MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories (2009)
Colin Adams
(click on names to see more mathematical fiction by the same author)
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Note: This work of mathematical fiction is recommended by Alex for young adults and math majors, math grad students (and maybe even math professors).

Finally, a collection of hilarious mathematical stories by Colin Adams! Most of these stories were previously published in his Mathematically Bent column in the Mathematical Intelligencer. Only one is new, but I'm very pleased to see that this book is available because Colin Adams is the funniest mathematician I know ... or at least he would be if I knew him.

I am not listing each of these stories separately on the website. In part, this is because some of them really do not quite qualify as ``fiction'' as I've narrowly defined that term for these purposes. Many of them, instead, are really just drawn out mathematical jokes. But, even those are worth reading. With his ``bent'' look at the subject we study and the academic environment in which we work, Adams' writings are sure to simultaneously entertain and inform readers from any background with even a passing interest in mathematics.

The contents of the volume are as follows:

Contributed by John C. Konrath

Hilarious.

Buy this work of mathematical fiction and read reviews at amazon.com. Amazon.com logo
(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 Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. Mathematically Bent by Colin Adams
  2. On Another Plane by Colin Adams
  3. Intoxicating Heights (Höhenrausch. Die Mathematik des XX. Jahrhunderts in zwanzig Gehirnen) by Dietmar Dath
  4. I Had to Call In a Mathematician by Erik Talvila
  5. Number Stories: Learning Arithmetic Through the Adventures of Ralph and His Schoolmates by Alhambra G. Deming
  6. Into Thin Air by Colin Adams
  7. The Papers of A.J. Wentworth, B.A. by Humphry Francis Ellis
  8. Number Stories of Long Ago by David Eugene Smith
  9. Reality Conditions: short mathematical fiction by Alex Kasman
  10. Mangum, P.I. by Colin Adams
Ratings for Riot at the Calc Exam and Other Mathematically Bent Stories:
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 (2 votes)
..
Literary Quality:
4.5/5 (2 votes)
..

Categories:
GenreHumorous, Didactic,
MotifAcademia, Proving Theorems, Math Education,
Topic
MediumCollection,

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Exciting News: The total number of works of mathematical fiction listed in this database recently reached a milestone. The 1,500th entry is The Man of Forty Crowns by Voltaire. Thanks to Vijay Fafat for writing the summary of that work (and so many others). I am also grateful to everyone who has contributed to this website. Heck, I'm grateful to everyone who visited the site. Thank you!

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)