Self-Published Only Club discussion

Hello all.

I’ve not been very talkative in this group, to be honest after a couple of months I am still learning more about GoodReads. Since I work weekdays I get little time to write productively. I’ve also noticed the group activity wane a little in the past week, so I decided to inject energy into the group and make this general chat thread.
The rules are simple; as long as the subject or reply does not break the GoodReads T&C, or the Group Rules, you can talk about literally anything you like. It can be an idea for a story, current affairs around the world, life at home; literally anything. I have no expectations for this thread, it can either succeed or fail in encouraging activity.

I’ll start with admittedly a niche subject, but I am curious to hear from other authors.
I am currently looking into mathematical fiction; stories that are based on or inspired by mathematical functions. There’s a surprisingly vast collection of mathematical fiction; Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is accepted by the maths community to be a surrealist satire of the modern mathematics of his time. Flatland is a Victorian parody set entirely in a 2D universe of shapes. But I am having trouble finding maths in lore and worldbuilding. I know that I have not read a lot of books myself, so I’m open to the idea that I simply haven’t come across a book with it, but for all the fantasy and fiction works I know there seems to be nothing on novel counting systems and maths. It’s entirely possible that I may be the very first writer to seriously consider novel mathematics in worldbuilding, insofar as my book series will feature such a thing.

So my question to authors and readers is, why is it that with such a broad example of applying mathematics in literature, there are no novel maths in the lore of fantasy peoples? Now, I’m not naive enough to think that everyone likes maths, if anything my experience tells me everyone loves to complain about maths. I can appreciate that mathematics is the last time to consider in a story even in a fantasy setting. I disregarded it in my earlier works. But I think it’s a great idea to have a think about.

What do you think?

Chris wrote: "Hello all.

I’ve not been very talkative in this group, to be honest after a couple of months I am still learning more about GoodReads. Since I work weekdays I get little time to write productively..."

I can't remember what it was called, but I read a mystery once that was centered around math, and the bad guy was like an evil math genius or something. lol

That’s interesting, definitely a story so haven’t heard of myself. I’ll see if I can find it. The plot sounds almost like a children’s story to a degree. 🤔

Chris wrote: "That’s interesting, definitely a story so haven’t heard of myself. I’ll see if I can find it. The plot sounds almost like a children’s story to a degree. 🤔"

I don't think it was. It wasn't YA either. I'll try to see if it's in my Kindle history.

If you find it let me know. :) I’ve been having trouble finding the plot online.

I've heard about Flatland (read about it in philosophy) and I didn't know that about Alice in Wonderland - although it does make sense (e.g. the poem - the Mouse's Tale). The mathematics of poetic forms is an art in itself. I remember a philosophy class on Stéphane Mallarmé which was very interesting. I'll include my own poem that combines the Golden Ratio and Greek Myth below.

Although not a book, and I didn't see this movie (it's on my list now) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138704/
Have you seen it - is it any good?

Infinite Nymph - Golden Music

Heavy with slumber the keepers of the forest
Demand of the Faun
Invitation to a nighttime promise; a celebration before dawn.
Hymns, strings, woodwinds, crotales, flutes, harps and horns
Incantations of immortality, deep edged piercing pledge that forewarns
Death's eventuality; dream's fatality.
Golden rhythm expelled with concupiscent computative precision
Highest fervor, compelled by the enchantment of nature.
Hear the succubus, sound of syrinx as guide
In this rhythmic verse reversed the golden ratio resides
Counted patterned verse
Chanted concord cursed

Heavy with remorse the keepers of the forest
Awaken
Flustered by the brilliant morning's incarnation
Adulation

Annihilation

I have to admit, I never expected maths to enter the horror genre. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t, but it sounds so absurd. 😂 I have not seen the movie myself mostly because I’m not a fan of horror in general. Still it’s intriguing just to contemplate.

My research into the previous subject is ongoing still, but there is growing evidence that yes, I may be the first author to consider novel counting systems in worldbuilding. But enough about that.
———
For any fantasy writers, I’m curious to learn about your systems of magic if you have any. In between my writing and other projects, I want to learn about how magic was portrayed in ancient beliefs. I’m specifically looking into gods/goddesses of magic and heroes who applied magic in their journeys.

My heritage is Greek and I was born in Australia, so already there I’m aware of a wide variation in the application of magic. I am still learning about Aboriginal Australian culture in general, but for what I know there is the story of Bluetongue Lizard, the sorcerer who created a great fire that chased after his sons - an allegory of the sun. By contrast ancient Greeks had their own way of expressing magic in a more physical, tactile method. Kirki (Circe) and Medea are the two prime examples of Greek magic by the use of potion making and transformation.

So yes, if you know much about either an ancient culture’s representation of magic, or you just want to talk about your own, reply here. I’m very interested in the different ways of magic we as humans have considered. :)

Chris wrote: "Hello all.

I’ve not been very talkative in this group, to be honest after a couple of months I am still learning more about GoodReads. Since I work weekdays I get little time to write productively..."

Hi Chris,
Not sure if this is the street you are looking up but Dante's Divine Comedy is massively immersed in maths. The whole structure revolves around the number 3 and perfection. The three parts of the work (Hell, Purgatory and Paradise) have 33 cantos each and Hell has an extra one by way of introductions so the work has 100 cantos in all. Within that, there are 9 circles in Hell, 9 steps in purgatory and 9 spheres in Paradise. Even the rhyme scheme is set on "terza rima" which uses the number 3. Using numerology amongst poets of the medieval era was pretty common as an aid to musicality and rhyme in their lyrics.
Enjoy.

That’s not quite what I’m after, but that’s still very interesting. Thank you.
That’s closer to numerology; 3 has a lot of significance in religion, and by extension literature. I’m actually not sure why that’s the case; 3 is a prime number, but that alone is kind of meaningless. I’ll have to have a look at Dante’s Inferno myself, but based on that information Dante seems to be interested in 3 and in square numbers. It’s either a coincidence or a deliberate move by Dante to discreetly divide 100 cantons evenly across his trilogy, as opposed to 99 cantons. And of course 9 has the dual role of being 3 thrice, and by definition a square number. That may be a possible reason why 9 recurs as much as it does in Dante’s Inferno.

I’m currently looking for a poem by Georges Perec. I remember stumbling into it a while ago by I’m having trouble finding it again. It was one of the most original ideas Ami have seen so far; in essence every line of the poem has one additional word, starting with one word, two words, three words, and so forth, but he also groups the words into prime factors, so the next line would be two groups of two words, then five words, then two groups of three words, then seven words, then two groups of two groups of two words, then three groups of three words, and so on. If anyone knows which one I am taking about, please tell me I’m and if you can post a link.