MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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The Devouring Tide (1944)
John Russell Fearn (under the pseudonym Polton Cross)
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Contributed by Vijay Fafat

Another horridly written story by JRF, this time about an all-consuming, universe-destroying frontier of “non-spacetime” dubbed “Black Infinity”, a shock wave from the original big bang which is now catching up with the matter-universe. JRF has his genius of a protagonist postulate that our universe was a result of a pure thought process acting on absolute nothingness. To escape Black Infinity, far flung alien civilizations are attacking Earth as a temporary foot-hold (we're getting visitors from as far away as the other end of the universe….). The genius builds “mathematical weapons” (“The basic energy quanta of those ships is rendered void because the mathematical postulations making them up are being cancelled out. My weapons are based on the probability waves of the electron, incorporating nine dimensions (!)”) to stop the aliens and also erects “mathematical barriers” (“they're not dealing with material things but transfigurations”) to slow them down. In the end, he uses his mathematical energies to focus intense thoughts on Black Infinity and spawns a new universe.

The story features slower-than-light signals outracing FTL communication and a planet “infinitely closer to earth” than another body….all in all, a nice concept which would have been wonderful in the hands of Asimov or Baxter but completely trashed by JRF

Published in the Summer 1944 issue of Thrilling Wonder Stories.

Available Free Online at MathFiction.net: "The Devouring Tide" is available as a PDF from Vijay Fafat and Prof. Mythili Vutukuru's MathFiction.net 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 The Devouring Tide
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Mathematica by John Russell Fearn
  2. The Ultimate Analysis by John Russell Fearn
  3. Mathematica Plus by John Russell Fearn
  4. The Second Moon by Russell R. Winterbotham
  5. The Gostak and the Doshes by Miles J. Breuer (M.D.)
  6. Old Faithful by Raymond Z. Gallun
  7. The Mathematical Kid by Ross Rocklynne
  8. The Living Equation by Nathan Schachner
  9. Plane People by Wallace West
  10. N Day by Philip Latham
Ratings for The Devouring Tide:
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:
1/5 (1 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
1/5 (1 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreScience Fiction,
MotifAliens, War,
TopicMathematical Physics,
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)