This note does not contain major spoilers for the book.

By Arthur C. Clarke and Frederik Pohl. This was, in the end, finished posthumously by Pohl. Pohl, of course, has played most roles in the SF world (except illustrator). It's interesting that he and Clarke were close friends, given how much Clarke seemed to avoid the New York gravity well that was Pohl's.

This is about a Sri Lankan child (son of a monk) who comes up with an elegant proof of Fermat's last theorem, and the development of a world government, and the use of military technology to avoid war. Seems to me there were aliens in it, too.

For me this is rather a character study, more than anything else. All that plot is there, but it's not what makes the book readable. It WAS readable, though; really quite enjoyable.