Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

By A Square (Edwin Abbott Abbott)Society & Culture Arts Books Philosophy

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions episodes

July 09, 2009 Episode 12 - Thank you!
If you liked this book, here are some others I've recorded for your enjoyment. Thanks for listening!
3 min
June 13, 2009 Episode 11
Part 2 -- Other Worlds Section 21 -- How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success Section 22 -- How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result Preface to the second and revised edition, 1884 The End of "Flatland"
29 min
June 10, 2009 Episode 10
Part 2 -- Other Worlds Section 19 -- How, though the Sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what became of it Section 20 -- How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
28 min
June 02, 2009 Episode 9
Part 2 -- Other Worlds Section 17 -- How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds Section 18 -- How I came to Spaceland and what I saw there
21 min
May 27, 2009 Episode 8
Part 2 -- Other Worlds Section 15 -- Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland Section 16 -- How the Stranger vainly endeavored to reveal to me in words the Mysteries of Spaceland
27 min
May 19, 2009 Episode 7
Part 2 -- Other Worlds Section 13 -- How I Had a Vision of Lineland Section 14 -- How in my Vision I endeavored to explain Flatland, but could not With sound effects from The Free Sound Project and from The Absolute Sound Effects Archive.
25 min
May 12, 2009 Episode 6
Part 1 -- Our World (continued) Section 11 -- Concerning our Priests Section 12 -- Of the Doctrine of our Priests
23 min
May 04, 2009 Episode 5
Part 1 -- Our World (continued) Section 9 -- Of the Universal Color Bill Section 10 -- Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition
24 min
May 04, 2009 Episode 4
Part 1 -- Our World (continued) Section 7 -- Concerning Irregular Figures Section 8 -- Of the Ancient Practice of Painting
19 min
May 03, 2009 Episode 3
Part 1 -- Our World (continued) Section 5 -- Of Our Methods of Recognizing one another Section 6 -- Of Recognition by Sight
29 min

About Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

From the publisher's feed

Math. Geometry. Physics. Violence? Is this the same book I read in school? Yep.

One of the joys of rediscovering old books is that they still have the ability to surprise, even shock.

"If my poor Flatland friend retained the vigour of mind which he enjoyed when he began to compose these Memoirs, I should not now need to represent him in this preface, in which he desires, fully, to return his thanks to his readers and critics in Spaceland ... But he is not the Square he once was. Years of imprisonment, and the still heavier burden of general incredulity and mockery, have combined with the thoughts and notions, and much also of the terminology, which he acquired during his short stay in Spaceland. ..."

You may remember Flatland as a clever children's story about squares and triangles and such living a happy life in a sheet of paper, a story about math and geometry and such. No, not so much.

Sure, there's no Adult Language or Sex. But there's plenty of violence. I recall recording one scene wherein over 120,000 people were stabbed to death, torn to pieces and eaten by their fellow Flatlanders. Yes. Way.

Assuming you consider Isoceles Triangles people. In Flatland, they are. Mostly.

"Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, on or in the surface, but without the power of rising above or sinking below it, very much like shadows--only hard with luminous edges--and you will then have a pretty correct notion of my country and countrymen. Alas, a few years ago, I should have said 'my universe,' but now my mind has been opened to higher views of things. ..."

Flatland is very old Hard Science Fiction, if you look at it right. It's clever, satirical, funny and sad. It includes well-fleshed-out alien society with similarities to our own, several different alternate universes, genetics, politics, religion, slavery, tyranny, war, rebellion, imprisonment, madness, and death.

And math. And geometry. And some rather clever Puns. "Written by A. Square?" Also known as Edwin Abbott Abbott. Get it?

As if the Brothers Grimm had gotten much, much Grimmer.

"To The Inhabitance of SPACE IN GENERAL, And H.C. IN PARTICULAR, This Work is Dedicated By a Humble Native of Flatland, In the Hope that Even as he was Initiated into the Mysteries Of THREE DIMENSIONS, Having been previously conversant With ONLY TWO, So the Citizens of that Celestial Region May aspire yet higher and higher, To the Secrets of FOUR, FIVE, or EVEN SIX Dimensions, Thereby contributing To the Enlargment of THE IMAGINATION, And the possible Development Of that most and excellent Gift of MODESTY, Among the Superior Races Of SOLID HUMANITY."

Bring a pencil. And use your imagination. I dare you.