Book Cover

Outside his World, or Line, all was a blank to him; nay, not even a blank, for a blank implies Space; say, rather, all was nonexistent.

# Review

This book follows a Square who inhabits Flatland, a 2D world with its own rules and political systems. The first half of the book explores the society of Flatland, and acts as a social commentary on Victorian England; I especially found the description of the different classes (the more sides one has and the more regular one's sides are, the higher one's caste is) entertaining, as well as the description of women in Flatland (single lines which are stupid and exist only to serve male shapes). The commentary is highly satirical as it outlines the harsh and ridiculous laws that the citizens of Flatland have to abide by (such as banning colour, as that would equalize the classes) and is obviously critical of the social inequalities (dictated by one's birth) and the misogynistic attitude towards women at the time.

The second half of this book, however, is speculation on multi-dimensional physics. Our protagonist has a dream where he is transported to Lineland, a 1D world which exists on a line. The Square shows the close-mindedness of the King of Lineland, who refuses to acknowledge the existence of higher dimensions. Then the Square is visited by a Sphere from the Spaceland, a 3D world. The Sphere physically brings the Square into Spaceland and the Square finally understands the implications of multiple dimensions. Carl Sagan did an excellent segment illustrating what happened to the Square.

This book was ahead of its time both in its social commentary and its description of potential higher dimensions (before Einstein and string or quantum theory). The key message of the book is clear: keep an open mind and be warry of the limitations imposed by theological idealism and by societal conventions.

# Conclusion

A book with a good message; it should be taught in elementary school.

# Overall rating: 7.9

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