A vote for "The Indefatigable Frog" is a vote for posterity.

February 27, 2009 3:07 AM

"Do you like fiction and mathematics? Are you interested in what our society thinks about mathematicians?"

Paraphrased: "Of the many works of fiction that are published or filmed, very few involve mathematics or mathematicians. However, people who like mathematics (or are mathematicians ourselves) may especially enjoy reading/seeing those few that do. Moreover, mathematicians should be interested in these works of "mathematical fiction" even if we do not enjoy them because they both affect and reflect the non-mathematician's view of this subject."
(previously, previously (5th link), previously, previously)

posted by Minus215Cee (15 comments total)

"The Frog says
posted by Mblue at 3:37 AM on February 27

Conceiving Ada: Pregnant 20th century programmer travels back in time and offers to put Ada's knowledge and soul into her fetus so that she may have a chance to flourish to her full potential in the more egalitarian 21st century.

wa(n)t.
posted by sidr at 3:59 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]

Includes not one but TWO comic book (series!) written by Alan Moore. Wow.
posted by DU at 5:09 AM on February 27

"mathematical fiction"

They figured out how to film in 7/4 time? Quite the breakthrough.
posted by mannequito at 5:19 AM on February 27

Double wow. Don't be put off by the circa 1996 web design--there's some really good stuff in here.
posted by DU at 5:20 AM on February 27

there's some really good stuff in here.

like this one!

Algorithms and Nasal Structures (1998)
Lois H. Gresh

This short story appears "in Aboriginal Science Fiction, Summer 1998. CS grad student is having trouble programming sheep odors. The story competently uses real programming terminology (stacks, queues, etc). Includes a wee bit of trigonometry." (Contributed by William E. Emba.)
posted by geos at 6:01 AM on February 27

I'm a math atheist.
posted by darkripper at 6:32 AM on February 27 [2 favorites]

Now I want to see "The Mirror Has Two Faces," just for the refresher on Twin Prime Conjecture. Gosh you never know what you'll wake up to on MetaFilter. thanks.
posted by emhutchinson at 6:33 AM on February 27

A relevant AskMe thread from a few years ago.
posted by Evstar at 7:19 AM on February 27

. . .is found here:
posted by Evstar at 7:20 AM on February 27

I remember working out some difference equations representing Homeworld during my boring job manning phones during college. A supervisor walked up and asked what I was working on. I showed her and explained that they were some equations for the optimal strategy in a game, and that it was pretty nerdy.

She replied "No, I understand. I saw 'A Beautiful Mind'."

The perception in a substantial part of the population is that mathematical thinking is a kind of crazy.
posted by a robot made out of meat at 7:45 AM on February 27

a robot made out of meat: The perception in a substantial part of the population is that mathematical thinking is a kind of crazy.

Hey, at least that garners you some respect and awe, even if it is based on some unfortunate tendency to smooth over rational activity with mystifications. Plenty of worthy intellectual endeavors are popularly regarded as a total waste of time.
posted by cobra libre at 9:52 AM on February 27

wa(n)t.

I remember seeing Conceiving Ada when it came out, and I'd definitely drop the 'n' from the above. As I recall it featured a posthumous appearance by Timothy Leary, if that gives you any idea what it's like.

On the other hand it's hard not to love anything with Tilda Swinton.
posted by phooky at 9:52 AM on February 27

Me: Plenty of worthy intellectual endeavors are popularly regarded as a total waste of time.

I was thinking about pretty much anything having to do with the humanities, but now that I think about it, this probably applies just as well to any science research that costs money.

Also: great post, thanks!
posted by cobra libre at 9:54 AM on February 27

This site just came up in my geometry class yesterday. Are you in my geometry class?
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 2:08 PM on February 27