Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Flatland with Notes and Commentary
- Part I This World
- Part II Other Worlds
- 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland
- 14 How in my Vision I endeavoured to explain the nature of Flatland, but could not
- 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland
- 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland
- 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds
- 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
- 19 How, though the Sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it
- 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
- 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
- 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result
- Epilogue by the Editor
- Continued Notes
- Appendix A Critical Reaction to Flatland
- Appendix B The Life and Work of Edwin Abbott Abbott
- Recommended Reading
- References
- Index of Defined Words
- Index
18 - How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Flatland with Notes and Commentary
- Part I This World
- Part II Other Worlds
- 13 How I had a Vision of Lineland
- 14 How in my Vision I endeavoured to explain the nature of Flatland, but could not
- 15 Concerning a Stranger from Spaceland
- 16 How the Stranger vainly endeavoured to reveal to me in words the mysteries of Spaceland
- 17 How the Sphere, having in vain tried words, resorted to deeds
- 18 How I came to Spaceland, and what I saw there
- 19 How, though the Sphere showed me other mysteries of Spaceland, I still desired more; and what came of it
- 20 How the Sphere encouraged me in a Vision
- 21 How I tried to teach the Theory of Three Dimensions to my Grandson, and with what success
- 22 How I then tried to diffuse the Theory of Three Dimensions by other means, and of the result
- Epilogue by the Editor
- Continued Notes
- Appendix A Critical Reaction to Flatland
- Appendix B The Life and Work of Edwin Abbott Abbott
- Recommended Reading
- References
- Index of Defined Words
- Index
Summary
An unspeakable horror seized me. There was a darkness; then a dizzy, sickening sensation of sight that was not like seeing; I saw a Line that was no Line; Space that was not Space: I was myself, and not myself. When I could find voice, I shrieked aloud in agony, “Either this is madness or it is Hell.” “It is neither,” calmly replied the voice of the Sphere, “it is Knowledge; it is Three Dimensions: open your eye once again and try to look steadily.”
I looked, and, behold, a new world! There stood before me, visibly incorporate, all that I had before inferred, conjectured, dreamed, of perfect Circular beauty. What seemed the centre of the Stranger's form lay open to my view: yet I could see no heart, nor lungs, nor arteries, only a beautiful harmonious Something – for which I had no words; but you, my Readers in Spaceland, would call it the surface of the Sphere.
Prostrating myself mentally before my Guide, I cried, “How is it, O divine ideal of consummate loveliness and wisdom that I see thy inside, and yet cannot discern thy heart, thy lungs, thy arteries, thy liver?” “What you think you see, you see not,” he replied; “it is not given to you, nor to any other Being to behold my internal parts. I am of a different order of Beings, from those in Flatland.
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- Chapter
- Information
- FlatlandAn Edition with Notes and Commentary, pp. 170 - 180Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009