238 Results with the "Science Fiction" genre


    • Section 5: Of our Methods of Recognizing one another Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 5 explores the rigid structure that defines a woman’s place in Flatland—a society where mobility, both social and intellectual, is essentially impossible for them. Women are shaped as mere lines, and this geometric limitation marks them as inherently inferior in the eyes of the system. Unlike other shapes that can evolve into higher forms, women remain fixed, both in form and fate. There is no educational path, no social strategy, and no merit-based system that can change their status. As a…
    • Section 4: Concerning the Women Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 4 presents a disturbing view of societal control in Flatland, particularly how irregular or discontented citizens are dealt with by the ruling Circles. Those who do not meet the strict standards of shape may find themselves confined for life in state institutions under the pretense of rehabilitation. A few of the most rebellious or hopelessly flawed are executed without fanfare, considered a threat to the stability of the realm. To suppress unrest, especially among the Isosceles class, the…
    • Section 3: Concerning the Inhabitants of Flatland Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 3 explores the social structure of Flatland through both its geometry and strict hierarchy. Buildings in populated areas must follow a legal standard that ensures safety by limiting sharp angles, with pentagonal forms being the lowest acceptable design. This reflects a broader cultural shift, where even architecture mirrors the drive toward symmetry and refinement. Only in remote, undeveloped regions might a square house still be found—an architectural relic seen more as a curiosity than a…
    • Section 22: How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 22 – Flatland reveals a deeply personal and philosophical crisis that unravels slowly within the mind of the narrator. As the realization of a Third Dimension settles into his consciousness, he struggles to share this vision with others who are confined to thinking only within their two-dimensional limitations. His initial excitement turns to despair as even his grandson—bright and inquisitive—dismisses his attempts at explanation. The rejection wounds more deeply because it comes from…
    • Section 21: How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 21 – Flatland begins with renewed hope that enlightenment might spring from youth, as the narrator reaches out to his Grandson, remembering the boy’s earlier comments about dimensions beyond two. Confident that this fresh mind could grasp what older ones could not, he attempts to explain the meaning of a third spatial direction—one that does not follow the cardinal plane but instead moves "upward." The theory, while simple enough in isolation, proves frustratingly difficult to communicate in…
    • Section 20: How the Sphere Encouraged Me in a Vision. Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 20 – Flatland opens with the narrator returning home, carrying the weight of experiences that he knows cannot be shared openly. Faced with his wife’s concern and her limited understanding of dimensions, he crafts a simple story involving a trapdoor to explain his disoriented state. Her unquestioning acceptance comforts him only slightly, as he begins to realize how lonely it feels to possess knowledge that others cannot grasp. The silence of night offers him refuge, and he retreats inward,…
    • Section 2: Of the Climate and Houses in Flatland Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 2 introduces the geographical orientation and architectural norms of Flatland, where the inhabitants navigate using a unique sense of direction. Unlike in Spaceland, there are no visible celestial bodies, so determining North cannot rely on stars or sunlight. Instead, nature itself supplies a solution through a subtle but constant attraction toward the South. In milder regions, this pull is barely noticeable, yet it’s sufficient for most people to find their bearings. Rain also always falls from…
    • Section 19: How, though the Sphere shewed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desire more; and what came of it Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 19 opens with the Sphere continuing his mission to broaden the Square’s perception by introducing more complex concepts of geometry. A cube, to the Square, initially seems like nothing more than a strange distortion of familiar shapes. He struggles to reconcile what he sees with what he knows, finding it difficult to accept that something as foreign as height could be real. The Sphere responds by demonstrating how a square, replicated upwards, creates a solid with depth. He carefully introduces…
    • Section 18: How I Came to Spaceland, and what I Saw There Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 18 begins with the narrator's unexpected departure from Flatland, guided by a mysterious being called the Sphere. This moment marks his initiation into a realm that his mind cannot immediately comprehend. The experience of being lifted from his world and into Spaceland defies logic and perception, causing fear and disorientation. Yet, as he acclimates, his fear gives way to fascination. The new dimension isn't just a visual revelation—it redefines what the narrator thought was possible. The…
    • Section 17: How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds Cover
      by LovelyMay Section 17 begins with a moment of mounting tension between the narrator and the enigmatic visitor known as the Sphere. No longer relying on explanations or logic, the Sphere resorts to action to make his point. The narrator, still trapped in the rigid perceptions of Flatland, violently presses his angle against the mysterious guest, only to find that the stranger slides away—not to the sides, but upward, vanishing into a realm beyond his comprehension. This physical impossibility deepens the…
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