time when culture and nature were in "balance". One of these young mathematicians goes farther and discovers a formula which could theoretically predict which land is "holy".

The story is presented in an unusual format, as if it were a fact based novel written by the one female math prodigy on the team along with comments about the novel from another. In addition to some vague discussion of the equations and a paragraph on how as a little girl she loved numbers, we learn a lot about a loving old couple who knew how to live in harmony with the land and the discomforts of puberty.

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 Time, Like an Ever Rolling Stream

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

Ratner's Star by Don DeLillo
After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress
Global Dawn by Deborah Gelbard
Star, Bright by Mark Clifton
Dear Abbey by Terry Bisson
Misfit by Robert A. Heinlein
End of Days by Eric Walters
The Ganymede Club by Charles Sheffield
I Sin Every Number by Jason Earls
Contact by Carl Sagan

Ratings for Time, Like an Ever Rolling Stream:

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:
3.5/5 (2 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Science Fiction,
Motif	Prodigies, Aliens, Religion,
Topic
Medium	Novels,

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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)