MathFiction: The Future Engine (Byron Tetrick)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Future Engine (1995)

Byron Tetrick
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Contributed by William E. Emba

Charles Babbage's son calls on Sherlock Holmes to investigate the theft of the Analytic Engine from its warehouse. The son gives a description of its importance to mathematical calculations. But it's his mention of the role of the binomial theorem in its working that arouses Holmes's interest.

Published in Mike Resnick and M H Greenberg (eds) SHERLOCK HOLMES IN ORBIT.

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 Future Engine

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

Moriarty by Modem by Jack Nimersheim
The Adventure of the Russian Grave by William Barton / Michael Capobianco
Professor and Colonel by Ruth Berman
A Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions by Kim Stanley Robinson
A Calendar of Chaos by G. David Nordley
Conned Again, Watson! Cautionary Tales of Logic, Math and Probability by Colin Bruce
The Ultimate Crime by Isaac Asimov
The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or the Segregation of the Queen by Laurie R. King
Oracle by Greg Egan
The Square Root of Pythagoras by Paul Di Filippo / Rudy Rucker

Ratings for The Future Engine:

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:
3/5 (1 votes)

Literary Quality:
3/5 (1 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Historical Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction,
Motif	Sherlock Holmes,
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)