MATHEMATICAL FICTION:

a list compiled by Alex Kasman (College of Charleston)

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Black Numbers (2011)
Dean Frank Lappi
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In a fantasy world where math is magic, a young boy's life is endangered as it becomes clear that he is the long awaited Aleph Null.

I really do like the way the characters utilize equations and mentally manipulate numbers in order to achieve their magic. Having to invent new equations that relate others that you already know sounds and feels more like real math than the mathematical spells in books like Threshold or the reified numbers in Napier's Bones.

However, I find that I cannot strongly recommend this book, and it is not only because the "chosen one" theme has already been done to death. There were far too many scenes that I found unbearably disgusting. Not merely blood and guts, but also feces and men raping boys and monsters erotically circumcising boys with their mouths and... If that is your cup of tea, then this book is for you. Otherwise, I would suggest you read something else instead.

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 Black Numbers
According to my `secret formula', the following works of mathematical fiction are similar to this one:
  1. The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson
  2. The Last Page by Anthony Huso
  3. Mathemagics by Margaret Ball
  4. Threshold by Sara Douglass
  5. Matrices by Steven Nightingale
  6. Phantom by Terry Goodkind
  7. Your Magic or Mine by Ann Macela
  8. Napier's Bones by Derryl Murphy
  9. Counting the Shapes by Yoon Ha Lee
  10. Voyage of the Shadowmoon by Sean McMullen
Ratings for Black Numbers:
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:
3/5 (1 votes)
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Literary Quality:
2/5 (1 votes)
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Categories:
GenreFantasy,
Motif
Topic
MediumNovels,

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Exciting News: The 1,600th entry was recently added to this database of mathematical fiction! Also, for those of you interested in non-fictional math books let me (shamelessly) plug the recent release of the second edition of my soliton theory textbook.

(Maintained by Alex Kasman, College of Charleston)