MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Crime of the Mathematics Professor (1960)
Clarice Lispector
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There is very little mathematical content to this story of a math professor attempting to atone for having abandoned a pet dog. He is described (in the English translation) as having a "cold, mathematical head". He seems to be trying to do some sort of algebraic substitution of a dead dog he has found for the one he left. At first, he wants to bury the dead dog in the exact center of a field, but later decides to simply pick a spot randomly. (The description in each case suggests the link to mathematics is quite intentional.)

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 Crime of the Mathematics Professor
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Fantasia Mathematica : Being a Set of Stories, Together With a Group of Oddments and Diversions, All Drawn from ... by Clifton Fadiman (editor)
  2. Tiger by the Tail by A.G. Nourse
  3. Geometry in the South Pacific by Sylvia Warner
  4. Star, Bright by Mark Clifton
  5. Gomez by Cyril M. Kornbluth
  6. The Genius by Nikolai Georgievich Garin-Mikhailovskii
  7. All on a Golden Afternoon by Robert Bloch
  8. Conjure Wife (Dark Ladies) by Fritz Leiber
  9. Into the Comet by Arthur C. Clarke
  10. The Sinister Researches of C.P. Ransom by Homer C. Nearing Jr.
Ratings for The Crime of the Mathematics Professor:
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:
1.2/5 (5 votes)
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Literary Quality:
3.8/5 (5 votes)
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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)