MathFiction: El matemático del Rey (Juan Carlos Arce)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

...
El matemático del Rey (2002)

Juan Carlos Arce
...

Contributed by Octavio Agustin

It is a novel about a period in the lives of Juan Lezuza and his friend Luis Obelar during the first years of the rule of Phillip IV of Spain. Juan Lezuza is appointed teacher of the King, but it is indicted of heresy for his authorship of a book explaining the mathematical foundations of the heliocentric theory.

The story is very similar to the Galileo affair, but I think it is nicely written and also exposes the political manipulation of (scientific) truth. Lezuza's wife, Inesa, is also an interesting character that invites to some reflection.

Only available in Spanish, so far as I know. Published by Editorial Planeta in 2002.

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 El matemático del Rey

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

Kepler: A Novel by John Banville
Galileo by Bertolt Brecht
The Music of the Spheres by Elizabeth Redfern
One, True Platonic Heaven: A Scientific Fiction of the Limits of Knowledge by John L. Casti
The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
Lord Byron's Novel: The Evening Land by John Crowley
The Three Body Problem by Catherine Shaw
Shooting the Sun by Max Byrd
Life in a Mirror by Daniel Ryan
Beyond the Limit: The Dream of Sofya Kovalevskaya by Joan Spicci

Ratings for El matemático del Rey:

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.
(unrated) PLEASE HELP US OUT BY ENTERING YOUR OWN RATINGS FOR THIS WORK.

Categories:

Genre	Historical Fiction,
Motif
Topic	Mathematical Physics,
Medium	Novels,

Home All New Browse Search About

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)