MathFiction: Fractal Mode (Piers Anthony)

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Fractal Mode (1992)

Piers Anthony
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Here, Anthony's usual blend of fantasy and science fiction takes us to an alternate universe where the geometry of worlds themselves take on the form of the Mandelbrot set. Unfortunately, he spends a lot of time talking about fractals, the Mandelbrot Set and Julia Sets though he seems either to not understand these subjects very well or simply to be unable to explain them clearly. (I think it is probably that he doesn't understand them very well. The many popular math books on these topics seem to have spread a lot of confusion and disinformation.)

Contributed by Jennifer S.

Anthony seems to be using this novel (and the rest of this series) as a pulpit for his own views on the origin of life. His character development is also somewhat weak, although his plot is definitely creative. Read only if you don't mind being preached to, and want some light bathroom reading.

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(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 Fractal Mode

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

Hamisch in Avalon by Eliot Fintushel
The Hollow Man by Dan Simmons
Paradox by John Meaney
The Tower of Babylon by Ted Chiang
Perelman's Song by Tina Chang
The Ghost from the Grand Banks by Arthur C. Clarke
Napier's Bones by Derryl Murphy
Fatous Staub by Christian Mähr
Description of a New World, Called The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish
The God Equation by Michael A.R. Co

Ratings for Fractal Mode:

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:
3/5 (5 votes)

Literary Quality:
3.2/5 (5 votes)

Categories:

Genre	Science Fiction, Fantasy,
Motif
Topic	Chaos/Fractals,
Medium	Novels,

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(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)