Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

by Edwin A Abbott

Overview

First published in 1884, "Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" is English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott's classic work of science fiction. With the use of a geometric theme, Abbott weaves the fascinating tale of "A Square", an inhabitant of "Flatland", a two-dimensional world where women are portrayed as simple line-segments and men are represented as polygons whose social status is determined by the number and regularity of their sides. Through this device Abbott satirizes the seemingly arbitrary hierarchy of the Victorian era. In addition to a brilliant work of satire "Flatland" is a thought-provoking examination of the bounds of physical space. On the eve of the third millennium "A Square" dreams of a one-dimensional world, "Lineland", that is inhabited by "lustrous points". Subsequently he is visited by "A Sphere", an inhabitant of a three-dimensional world called "Spaceland", which he fails to comprehend until he sees it for himself. Having his mind opened to the existence of other dimensions "A Square" posits the theoretical possibility of the existence of four, five, and six dimensional worlds, an idea which gets him thrown out of "Spaceland" in disgrace. One of the most original pieces of literature ever written, "Flatland" is a witty and satirical adventure that explores the very nature of physical reality itself. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536969832
Publisher:	CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date:	08/08/2016
Series:	Humor Classics , #7
Pages:	100
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.21(d)

About the Author

Edwin Abbott Abbott (20 December 1838 - 12 October 1926) was an English schoolmaster and theologian, best known as the author of the novella Flatland (1884).

Edwin Abbott Abbott was the eldest son of Edwin Abbott (1808-1882), headmaster of the Philological School, Marylebone, and his wife, Jane Abbott (1806-1882). His pa John's College, Cambridge-St John's College]], Cambridge, where he took the highest honors in classics, mathematics and theology, and became a fellow of his college.

He retired in 1889, and devoted himself to literary and theological pursuits. Abbott's best-known work is his 1884 novella Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions which describes a two-dimensional world and explores the nature of dimensions. It has often been categorized as science fiction although it could more precisely be called "mathematical fiction."

With the advent of modern science fiction from the 1950s to the present day, Flatland has seen a revival in popularity, especially among science fiction and cyberpunk fans. Many works have been inspired by the novella, including novel sequels and short films.

Table of Contents

Edwin A. Abbott biography

Preface to the Second and Revised Edition, 1884 ix

PART I: THIS WORLD

Section 1. Of the Nature of Flatland 1

Section 2. Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland 4

Section 3. Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland 7

Section 4. Concerning the Women 11

Section 5. Of our Methods of Recognizing one another 17

Section 6. Of Recognition by Sight 22

Section 7. Concerning Irregular Figures 28

Section 8. Of the Ancient Practice of Painting 32

Section 9. Of the Universal Colour Bill 35

Section 10. Of the Suppression of the Chromatic Sedition 40

Section 11. Concerning our Priests 45

Section 12. Of the Doctrine of our Priests 48

PART II—OTHER WORLDS

Section 13. How I had a Vision of Lineland 53

Section 14. How I vainly tried to explain the nature of Flatland 59

Section 15. Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland 65

Section 16. How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland 69

Section 17. How the Sphere, having in vain tried words,

resorted to deeds 78

Section 18. How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there 81

Section 19. How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it 87

Section 20. How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision 95

Section 21. How I tried to teach the Theory of Three

Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success 99

Section 22. How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result 102

Editorial Reviews

"A very puzzling book and a very distressing one, and to be enjoyed by about six, or at the outside seven, persons in the whole of the United States and Canada."

--The New York Times, February 3, 1885

"Flatland, invites its readers to consider the outrageous possibility of four dimensions and more. It slyly accomplished this suggestion by portraying the highly limited life of a world of only two dimensions."

--Alan LIghtman, author of Einstein's Dreams

"Flatland is a dissertation that could lead to very profound thought about our Universe and ourselves."

--Isaac Asimov

From the Publisher