Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott is praised for its inventive exploration of dimensions and social satire. Readers appreciate its imaginative narrative and philosophical depth. However, some find its mathematical concepts dense and its portrayal of gender roles outdated. Overall, it remains a thought-provoking classic in speculative fiction.

Readers who enjoy thought-provoking and imaginative works blending mathematics and social satire, like Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or George Orwell's Animal Farm, will appreciate Edwin A. Abbott's Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. Ideal for fans of speculative fiction and geometry.

In Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions by Edwin A. Abbott, the story is narrated by a character called the Square, who lives in a two-dimensional world with a strict social hierarchy based on shape. He dreams of a one-dimensional world, Lineland, and later meets the Sphere, who introduces him to the concept of a three-dimensional world, Spaceland. Despite gaining new insights, the Square's attempts to share his knowledge in Flatland lead to his imprisonment. The novel includes references to rape and death by suicide.

Informative / Fantastical / Contemplative / Challenging / Mysterious

Edwin A. Abbott

Adult

Novella

Fiction

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Study Guide

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Overview

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Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Summary

Background

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “This World”

Part 1, Sections 1-6

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Part 1, Sections 1-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Sections 7-12

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Part 1, Sections 7-12 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Sections 13-17

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Part 2, Sections 13-17 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Sections 18-22

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions Part 2, Sections 18-22 Summary & Analysis

Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions

Before You Read

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Who Should Read Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions?

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