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jhbandcats's review
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn’t know what to expect but I’m sure that if I had, this book would have exceeded my expectations. It’s a funny premise: Athene (Athena) gathers 300 adults from all time periods of Western Civilization and uses them as teachers in her experiment of establishing Plato’s Just City. There are some real people among the characters, most notably Sokrates (Socrates). Apollo wants to learn more about humans and becomes a mortal so he can participate.
The 10,080 children who are being taught were all bought as slaves, told their previous lives should be considered dreams, and never to think of refer to them again. This seems all right with most, especially those whose experiences as slaves are worth forgetting, but there are some who don’t mold themselves to the plan.
Many, many philosophical conversations ensue. The story is told from three perspectives, that of Apollo as mortal, a teacher, and a student. Parts are very funny, as when Apollo’s identity is occasionally guessed and when Sokrates tries to talk to the robots.
There is much to think about here of free will, power, slavery and its equivalents, the nature of love, and being forced to have sex and breed. I was surprised st how much I loved this book.
There was an early scene where there was great conflict between two people, and it never sat well with me. The one who took the other’s liberty never realized he’d done something wrong. If this was the Just City, there should have been some justice for the wounded party.
The 10,080 children who are being taught were all bought as slaves, told their previous lives should be considered dreams, and never to think of refer to them again. This seems all right with most, especially those whose experiences as slaves are worth forgetting, but there are some who don’t mold themselves to the plan.
Many, many philosophical conversations ensue. The story is told from three perspectives, that of Apollo as mortal, a teacher, and a student. Parts are very funny, as when Apollo’s identity is occasionally guessed and when Sokrates tries to talk to the robots.
There is much to think about here of free will, power, slavery and its equivalents, the nature of love, and being forced to have sex and breed. I was surprised st how much I loved this book.
There was an early scene where there was great conflict between two people, and it never sat well with me. The one who took the other’s liberty never realized he’d done something wrong. If this was the Just City, there should have been some justice for the wounded party.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Slavery, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, and Abandonment