IN THE MAIL: Rudy Rucker’s new novel, Mathematicians in Love, where fancy math is a tool for getting the girl — er, and incidentally altering the universe.

And here, by the way, are some science fiction recommendations by John Birmingham, author of the Axis of Time series. His taste obviously overlaps with mine. Thus, he’s a genius! I also bought Birmingham’s nonfiction book, How to be a Man, for my teenaged nephew, as it’s chock-full of practical advice, amusingly delivered.