Adams (Williams College) has written, not collected, a moderate but finite number of humorous stories that have a mathematical dimension, or sometimes several. The mathematically adept should get the humor on first readings, he says, but for other readers, he includes explanatory end notes. Among the stories are The S. S. Riemann, Pythagoras' darkest hour, the theorem blaster, the three little pigs, Northnorthwestern Math Department Safety Manual, a deprogrammer's tale, Dr. Yeckel and Mr. Hide, Rumpled Stiltsken, and of course the title story. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)