Measure theory in real life

[jack]

Indeed, beyond hard science fiction, Egan traipses all the way into hard maths fiction. Tell me how hard that is -- most fiction is so mathematically soft it can't divide distance by time and get an answer in the right units let alone within ten orders of magnitude of the right answer.

There are a few approaches. You can have mathematician characters and gloss over the details *in a plausible way* (some of which are great, either with real or made up maths, I'm including Cryptonomicon, because the exposition isn't necessary, and Atrocity archives, because it's plausible, but definitely made up. You'd also get things like Beautiful Mind), or be dull, or attempt to push the maths across in an interesting way, which is really hard. There's, um, flatland, that's definitely hardish mathematics. And Egan. And some parodies. Is there anything else?

Anyway, Egan wins my award of the year for actually writing a short story where the plot is based on Measure Theory. Ian -- sorry for doubting :)

Comments

[passage.livejournal.com]

Try a TV show called Numb3rs. Admittly the 3rd season hasn't been as good as previous, but it's gotten a lot of praise from proffessional mathematicians for combining millions in the audience with good maths.

[cartesiandaemon.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I was heard something about that. I wanted to see, though was worried it mightn't make a lot of sense, and never got round to it in the end. But thank you, I may when it comes round again if you liked it.