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From: Seiler@MIT-XX@sri-unix.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: "Star, Bright"
Message-ID: <4580@sri-arpa.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Aug-83 14:01:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: sri-arpa.4580
Posted: Fri Aug 26 14:01:00 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 1-Sep-83 00:25:20 EDT
Lines: 15

From:  Larry Seiler <Seiler@MIT-XX>

My books are still packed from my last move, so I can't give you the
author's name, but the story you describe is anthologized in "The
Mathematical Magpie", which your library ought to have.  This book
contains a variety of stories, poetry, etc. that relates to mathematics.
In one story, a man makes a pact with the devil, wagering his soul
against wealth and power if the devil can perform a task he specifies.
After the devil agrees, he reveals the task:  prove Fermat's Last Theorem
or find a counterexample.  Read the story if you want to know how good a
mathematician the devil turned out to be...  Anyway, "Star, Bright" 
(the title has a comma) is one of the best stories in the book.
	Enjoy,
	Larry
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