Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

By Edwin A. Abbott

As a satire, 'Flatland' offered pointed observations on the social hierarchy of Victorian culture. However, the novella's more enduring contribution is its examination of dimensions: Noted science writer Isaac Asimov described 'Flatland' as "The best introduction one can find into the manner of perceiving dimensions." As such, the novella is still popular amongst mathematics, physics and computer science students. This fully-illustrated story is about a two-dimensional world referred to as Flatland. The unnamed narrator, a humble square (the social caste of gentlemen and professionals), guides us through some of the implications of life in two dimensions. The Square has a dream about a visit to a one-dimensional world (Lineland), and attempts to convince the realm's ignorant monarch of a second dimension, but finds that it is essentially impossible to make him see outside of his eternally straight line.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 12, 2015
• ISBN: 9781515400004

Book preview

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Reviews for Flatland

[andycyca-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The life and times of a nobleman in 2d, a very interesting view of how dimensions work and how life could work out in a flat sheet

[drardavis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As one interested in mathematics in sci-fi, this book has been on my to read list for some time. I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. It is unique and a bit difficult to describe. Partly it is a satire of English culture in 1884. Partly it is anthropomorphizing geometric figures, with surprisingly convincing results. That’s the sci-fi, Abbott’s imagined universe. But basically it is a very clever mathematical proof of the existence of God. Having recently read Frankenstein, I was delighted at the main character’s, A. Square, description of himself as “a second Prometheus.”

[danielstj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Very strange, unique, and interesting.

[solitaryfossil · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was a fun re-read, I read it first about 100 years ago while in high school. Published in 1884, it usually gets categorized as Science Fiction, but it’s a social satire that skewers Victorian mores, especially how women were viewed by that society. And it examines dimensions. The main character is a 2 dimensional square who has a glimpse of the 3rd dimension, which sets him thinking in a new way.

It’s a pleasant little story.

[iejasonw · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Many people, when discussing complicated issues like religion or god, do not understand what it means to observe an entity that exists in a space that has one dimension more than themselves. Conversely, they often do not consider what it means to understand how they might be seen by an entity that exists in a space with one dimension less than their own. While these points are not surprising on their own -- beings in other dimensions are not obvious things! -- what is surprising is the lack of use of this information by those who advocate the existence of such beings (ie. God). I think Flatland provides fodder for many deists but is, unfortunately, neglected by the same.

[wendyrey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Interesting novella, a sort of mixture of science fiction/social commentary and a Dummy's guide to dimensions and relativity.Very , very clever.

[john257hopper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a short late 19th century concept novel, based on the imaginary thoughts of an inhabitant (a Square) of a land of two dimensions and the conversations he has with the Sphere, a being from Spaceland, a world of three dimensions. Lineland and Pointland also make appearances. I appreciated the author's intent in trying to show how the concept of dimension entirely governs one's notion of the universe; at the same time, I was amused by how the author's natural assumptions of nineteenth century middle class life governed even these other dimensional worlds; so, the Square's household (his wife is a line, his sons pentagons and his grandsons hexagons) has servants (triangles) and there is a criminal underclass of isosceles triangles. Even Lineland has a King. Pointland is (naturally) just a single being unaware of the existence of any other being. Simultaneously interesting and amusing little book.

[adam.currey · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I suspect it's an effect of this book having been written in the 1880's with language having changed quite a bit in the intervening time, but I found this book completely impenetrable - I only made it through 17 pages before giving up. Quite disappointing, as I was looking forward to it and was expecting it to be interesting.

[nmarun-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I heard the audio book of Flatland and I found it very basic in terms of Geometry. I did like the author's creativity in creating the 1- and 2-dimensional world.

[bratfarrar_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A bit dry, but an excellent way to get interested in geometry. Goes well with Euclid.

[liberuno · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I started reading this book thinking that I was just going to get a quick humorous read on geometry. I didn't expect a short story told from the point of view of a square in a plane to hold so many interesting questions ranging in subject: from metaphysics and religion to discrimination.This short book is definitely worth reading.

[meriwetherr-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Impressed with how the author uses fiction to explain a complex concept and provoke thought.

[pondlife_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The first half of this book appears to be an allegory of victorian class and gender discrimination, with some additional political things thrown in that went over my head but probably made sense to contemporary readers. For example, was the thing about colors and equality talking about the French revolution?The second half is a comparison of worlds of different dimensions from the viewpoint of someone living in a two-dimensional world. This part is easier to understand, but it's a bit overdone. I got the concept after a few pages, and after a while it felt repetitive.

[griff_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Flatland. A nice read. A nice suggestion from a friend. At one point early in the book, when the narrator describes the lot of women in Flatland (and the “obvious” reasons for that lot) I could not help but think back to time spent in Qatar and the points of reference historically, socially and religiously describing the view of women in Islamic and Arabic cultures.I thought the mathematic and geometric explanations were masterful. I was struck by the powerful description of the way in which the paradigm with which we view the world limits our ability to comprehend certain things, while for others with a different paradigm, it is a matter of course. The various passages related to this theme reminded me of two works which have affected me a great deal: George Engel’s description of the his biopsychosocial model for medicine in “Where You Think You Stand Determines What You Think You See” – and Thomas Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions.I smiled and laughed at one point during the description of Lineland, when it was pointed out “once a neighbor, always a neighbor.” I immediately thought Lineland would necessarily have to be rampant with incest and homosexuality (or both simultaneously) until the author (or Lineland Monarch) anticipated my thoughts and described the marriage and mating rituals and processes. I breathed a sigh of relief and read on.A brief, but enjoyable book.

