MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Mersenne's Mistake (2008)
Jason Earls
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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This is a nice piece of mathematical fiction in which the mathematician/monk Marin Mersenne encounters a demon with amazing mathematical skills. Like the other stories by Earls, this seems to be designed to showcase the interesting numbers which he has found using computer algebra tools.

More information about this work can be found at www.bewilderingstories.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 Mersenne's Mistake
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. The Devil and Simon Flagg by Arthur Porges
  2. The Square Root of Pythagoras by Paul Di Filippo / Rudy Rucker
  3. Passing Through by Robert Weinberg
  4. They'll Say It Was the Communists by Sarah Lazarz
  5. Through the Gates of the Silver Key by H.P. Lovecraft / E. Hoffmann Price
  6. The Dreams in the Witch-House by H.P. Lovecraft
  7. The Call of Cthulhu by H.P. Lovecraft
  8. Yesternight by Cat Winters
  9. Vampire World (Trilogy) by Brian Lumley
  10. Arcadia by Iain Pears
Ratings for Mersenne's Mistake:
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Categories:
GenreHistorical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror,
MotifReal Mathematicians, Religion,
TopicAlgebra/Arithmetic/Number 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)