Mathematical SF


Mathematical SF is SF in which mathematics is central. It's a subdivision of Hard SF. Arguably, it is the pinnacle of Hard SF, as mathematics is the hardest of the sciences (in the 'Hard SF' sense of hard - it's about taking a small idea and pursuing it relentlessly to its inexorable and mind-expanding conclusions).

Sentences like "This story contains a brief explanation of the transfinite cardinals and their arithmetic as part of a scary bit of science fiction." make me happy. -- TA

Rudy Rucker's 'Message Found In A Copy Of Flatland' may be described as follows: this is the story that answers the age old question: "What if Flatland was in the basement of a Pakistani restaurant in London?". Where is this to be found? It sounds fascinating, having read 'Flatland' --TL

'Unstable Orbits In The Space Of Lies' remains one of the finest story titles in the world, ever. It's ironic that mathematical SF can produce such lovely words, but that's probably indicative of some deeper truth (which reminds me about Zipfs Law? -- TA).

And there's Ms Fnd In A Lbry.

Much of this page was lifted straight from the website linked to above by TA, the lazy sod.


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