The Planiverse: Computer Contact with a Two-Dimensional World by A.K. Dewdney (1-Nov-2000) Paperback

by A.K. Dewdney

Paperback

About the author

Alexander Keewatin (A.K.) Dewdney is a professor of computer science at the University of Western Ontario, a mathematician, environmental scientist, and author of books on diverse subjects.

Wanderers of cyberspace may discover something about my life as a mathematician and computer scientist, environmental scientist, conservationist, and author of books and articles.

The name "Keewatin" is an Ojibway word meaning "north wind."
The name ":Dewdney" is from the French/Jewish name, "Dieudonne."

Reviews

[Steve Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this was a wonderful exercise of the mind and imagination. Set in the year 1981, a computer science professor at a North American University and some students create a program called 2DWORLD. Soon, the computer somehow links to an alternate universe called the Planiverse. It is analogous to ours with sentient beings having their own language and society and who reside on a planet called Arde; a flat, circular two-dimensional world. Most every evening for several months, they trade messages through the computer with a character named Yendred, a young adult soon to embark on a quest. We get glimpses of family life, geography, history, politics, social mores, the state of their science and technology, and philosophy and religion. On one level, this is a story about Yendred and his quest. On another, it is an investigation in how such a world could function. For instance, when two people encounter each other while headed in opposite directions, one of them must lie down and allow the other to walk over them. The action and narrative moves fast and is great fun. I recommend.