The novelette "Flatland," written by Edwin Abbott in 1884, is a unique work. Primarily a social satire, it also explores the limits of our understanding of the universe. Flatland is a two dimensional world, inhabited by geometric figures, which are sentient beings who can move freely about the plane of their world but cannot conceive of anything existing above or below it. Once each millennium, an emissary from the three dimensional world, called "Spaceland," visits Flatland, to choose an "apostle" to spread the word about the third dimension. The narrator, "A Square" was one such apostle. His teacher, whom he calls the "Sphere," allowed him to experience Spaceland for a period of 24 hours. As the square finally grasped the concept of a third dimension, he angered his teacher by questioning whether higher dimensions may exist (four, five or six dimensional worlds) and he was sent back to Flatland in disgrace. The priestly cast of Flatland is aware of Spaceland, but savagely suppresses any knowledge of its existence, and A Square is ultimately imprisoned for his subversive ideas.
Much of the story concerns the peculiarities of life in a two dimensional world. Rank of male Flatlanders depends on the the number and regularity of their angles, ranging from lowly triangles to polygons whose angles are so numerous that they resemble circles. An individual cannot rise from his social class in his lifetime, but their descendants increase their standing by adding one angle per generation. This rule does not apply to triangles, however, whose descendants may ultimately become equilateral but may not evolve into other polygons.
Because all two dimensional beings, viewed from within the same plane, appear as lines, the Flatlanders have elaborate rituals for determining the shape of those they meet. When a Flatlander introduces someone to a friend, the greeting includes something like, "Mr. X, please permit Mr. Y to feel you."
Below all males are the females, who are simply line segments. Females are both reviled because of their low status, and feared in Flatland. Because a line, heading directly toward one's eyes, is difficult to see (appearing as a point), male Flatlanders have been impaled by errant females. Thus, according to Flatland law, a female may only travel outside her home when accompanied by a male who precedes her to announce her presence, or she must sound a warning call when approaching a male. Houses also have separate male and female entrances, to avoid accidental encounters.
Flatland is fully and richly imagined in the story. The narrator also explores the existence of two other worlds, including one dimensional Lineland, where the inhabitants are points on a line. There is also no-dimensional Pointland, whose one inhabitant believes himself to be the sum of the universe, and who regards the square's attempts to communicate with him as merely his own thoughts.
Flatland is clearly a satire on the rigid social structure of Victorian England, but beyond that the novelette is difficult to classify. Is it science fiction or fantasy? Or, is it primarily musings about philosophy, religion or mathematics? The reader from Spaceland must draw his or her own conclusions.
Note: This free edition of Flatland does not contain the illustrations from the original, which, although not essential, do contribute to the enjoyment and understanding of the story.
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Supposedly new book with a torn cover
Disappointing to get a torn "new" book. I imagine it was the Amazon packer working as-fast-as-possible under duress so I'm keeping it and hope management improves working conditions. The book itself is fascinating, a must-read!
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