Who is your favourite fictional mathematician?
Due to popular demand, we're revisiting our poll to find your favourite fictional mathematician.
It is quite difficult to compile a list of fictional mathematicians. Scientists are often portrayed in films — usually as mad — but there are very few who are specialised mathematicians. Here at Plus, we have come up with a list that we think covers most well-known fictional mathematicians, although it is debatable whether some are even mathematicians at all! We are asking for your opinion — who is your favourite?
Have we missed yours off the list? Please leave a comment and let us know. We will write a biography of the character who wins the poll.
Rachel
Oh. My. Gosh. How could you miss Andrew Jackson "Slipstick" Libby? Add him right in and change 60% of the votes so far to him on the conservative assumption that at least that portion of the crowd would have voted for him.
OK, in case you've never heard of him, he's a talented mathematician and "lightning calculator" that appears in several of Robert Heinlein's science fiction novels, including being a recurring character in his "future history."
Or must I vote for Charlie Epps? :-)
Rachel
Nicholas Bourbaki, by far and without contention.
Rachel
I wish I could've voted for Will Hunting AND Charlie Epps. But I had to go for Will.
Rachel
What about Donald Duck in "Donald Duck in Mathmagic Land"
Rachel
You omitted Daniel Hood in the Brodie Farrell mysteries by Jo Bannister. (The last one was Liars All.) I wrote about him here: http://sixwingedseraph.wordpress.com/2008/09/11/daniel-the-mathematicia…
Rachel
Rachel
What about Miss Smilla?