MathFiction: The Dark Side of the Sun (Terry Pratchett)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Dark Side of the Sun (1976)

Terry Pratchett
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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This humorous science fiction novel tells the tale of Dom Salabos, who believes he is destined to become "Chairman of the Board of Widdershins and heir to riches untold", but his allies familiar with p-math (short for probability math) are certain his destiny is to be murdered before getting the chance.

(quoted from The Dark Side of the Sun)

As with the first Theory of Relativity and the Sadhimist One Commandment, so the nine equations of probability math provide an example of a deceptively simple spark initiating a great explosion of social change.

Probability math predicts the future. So says the half-educated man. A thousand years ago he would have mouthed "E equals MC squared" and believed he had encompassed the soaring castle of mathematical imagination...

As Sub-Lunar pointed out in those early years, p-math depended on a certain innate mental agility. Many superb practitioners were also incurably insane, possibly because of that very fact.

Fans of Pratchett's popular Discworld series complain that this early novel is inferior, but as I prefer its emphasis on science and math over fantasy, I actually like it better. (There is no dark side, you know...)

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 Dark Side of the Sun

According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
Pyramids by Terry Pratchett
Annals of Klepsis by R.A. Lafferty
Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Psychohistorical Crisis by Donald Kingsbury
In The Country of the Blind by Michael Flynn
The Chimera Prophesies by Elliott Ostler
The Cyberiad by Stanislaw Lem
Bellwether by Connie Willis

Ratings for The Dark Side of the Sun:

Ratings

Have 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:
2.5/5 (2 votes)

Literary Quality:
3.5/5 (2 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Humorous, Science Fiction,
Motif	Future Prediction through Math,
Topic	Probability/Statistics,
Medium	Novels,

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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)