Flatland

An amazing tale of life in 2D, first published in 1884.

Flatland fits easily as a primer to Einstein’s work on general relativity as well as a companion piece to Orwell’s Animal Farm. Originally published as a satirical commentary on Victorian-era social structures, Flatland later gained popularity for its description of alternate universes where the very fabric of existence was not a static fixture. The theme running through this innovative story is one of seeking an expansion in awareness, of not accepting imposed limitations no matter how inflexible and undeniable they may seem. The beauty of this story is found in the superficial simplicity of the tale and in the familiarity of the interactions of the characters, but mostly in the almost infinite twists and turns that can be taken in the minds of the reader as the deeper implications of the theoretical basis of Flatland’s existence, and the parallels with our own universe, are considered in the freedom of abstract thought.