Imaginary Numbers: An Anthology of Marvellous Mathematical Stories, Diversions, Poems and Musings - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 047139341X ISBN 13: 9780471393412

Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2000

Inhaltsangabe

"William Frucht's wide-ranging compilation of mathematically flavored fiction and poetry is humorous, thought-provoking, and profoundly entertaining."-John Allen Paulos, author of Once Upon a NumberThis delightful anthology-the first such collection since the publication of Clifton Fadiman's bestselling Fantasia Mathematica and The Mathematical Magpie-explores the many ways in which creative writers have investigated mathematical themes, from the marvels of infinity and the peculiarities of spacetime to artificial intelligence, black holes, and quantum weirdness. * Features works by Italo Calvino, Lewis Carroll, Jorge Luis Borges, William Gibson, J. G. Ballard, James Dickey, Carl Sandburg, and Alan Lightman * Reintroduces lesser-known but seminal works such as science-fiction writer Connie Willis's cult classic "The Schwartzchild Radius" William Frucht (Danbury, CT) is the Senior Editor of trade science books for Basic Books.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

William Frucht is a senior editor at Basic Books and the coauthor, with Larry Siever, of The New View of Self.

Von der hinteren Coverseite

"With this delightful anthology, Frucht throws a bridge across the chasm separating the ?Two Cultures? of science and literature."?Booklist

"A marvelous colledtion of diverse talents and writing."?San Diego Union-Tribune

A wildly inventive treasury of the most artful words ever written about numbers. Mathematics and writing may seem to exist in opposite realms, but as William Frucht reveals, the world of numbers has always held a special fascination for men and women of letters. Imaginary Numbers displays the fruits of this cross-fertilization by collecting the best creative writing about mathematical topics from the past hundred years. In this engaging anthology, we can explore the many ways writers have played with mathematical ideas. Delve into the fourth dimension and infinity, into fantasy and philosophy with such masters as Lewis Carroll, Edwin Abbott Abbott, Philip K. Dick, Martin Gardner, and Alan Lightman. Revel in renowned tales by Italo Calvino and Jorge Luis Borges, cult classics such as Connie Willis?s "The Schwartzschild Radius,"and lesser-known gems by such visionaries as William Gibson and A. K. Dewdney. For mathematical mavens and literary lions alike, Imaginary Numbers adds up to one fascinating read.

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons Inc
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2000
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 047139341X
• ISBN 13: 9780471393412
• Einband: Tapa blanda
• Anzahl der Seiten: 352
• Herausgeber: Frucht William
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar