MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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A Killer Theorem (2007)
Colin Adams
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Mangum, P.I. returns in this mystery in which the unproven Gauss' Last Lemma is wielded as a murder weapon. Apparently, a certain approach to proving it is so enticing that merely showing it to mathematicians results in their eventual death as they forego eating in order to work on it. (This is vaguely reminiscent of Ian Frazier's killion, a number so big that anyone who thinks about it dies, and Monty Python's joke so funny that people die laughing.)

Note that Gauss' Last Lemma is not a real mathematical conjecture, though its similarity to ``Fermat's Last Theorem'' makes it sound vaguely familiar.

Originally published as Mathematical Intelligencer Volume 29, Number 3 / September, 2007, it also appears in the 2009 collection Riot at the Calc Exam.....

More information about this work can be found at another page on this Website.
(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 A Killer Theorem
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Mangum, P.I. by Colin Adams
  2. I Had to Call In a Mathematician by Erik Talvila
  3. Integration Bar by Erik Talvila
  4. The Killion by Ian Frazier
  5. A Proof of God by Colin Adams
  6. Pythagoras's Darkest Hour by Colin Adams
  7. Into Thin Air by Colin Adams
  8. Schaurige Mathematik by Alexander Mehlmann
  9. After Math by Miriam Webster
  10. Mathematically Bent by Colin Adams
Ratings for A Killer Theorem:
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:
4.5/5 (2 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
3.5/5 (2 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreMystery, Humorous,
MotifAcademia, Proving Theorems,
TopicFictional Mathematics,
MediumShort 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)