Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#1

Post by jaybol » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 9:14 PM UTC

Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic
americanscientist.org

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#2

Post by ljf » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 9:57 PM UTC

It's a truely brilliant book, pretty short and an excellent holiday/weekend read.

Link to a html version of the book with original illustrations: http://xahlee.org/flatland/index.html

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#3

Post by cletus » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:06 PM UTC

Flatland now always reminds me of the Big Bang Theory:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmiXemW_oBQ

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#4

Post by coderholic » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:07 PM UTC

I read it recently. Great short read. Extremely sexist, but I guess it's a book of its time. Got me thinking hard about higher dimensions for a while, until my head started hurting :)

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#5

Post by jawee » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:09 PM UTC

coderholic wrote: post #4

I read it recently. Great short read. Extremely sexist, but I guess it's a book of its time. Got me thinking hard about higher dimensions for a while, until my head started hurting :)

I´m pretty sure that´s part of the point of the book; in addition to the obvious, it is also social commentary on views on women at the time of its writing.

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#6

Post by ljf » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:10 PM UTC

coderholic wrote: post #4

I read it recently. Great short read. Extremely sexist, but I guess it's a book of its time. Got me thinking hard about higher dimensions for a while, until my head started hurting :)

Re the sexism, read the article linked above ;)

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#7

Post by auxbuss » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:12 PM UTC

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatland with links to e-versions: epub, kindle, etc. via Project Gutenberg.

And, new to me, Project Gutenberg provides QR codes for phone download. Nice.

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#8

Post by jschuur » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:15 PM UTC

I recommend the movie too. There's 2 of them, make sure you watch the half hour one with Martin Sheen, Michael York and Kristen Bell:

http://www.flatlandthemovie.com

The full length 95 minute one is less favorably held.

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#9

Post by coderholic » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:18 PM UTC

ljf wrote: post #6

coderholic wrote: post #4

I read it recently. Great short read. Extremely sexist, but I guess it's a book of its time. Got me thinking hard about higher dimensions for a while, until my head started hurting :)

Re the sexism, read the article linked above ;)

OK, read it now. Great summary of the book. I hadn't realised the author was active in the women’s suffrage movement. I'll have to read it again! :)

Re: Flatland: A Forgivably Flat Classic

#10

Post by jschuur » Sun, Jan 09, 2011, 10:23 PM UTC

cletus wrote: post #3

Flatland now always reminds me of the Big Bang Theory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmiXemW_oBQ

Figures that Sheldon would consider himself a higher level hexagon.

And that he thought Raj should go after a simple line segment.