MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories (2009)
Colin Adams
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Note: This work of mathematical fiction is recommended by Alex for young adults and math majors, math grad students (and maybe even math professors).

Finally, a collection of hilarious mathematical stories by Colin Adams! Most of these stories were previously published in his Mathematically Bent column in the Mathematical Intelligencer. Only one is new, but I'm very pleased to see that this book is available because Colin Adams is the funniest mathematician I know ... or at least he would be if I knew him.

I am not listing each of these stories separately on the website. In part, this is because some of them really do not quite qualify as ``fiction'' as I've narrowly defined that term for these purposes. Many of them, instead, are really just drawn out mathematical jokes. But, even those are worth reading. With his ``bent'' look at the subject we study and the academic environment in which we work, Adams' writings are sure to simultaneously entertain and inform readers from any background with even a passing interest in mathematics.

The contents of the volume are as follows:

Contributed by John C. Konrath

Hilarious.

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 Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Mathematically Bent by Colin Adams
  2. Do Androids Dream of Symmetric Sheaves?: And Other Mathematically Bent Stories by Colin Adams
  3. Intoxicating Heights (Höhenrausch. Die Mathematik des XX. Jahrhunderts in zwanzig Gehirnen) by Dietmar Dath
  4. Reality Conditions: short mathematical fiction by Alex Kasman
  5. Fantasia Mathematica : Being a Set of Stories, Together With a Group of Oddments and Diversions, All Drawn from ... by Clifton Fadiman (editor)
  6. The Mathematical Magpie: Being more stories, mainly transcendental, plus subjects of essays, rhymes, music, anecdotes, ... by Clifton Fadiman (editor)
  7. Mathenauts: Tales of Mathematical Wonder by Rudy Rucker (editor)
  8. Imaginary Numbers : An Anthology of Marvelous Mathematical Stories, Diversions, Poems, and Musings by William Frucht (editor)
  9. On Another Plane by Colin Adams
  10. L.A. Math: Romance, Crime and Mathematics in the City of Angels by James D. Stein
Ratings for Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories:
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:
4/5 (2 votes)
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Literary Quality:
4.5/5 (2 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreHumorous, Didactic,
MotifAcademia, Proving Theorems, Math Education,
Topic
MediumCollection,

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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)