Ranjit Subramanian, the protagonist in this science fiction novel, is a young Sri Lankan man who (re)discovers a short and elementary proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem while enduring torture during an unjust imprisonment. The novel reads like a "classic" SF novel from the early latter half of the 20th Century, which is perhaps not surprising considering that its authors are two of the most famous authors from that period in the history of genre. The age of the authors does result in a few quaint anachronisms — such as the beautiful wife who has an advanced degree of her own but gives up her career to raise the kids and make eggs for her brilliant husband — but I personally enjoyed the opportunity to read one more new novel written in this classic style. However, the authors do a surprisingly bad job with the mathematics, and repeatedly (and unfairly) defame Andrew Wiles’ actual proof of Fermat’s Last Theorem.

          The main underlying plot involves a plan by the great and advanced civilizations of the galaxy to destroy life on Earth before we can cause trouble for them. Throughout the novel, as other minor human plot lines are elaborated upon, we are reminded that the planned annihilation is getting closer and closer. Other features of the story include the building of a space elevator, sports in space, religion (primarily Hinduism) and atheism, terrorism and "extraordinary rendition", the United Nations and another international organization which "peacefully" destroys their opponents’ electronics with a nuclear blast.