"The Simplest Equation" by Nicky Drayden

LeVar Burton Reads

Stitcher

Arts, Performing Arts

4.9 • 17K Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2019

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

A struggling college student gains new perspective on her studies from her classmate, who's come to study from another planet. This story was first published in Space and Time Magazine. This episode is sponsored by The Great Courses (www.thegreatcoursesplus.com/LEVAR) and Native (www.nativedeodorant.com code: LEVAR).

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm Lovar Burton and this is Lovar Burton Reads.
0:12.0	In every episode I hand-picked a different piece of short fiction and I read it to you.
0:18.8	The only thing these stories have in common, I like to say is that I love them and I hope
0:24.2	you will too.
0:27.5	Well y'all, I am so happy to be back with you.
0:32.3	Season 5, or as I'm calling it season V, using the Roman numeral for 5, the V stands for
0:39.8	whatever V word you want to insert, voice, vice, take your pick.
0:45.7	We've got a wild ride ahead of us with stories of interdimensional road trips, magic tricks,
0:52.1	artificial intelligence, family, assassins and so much more going on this season.
0:58.5	Today's story is by the Austin-based writer Nikki Dredin, her debut novel, The Pray of Gods,
1:05.6	what a title, The Pray of Gods, is said in a futurist South Africa with a fun mix of mythology,
1:11.8	demigods, robots and hallucinogenic hijinks count me in.
1:18.3	It was featured in The New York Times, Best of New Science, Fiction and Fantasy.
1:23.4	She's written tons of short fiction now, along with several very good novels.
1:29.3	But I think it's possible that for the story I'm reading today, Nikki applied her mind
1:36.3	for design and her job as a systems analyst.
1:40.3	The simplest equation is a really gorgeous story about math.
1:48.1	Yes?
1:49.1	I know I'm a words guy, not usually a numbers person, but in this story, equations are about
1:58.2	creation, storytelling and the connection between beings, both alien and human.
2:08.3	So if you're ready, let's take a deep breath.
2:27.0	And begin.
	...

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