The Just City

The Just City is the first book in Jo Walton's Thessaly trilogy, where the goddess Athene attempts to create Plato's Republic in real life. She gathers philosophers and intellectuals from across human history to serve as teachers, collecting ten thousand children to raise in this experimental society on a Mediterranean island. The story focuses on three main characters: Maia, a Victorian woman who prayed to Athene; Simmea, a young girl brought to the city as a child; and Apollo himself, who has chosen to live as a mortal to better understand human concepts like consent and choice. Their experiences in the Just City reveal the practical challenges of implementing Plato's theoretical utopia. The arrival of Socrates to the community brings both illumination and disruption, as his method of philosophical questioning forces everyone to examine their assumptions about justice, equality, and the nature of excellence. The novel explores fundamental questions about free will, justice, and the gap between philosophical ideals and human reality. Through its science fiction premise, it transforms abstract political theory into a lived experiment with real stakes and consequences.

Readers describe the book as a philosophical thought experiment that examines Plato's Republic in practice. Many note it functions better as an exploration of ideas than as a traditional narrative. Readers appreciated: - The unique premise of gods and time travelers building Plato's ideal society - Complex ethical discussions that remain accessible - The examination of consent, equality, and free will - Strong characterization of Apollo and Simmea Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in the middle sections - Some found the philosophical debates overshadowed the plot - Character development felt uneven for secondary characters - The ending left some questions unresolved Ratings: Goodreads: 3.84/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (180+ ratings) "A book that makes you think while telling an engaging story" - Goodreads reviewer "The discussions sometimes feel like sitting in a philosophy class" - Amazon reviewer "Brilliant concept but uneven execution" - LibraryThing review

Anathem by Neal Stephenson In a world of isolated intellectual monasteries, philosophers and mathematicians grapple with fundamental questions of reality while facing an existential threat to their civilization.

The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears Three interconnected stories across different time periods follow characters who attempt to preserve classical philosophy and create ideal societies during times of social collapse.

Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer Set in a future society structured around Enlightenment philosophical principles, the story examines the implementation of utopian ideals through political and social systems.

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder A young girl receives mysterious letters that lead her through the history of philosophy, creating a narrative that blends philosophical education with metaphysical mystery.

The Philosopher Kings by Plato Plato's foundational text presents a dialogue on the nature of justice and the structure of an ideal society, providing the theoretical framework that The Just City attempts to implement.

🔸 Jo Walton won both the Hugo and Nebula awards for her novel "Among Others" (2011), making her one of the few authors to achieve this prestigious double honor. 🔸 The Just City is part of a trilogy called "Thessaly," with the subsequent books "The Philosopher Kings" and "Necessity" continuing to explore the philosophical experiment. 🔸 The time-traveling scholars in the book come from various periods spanning 2,500 years of human history, including Victorian, Renaissance, and Ancient Greek eras. 🔸 Plato's Republic, which inspired the novel, was written around 380 BCE and is considered one of the most influential works of philosophy in Western history. 🔸 The author incorporated actual robots (called "Workers") into the story, which were provided by Apollo himself - creating an intriguing intersection between ancient Greek mythology and science fiction.