[theboylatham_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Six out of ten.

Flatland is a two-dimensional world with a strict hierarchy of shapes and rules. The first half of the book is 'A Square' explaining in detail how the world of Flatland works. However, in the second half of the book his understanding of the world is ripped apart by trips to Lineland, Pointland and a possible world of three-dimension.Amazingly innovative. The book is meant as a parody of Victorian society that believed it had reached the edge of all human knowledge.

[michael5rimmer · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I expected this book to be about the mathematics and physics of life in a two dimensional universe. Although there is some (well quite a lot, I guess) of this, it is mainly a satire on life in Victorian England. Despite my initial expectations being confounded, I did enjoy the book, which is very thought provoocing: I had a few "hand on chin" moments while reading it.

Enjoyable and recommended, but I still want to read a book more specifically about how life might evolve in two dimensions.

[aratiel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting concept...the world of two-dimensional shapes explained by a square (named, appropriately enough, A. Square) who visits other planes and dimensions (Pointland, Lineland, and Spaceland). While it makes some valid points about humanity's false sense of superiority and true ignorance of higher consciousnesses, I could not overlook the blatant sexism. Yes, yes, I know it's supposed to be a parody of Victorian society, where women were shamelessly repressed and thought of as inferior to men, but I could not help bristling when I read "...among Women, we use language implying the utmost deference for their Sex...but behind their backs they are both regarded and spoken of - by all except the very young - as being little better than 'mindless organisms.' " The women in Flatland are ruled by emotions such as love and morality, which are thought to be silly ideas by the men who abide solely by logic. Parody or not, I cannot forgive the author for this. So, Mr. Abbott, if you were alive I would have this to say to you: "Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelt of elderberries." So there.

[ashishg_50 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is difficult to imagine fourth spatial dimension, much less 11 that string theory suggests, but just because we cannot even conceive the idea doesn't mean it is not possible. After all, a being in flatlat finds our three dimensional world as unfathomabe as we find multi-dimensional world. Flatland is a short and simple read but opens mind to fantasy world of no dimension (pointland), one dimension (lineland) and two dimensions (flatland). Author's imaginations conjure up social hierarchy, ruling structure, culture and history of a fictional world forcing the reader to stretch his imaginations. An quick enjoyable stimulating read that will leave you smiling and thinking in the end.

[bryndahlquis · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A short, surreal trip that makes me very curious and almost suspicious about life. Never before have I enjoyed geometry so much, and I'll probably never look at it the same way again.

[kimmarie1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Absolutely brilliant - a true masterpiece. The premise is so simple - just the basics of elementary school mathematics. Abbott makes characters out of basic shapes with such diversity and far reaching social commentaries that are as relevant today as it was in the time in which he wrote it.

[csixty4 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had such high hopes for this book. I figured any speculative fiction that stood the test of time so well must be something really special. Instead, I got porn for math geeks. The whole first half of the book, a description of the inhabitants of Flatland, might have been more interesting if the details were revealed through narrative, but the explanations and diagrams would make a good cure for insomnia. The second half was more interesting, and indeed the last bits were exciting. But the cost to get there was too much.

[leticia.toraci · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very original book, where you will think in geometric figures at every line. It also sounds quite modern even if it was written in 1884. Its satirical tone makes it a priceless reading jewel and I would certainly recommend it.

[nx74defiant · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A two-dimensional being records his journeys throughout various dimensions.Given his experience with the line I would have thought he would be more open to the possibility of a 3rd dimension.

[amaraduende · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was so weird! Very different... and a quick read. It's about a man who lives in a very strictly ordered society in a world of 2 dimensions. He visits worlds of other numbers of dimensions... Lots of details included about what life might be like... even illustrations!

[m_dow · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Meh. Not great, but it's a really short read and somewhat entertaining. The "flatland" society is actually rather horrific, full of eugenics and chauvinism, but the story is kind of fun. I wouldn't discourage you from reading it, but I'm not going to run around shouting that this is the best book ever.

[occassionalread · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Flatland is a delightful book, the only that I know of that is narrarated by a two dimensional square. It provides a lesson in geometry and understanding dimensions. But it also operates, subtly, on another level, providing perhaps a tongue in cheek commentary on the British class system and social/sexual relations. It's politically incorrect at times, if taken seriously and not as a satire, but it's a lot of fun.

[hemlokgang · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

.I get it that this story of a two dimensional world is a metaphor for the superficiality and the divisiveness of the social structure of our three dimensional world. Did not like it at all.

[mrgan-2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Deservedly a classic of popular mathematics, Flatland makes the problem of multiple dimensions into a comprehensible adventure of sorts. It's a great concept and something everyone should read about at some point.

However, there are much better books today from which you could learn the basics of Flatland. Being a product of the late 19th century, the book is saddled with stuffy, annoying prose; outdated and distracting satire; and only a marginally interesting "plot".

If you've heard about the book in the context of a work which covered the same ideas of how to think about dimensionality and other presumably unthinkable concepts, you can probably skip Flatland, as not much else about it is worthwhile.

[robble_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A wonderful philosophical novel which is a must read classic. This is basically the best book without real people that you are ever going to see. Abbott may be completely out of his mind, but he knows what he's talking about.

[tchesney_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In process:I read this book about 40 to 50 years ago.What a mind opener/expander!