MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Dear Abbey (2003)
Terry Bisson
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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This novel, which has not received many good reviews and appears only to have been published in Britain, involves a math professor who is a terrorist for environmentalist causes. (That the author chose to make him a mathematician could be due to Ted Kaczynski, unfortunately a stereotypical mathematician to many authors). He intends to enact a plan code-named ``Dear Abbey'' (inspired by The Monkey Wrench Gang), but does not have the necessary mathematics. Consequently, he travels to the distant future to find it and along the way has some warm, fuzzy experiences that change his mind.

More information about this work can be found at www.amazon.co.uk.
(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 Dear Abbey
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Stamping Butterflies by Jon Courtenay Grimwood
  2. Time, Like an Ever Rolling Stream by Judith Moffett
  3. Ghost Dancer [a.k.a. Dance of Death] by John Case
  4. A Person of Interest by Susan Choi
  5. Twisted Seduction by Dominique Adams (writer and director)
  6. Numbers Don't Lie by Terry Bisson
  7. Doctor Who: The Algebra of Ice by Lloyd Rose (pseudonym of Sarah Tonyn)
  8. Light by M. John Harrison
  9. Spherical Harmonic by Catherine Asaro
  10. The Algebraist by Iain M. Banks
Ratings for Dear Abbey:
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:
2/5 (1 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
1/5 (1 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreScience Fiction,
MotifEvil mathematicians, Time Travel,
Topic
MediumNovels,

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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)