Skip to Main Content (Press Enter)

The Last Theorem

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl
Read by Mark Bramhall

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl
Read by Mark Bramhall

Best Seller
Paperback $16.00

Aug 18, 2009 | ISBN 9780345470232

Ebook $7.99

Aug 05, 2008 | ISBN 9780345509680

Audiobook Download $22.50

Aug 05, 2008 | 756 Minutes

All Formats
+
    The Last Theorem by Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl
    Paperback $16.00
    Aug 18, 2009 | ISBN 9780345470232

    Buy from Other Retailers:

    See All Formats (2) +

    Paperback
    –

    • Paperback $16.00

      Aug 18, 2009 | ISBN 9780345470232

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Ebook
    +

    • Ebook

      Aug 05, 2008 | ISBN 9780345509680

      Buy from Other Retailers:

    Audio
    +

    Buy the Audiobook Download:

    About The Last Theorem

    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 (but never recorded) in 1637, Ranjit’s achievement is hailed as a work of genius, bringing him fame and fortune. But it also brings him to the attention of the National Security Agency and a shadowy United Nations outfit called Pax per Fidem–or Peace Through Transparency–whose secretive workings belie its name. Suddenly Ranjit–along with his family–finds himself swept up in world-shaking events, his genius for abstract mathematical thought put to uses that are both concrete and potentially deadly.

    About The Last Theorem

    Two of science fiction’s most renowned writers join forces for a storytelling sensation. The historic collaboration between Frederik Pohl and his fellow founding father of the genre, Arthur C. Clarke, is both a momentous literary event and a fittingly grand farewell from the late, great visionary author of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    The Last Theorem is a story of one man’s mathematical obsession, and a celebration of the human spirit and the scientific method. It is also a gripping intellectual thriller in which humanity, facing extermination from all-but-omnipotent aliens, the Grand Galactics, must overcome differences of politics and religion and come together . . . or perish.

    In 1637, the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat scrawled a note in the margin of a book about an enigmatic theorem: “I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.” He also neglected to record his proof elsewhere. Thus began a search for the Holy Grail of mathematics–a search that didn’t end until 1994, when Andrew Wiles published a 150-page proof. But the proof was burdensome, overlong, and utilized mathematical techniques undreamed of in Fermat’s time, and so it left many critics unsatisfied–including young Ranjit Subramanian, a Sri Lankan with a special gift for mathematics and a passion for the famous “Last Theorem.”

    When Ranjit writes a three-page proof of the theorem that relies exclusively on knowledge available to Fermat, his achievement is hailed as a work of genius, bringing him fame and fortune. But it also brings him to the attention of the National Security Agency and a shadowy United Nations outfit called Pax per Fidem, or Peace Through Transparency, whose secretive workings belie its name. Suddenly Ranjit–together with his wife, Myra de Soyza, an expert in artificial intelligence, and their burgeoning family–finds himself swept up in world-shaking events, his genius for abstract mathematical thought put to uses that are both concrete and potentially deadly.

    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone on Earth, an alien fleet is approaching the planet at a significant percentage of the speed of light. Their mission: to exterminate the dangerous species of primates known as homo sapiens.

    About The Last Theorem

    Two of science fiction’s most renowned writers join forces for a storytelling sensation. The historic collaboration between Frederik Pohl and his fellow founding father of the genre, Arthur C. Clarke, is both a momentous literary event and a fittingly grand farewell from the late, great visionary author of 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    The Last Theorem is a story of one man’s mathematical obsession, and a celebration of the human spirit and the scientific method. It is also a gripping intellectual thriller in which humanity, facing extermination from all-but-omnipotent aliens, the Grand Galactics, must overcome differences of politics and religion and come together . . . or perish.

    In 1637, the French mathematician Pierre de Fermat scrawled a note in the margin of a book about an enigmatic theorem: “I have discovered a truly marvelous proof of this proposition which this margin is too narrow to contain.” He also neglected to record his proof elsewhere. Thus began a search for the Holy Grail of mathematics–a search that didn’t end until 1994, when Andrew Wiles published a 150-page proof. But the proof was burdensome, overlong, and utilized mathematical techniques undreamed of in Fermat’s time, and so it left many critics unsatisfied–including young Ranjit Subramanian, a Sri Lankan with a special gift for mathematics and a passion for the famous “Last Theorem.”

    When Ranjit writes a three-page proof of the theorem that relies exclusively on knowledge available to Fermat, his achievement is hailed as a work of genius, bringing him fame and fortune. But it also brings him to the attention of the National Security Agency and a shadowy United Nations outfit called Pax per Fidem, or Peace Through Transparency, whose secretive workings belie its name. Suddenly Ranjit–together with his wife, Myra de Soyza, an expert in artificial intelligence, and their burgeoning family–finds himself swept up in world-shaking events, his genius for abstract mathematical thought put to uses that are both concrete and potentially deadly.

    Meanwhile, unbeknownst to anyone on Earth, an alien fleet is approaching the planet at a significant percentage of the speed of light. Their mission: to exterminate the dangerous species of primates known as homo sapiens.

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Read An Excerpt

    Listen to a sample from The Last Theorem

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in… More about Arthur C. Clarke

    About Frederik Pohl

    Frederik Pohl is the author of many novels, including The Boy Who Would Live Forever; Gateway, part of his acclaimed… More about Frederik Pohl

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in… More about Arthur C. Clarke

    About Frederik Pohl

    Frederik Pohl is the author of many novels, including The Boy Who Would Live Forever; Gateway, part of his acclaimed… More about Frederik Pohl

    About Arthur C. Clarke

    Arthur C. Clarke has long been considered the greatest science fiction writer of all time and was an international treasure in… More about Arthur C. Clarke

    About Frederik Pohl

    Frederik Pohl is the author of many novels, including The Boy Who Would Live Forever; Gateway, part of his acclaimed… More about Frederik Pohl

    Product Details

    Category: Science Fiction | Literary Fiction

    Paperback | $16.00
    Published by Del Rey
    Aug 18, 2009 | 336 Pages | 5-1/2 x 8-1/4 | ISBN 9780345470232

    Category: Science Fiction | Literary Fiction

    Ebook | $7.99
    Published by Del Rey
    Aug 05, 2008 | 320 Pages | ISBN 9780345509680

    Category: Science Fiction | Literary Fiction | Audiobooks

    Audiobook Download | $22.50
    Published by Random House Audio
    Aug 05, 2008 | 756 Minutes | ISBN 9780739376959
    YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

    Praise

    “A most respectable swan song for two authentic giants.”—Booklist

    “Good characters . . . good tensions.”—San Diego Union-Tribune

    “An intriguing cautionary tale.”—Entertainment Weekly

    “A can’t-put-down adventure.”—Publishers Weekly

    Looking for More Great Reads?
    21 Books You’ve Been Meaning to Read
    Be the first to know!
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.
    By clicking “SIGN UP”, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.
    Dismiss
    Thanks!
    Something awesome is on its way.
    Back to Top

    Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network

    Raise kids who love to read

    Raise kids who love to read

    Today's Top Books

    Want to know what people are actually reading right now?

     An online magazine for today’s home cook

    An online magazine for today’s home cook