The Last Theorem

by Frederik Pohl and Arthur C. Clarke

Book Overview

When Ranjit Subramanian, a Sri Lankan with a special gift for numbers, writes a three-page proof of the coveted "Last Theorem," which French mathematician Pierre de Fermat claimed to have discovered... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345470214
• ISBN13: 9780345470218
• Release Date: August 2008
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 299 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.5" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Pleasant Surprise Finding it Pans Wiles-Ribet-Fry

This book has leveled a critique at the touted "proof" of Fermat's Last Theorem from two authors who knew and know more than a little about math and how proofs are done. At least the plot would seem to be recycling Hollywood in a new way, Sneakers and Mercury Rising, for example. The alien subplot is similar to Childhood's End or The War of the Worlds, still that's pretty much what you get all the time with science fiction. To suggest Ranjit's proof takes only three pages might seem absurd or impossible given the hundreds of years so many mathematicians have labored away at it, then the disappointing claim that basically is 300 pages of still further and obscure journal references unavailable in most American university libraries. Pohl says it would take a computer to assess the satisfiability of Wiles-Ribet-Fry, or that that "no biological human could read it"--which is a strange way only a science fiction author could put it I guess. Ignorance then is bliss. Completion of the n-square actually follows directly from the standard technique in algebra for deriving the quadratic equation, that and some awareness of simple fractal renormalization approaches. Nested binomial expansion is a little tricky but a good exercise with indexed sums (a + (b + c))^n or group inside the other way. What should result is a statement in the presentation of the Fundamental Theorem of Algebra demonstrating reducio ad absurdum. My son accomplished this in his Modern Algebra course he took as independent study, and indeed, even expanded in places it takes only three pages: [...] The covering dimension is the span between like powers of natural numbers, as a difference. And you get the usual recursion relation, a simple mapping to the rationals, cancellation and substitution and using triangular matrix representation as the Pascal Triangle. See for yourself.

The Aliens Are Coming

The Last Theorem (2008) is a standalone SF novel about Fermat and aliens. It is set in a universe where civilizations exist further than the mind can conceive. Within our galaxy, the Grand Galactics rule with some fairness and much wisdom. In this novel, Ranjit Subramanian is a Tamil, but his best friend is Sinhalese. This difference means nothing to Ranjit and Gammi Bandara, but means much to their people on Sri Lanka. For a long time, the friends do everything together, but one day Ranjit's father summons him to the temple. Ganesh Subramanian is chief priest of the famous Hindu temple of Tiru Koneswaram in Trincomalee. Ranjit loves and respects his father very much. But Ganesh tells him that his friendship with a Sinhalese is causing some dissension within the temple. He gives Ranjit the choice of shunning his friend or being shunned by Ganesh. Ranjit sorrowfully chooses to stay friends with Gammi. Like the matter of religion, Ranjit disagrees with his father and goes his own way. But he is going to miss the conversations and kindness of his father. In this story, Ranjit is obsessed with Fermat's Last Theorem. He has been studying the subject for years. Although a freshman at the university, he has little interest in other subjects. Even the math courses are rather boring, either because of their familiarity or their irrelevance to the Theorem. Then he takes Astronomy 101 from Joris Vorhulst. His teacher has a doctorate from Caltech and worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Yet it isn't his education that captures the attention of his students, but his enthusiasm. From the first day, Ranjit and most students spend hours researching topics for the next class. During his summer vacation, Ranjit meets a family living in a house on his father's property. The father is incarcerated for possession of stolen goods and his family is hard pressed to survive. Ranjit takes care of the four children for their mother while he works nearby. One day the mother has found work near the docks and Ranjit drives the family there in the temple van. He drops them off, but later he sees the youngest waving to him and meets their father. He is lured aboard a ship and kept captive until pirates take over the liner. Ranjit is eventually accused of being one of the pirates and taken far away to a prison where he is kept for a long while. In between his torture sessions, Ranjit starts thinking even more about Fermat's Last Theorem and develops a proof of its validity. After his return to civilization, he publishes his proof and becomes a celebrity. This tale relates the dangers of human militarism within the Grand Galactic domain. Aliens are coming to devastate the Earth. Only luck will prevent the destruction of humanity. The future society in this novel includes many of Clarke's innovations, providing an ambiance not found in the works of lesser writers. Pohl also contributed ideas from his previous works, including computerized pers

A Book of Firsts and Lasts

Sir Arthur C. Clarke went out with a bang through the work drafted for "The Last Theorem." How wonderful to have a (formerly unprecedented) collaboration with Frederik Pohl, not only to ensure the work was completed, but the effect of these two masters' of science fiction is of a quality that will inspire and entertain while it brings in enough science and math to stimulate any curious mind. Interwoven around the Indian family of Ranjit and Myra, echoes of "Space Odessy" novels abound with exploration into new areas of space travel (the space elevator is elaborated upon, for example). The couple's daughter mirrors the way Dave was a conduit for alien communication. Counterbalancing sports with political scenarios - yet having both working on ways to get the human race to look beyond their countries' boundaries - was presented well. For me, presenting numerous hopeful (future and present) possibilities while teaching the importance of math, communication, and the perseverance of the human spirit is carried delightfully well through this story. I enjoyed learning about Sri Lanka, Clarke's homebase, through his eyes and words. Knowing that this is his final composition, and that it was completed by his long-time friend and colleague, makes it even more special. We are taken from Fermat's Last Theorem to the beginning of a new era.

Thoroughly Entertaining...

Great book, compelling story. I plowed through the pages quickly and if you've read anything by either of the authors you will to. It seems to me that this book refined some ideas that were touched on by previous books that these authors had written seperately. My respects to the late great Arthur C. Clarke.

Just what you would expect

The Last Theorem is typical Arthur C. Clarke - once you start reading, you will not want to put it down until you have finished. A real pity that there will be no more of his fantastic books.