Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions
David “Grizzly” Smith seems committed to increasing our selections of public domain works. Today, he’s beginning the release of another free serialized audiobook — Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. Everything I was going to write in the intro, David already has in his description:
Math. Geometry. Physics. Violence? Is this the same book I read in school? Yep.
One of the joys of rediscovering old books is that they still have the ability to surprise, even shock.
“If my poor Flatland friend retained the vigour of mind which he enjoyed when he began to compose these Memoirs, I should not now need to represent him in this preface, in which he desires, fully, to return his thanks to his readers and critics in Spaceland … But he is not the Square he once was. Years of imprisonment, and the still heavier burden of general incredulity and mockery, have combined with the thoughts and notions, and much also of the terminology, which he acquired during his short stay in Spaceland. …”
You may remember Flatland as a clever children’s story about squares and triangles and such living a happy life in a sheet of paper, a story about math and geometry and such. No, not so much.
Sure, there’s no Adult Language or Sex. But there’s plenty of violence. I recall recording one scene wherein over 120,000 people were stabbed to death, torn to pieces and eaten by their fellow Flatlanders. Yes. Way.
Assuming you consider Isoceles Triangles people. In Flatland, they are. Mostly.
“Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, on or in the surface, but without the power of rising above or sinking below it, very much like shadows–only hard with luminous edges–and you will then have a pretty correct notion of my country and countrymen. Alas, a few years ago, I should have said ‘my universe,’ but now my mind has been opened to higher views of things. …”
Flatland is very old Hard Science Fiction, if you look at it right. It’s clever, satirical, funny and sad. It includes well-fleshed-out alien society with similarities to our own, several different alternate universes, genetics, politics, religion, slavery, tyranny, war, rebellion, imprisonment, madness, and death.
And math. And geometry. And some rather clever Puns. “Written by A. Square?” Also known as Edwin Abbott Abbott. Get it?
As if the Brothers Grimm had gotten much, much Grimmer.
“To The Inhabitance of SPACE IN GENERAL, And H.C. IN PARTICULAR, This Work is Dedicated By a Humble Native of Flatland, In the Hope that Even as he was Initiated into the Mysteries Of THREE DIMENSIONS, Having been previously conversant With ONLY TWO, So the Citizens of that Celestial Region May aspire yet higher and higher, To the Secrets of FOUR, FIVE, or EVEN SIX Dimensions, Thereby contributing To the Enlargment of THE IMAGINATION, And the possible Development Of that most and excellent Gift of MODESTY, Among the Superior Races Of SOLID HUMANITY.”
Bring a pencil. And use your imagination. I dare you.
The first five episodes of this serialized audiobook are available in the default feed. Take that if you want to follow along as David makes new episodes available. Or, if you’d like to have a bit more control, try the custom feed. You pick how often episodes are sent to you.
May 6th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Thanks for the opportunity once again. I have to admit, it’s even taken me a while to get really hooked by this book. Now I look forward to seeing how the second part turns out. I hope I can give the book the performance it deserves.
Griz
May 7th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
I love this book. It’s so often used by mathemeticians and physicists and such to illustrate this point or that. But I love its sociology. A whole class system, based upon one’s shape! (Oh, well, I guess that’s what we already have, and not really a new idea.)
Anyway, I’ll be looking forward to hearing it performed by the Grizzly Man.
Good show!
May 7th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
It figures.
Only a couple of days after writing the above description saying there’s no Sex in Flatland, and I find the section with the Sex in it. Graphically described — you should excuse a pun — and between a Man and TWO women!
All described in Episode Seven, if I’m not mistaken. I apologize for my error. Still, I believe I can avoid an iTunes “Explicit” tag.
And if you know why, please don’t spoil it for the new kids, ‘kay?
Griz
May 19th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I was up really late last night getting Episode 7 recorded. Tried to do some clever things with sound effects and what-not. Not my normal practice. When I listened to the episode this morning, exhausted, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the result.
Please tell me what you think. Thanks for your patience.
I also attempted to record all the remaining episodes last night, but didn’t edit those yet. Might have to re-record some of it. But now I have a better feel for how this book ought to end up sounding.
Griz
May 30th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I hope you enjoyed Episode 8, and at least didn’t mind my fiddling with special effects. I was thinking, from A Square’s perspective, these later experiences were rather “science fictional,” and that should affect how the story is presented.
I’ve got Episode 9 mostly done. I’m going back and forth on a last few special effects. I think near the end of the book things should settle down a bit in that regard.
Thanks for your patience. And it’s pretty remarkable to see Flatland in the Podiobooks Top 10 for most subscriptions over the past 30 days!
Griz
June 4th, 2009 at 10:58 pm
The story is great, Grizzly’s voice is just perfect for the role and the production values are some of the highest around. Highly reccomended! Thanks, Grizzly!
June 8th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Thanks for your kind comments, Feanix. I’m glad folks are enjoying it. I’m enjoying it myself.
July 9th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Great work! I’m glad you took the time to put this classic in audio for the enjoyment of all us listeners!
July 14th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Thanks for that. There have been other audio versions available. But I thought I might add something to the presentation.
I’ve actually been a bit worried I went overboard with effects and whatnot. It’s good to hear folks are enjoying the book!
Griz
December 26th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I really enjoyed this one. I think it may be the best podiobook I’ve encountered thus far.
July 25th, 2011 at 11:29 am
I am amazed at how much amusement I got from listening to a square argue with a line.
Thank you for sharing this.
February 2nd, 2012 at 9:15 am
This is not only a classic mathematical fantasy thought experiment over 125 years old, but one of the best produced audiobooks I’ve ever heard.