Fantasia Mathematica: Being a Set of Stories, Together with a Group of Oddments and Diversions, All Drawn from the Universe of Mathematics 1st ed. 1958, 2nd printing 1997

Presents a collection of stories, essays, and anecdotes that revolve around the field of mathematics.
"Maths can be a more rewarding source of fun and laughter than I thought possible. And Fantasia Mathematica...shows that the rewards can be rich indeed. The title is accurate, but scarcely adequate to describe this riotous collections of writings." -THE NEW SCIENTIST"Some of the plots may be dated (the original appeared in 1958), but this anthology of mathematically oriented short stories and poems should delight a new generation of readers." -SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
Clifton Fadiman's classic collection of mathematical stories, essays and anecdotes first published in 1958, is now back in print. Ranging from the poignant to the comical to the surreal, these selections include writing by Aldous Huxley, Martin Gardner, H.G. Wells, George Gamow, G.H. Hardy, Plato, Robert Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, and many others. Humorous and mysterious, this collection will please mathematicians and everyone else who loves a good story full of stimulating ideas.In this intriguing collection of stories we learn of the young mathematician who chases his fiancee into the fourth dimension, how a group of Australian soldier's lives were saved by a lesson in basic topology, and of Mephisto's search for mathematical truth.Any interested reader will be amused, beguiled -- and perhaps even slightly instructed -- by this wonderfully diverse collection of writing. Clifton Fadiman's prolific career as an essayist, critic, anthologist, and radio show host has spanned the last five decades. His books include The Lifetime Reading Plan and a collection of essays, Party of One. He served for many years on the board of editors of the Book-of-the-Month Club.