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Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions (1884)

by Edwin A. Abbott

Other authors: See the other authors section.

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
9,258178744 (3.76)171
A square, who is a resident of the two-dimensional Flatland, dreams of the one-dimensional Lineland. He attempts to convince the monarch of Lineland of the possibility of another dimension, but the monarch cannot see outside the line. The square is then visited himself by a Sphere from three-dimensional Spaceland, who must show the square Spaceland before he can conceive it. As more dimensions enter the scene, the story's discussion of fixed thought and the kind of inhuman action which accompanies it intensifies.… (more)
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» See also 171 mentions

English (165)  Italian (7)  French (2)  Swedish (1)  Portuguese (1)  Dutch (1)  Spanish (1)  All languages (178)
Showing 1-5 of 165 (next | show all)
Satire. I need to check some annotations on this one. ( )
  Christine_Taylor | Jan 14, 2023 |
Very good introduction to thinking about space and dimensions. Should be mandatory reading at school. Except for the sexism and classism. It's supposed to be on purpose, a parody of victorian politics, but as all products of its time, it's likely the writer shared some of those prejudices, at least in part.

Also gave me a good idea of how to find the freaking fourth dimension .D
( )
  marsgeverson | Jan 12, 2023 |
Every time I even though about picking up this book, I was immediately distracted by some other form of media (TV, phone, other book). It's very cerebral and definitely and older style of writing for which I am not currently in the mood.
  Bodagirl | Nov 22, 2022 |
A classic, and for a good reason. ( )
  mykl-s | Nov 19, 2022 |
More than just an amusing read for anyone interested in math, geometry and physics, this somewhat dry but ultimately funny book is an exploration of the limits of reason, perception, and knowledge, along with social commentary on how such things can shape a society. It explains the math and science aspects of its topic (multiple dimensions), but also touches on issues of philosophy, politics, social class, and religion. While I never found it boring, the writing does get quite dry at times, and readers who aren't interested in math may struggle a little, but it's definitely worth it. ( )
  serru | Oct 6, 2022 |
Showing 1-5 of 165 (next | show all)

» Add other authors (50 possible)

Author nameRoleType of authorWork?Status
Abbott, Edwin A.primary authorall editionsconfirmed
Bradbury, RayIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Brandt, AdrielNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
D'Amico, MasolinoTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Dewdney, A. K.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Edelmann, HeinzCover designersecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Hoffmann, BaneshIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Jann, RosemaryEditorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Kalka, JoachimTranslatorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Langton, JamesNarratorsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Lightman, Alan P.Introductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Manganelli, GiorgioAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Paulos, John AllenAfterwordsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
Smith, ValerieIntroductionsecondary authorsome editionsconfirmed
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Original title
Alternative titles
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Epigraph
"O day and night, but this is wondrous strange"
"Fie, fie, how franticly I square my talk!"
Dedication
To
The Inhabitants 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 Enlargement of THE IMAGINATION
And the possible Development
Of that most rare and excellent Gift of MODESTY
Among the Superior Races
Of SOLID HUMANITY
First words
I call our world Flatland, not because we call it so, but to make its nature clearer to you, my happy readers, who are privileged to live in Space.
Quotations
Last words
(Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)
Disambiguation notice
The Annotated Flatland has substantial commentary by Ian Stewart and so is a separate work.
Publisher's editors
Blurbers
Original language
Canonical DDC/MDS
Canonical LCC

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A square, who is a resident of the two-dimensional Flatland, dreams of the one-dimensional Lineland. He attempts to convince the monarch of Lineland of the possibility of another dimension, but the monarch cannot see outside the line. The square is then visited himself by a Sphere from three-dimensional Spaceland, who must show the square Spaceland before he can conceive it. As more dimensions enter the scene, the story's discussion of fixed thought and the kind of inhuman action which accompanies it intensifies.

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Average: (3.76)
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Penguin Australia

An edition of this book was published by Penguin Australia.

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Tantor Media

An edition of this book was published by Tantor Media.

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