Necessity

Necessity concludes Jo Walton's Thessaly trilogy, which follows an experimental society based on Plato's Republic. Set on a distant planet in the 26th century, the story focuses on communities originally founded by time-traveling Greek gods and populated by philosophers and children from various historical periods. The narrative begins with the death of Apollo's mortal form and his return to godhood, coinciding with humanity's first contact with the relocated Platonic cities. The plot centers on the search for the missing goddess Athene, who has ventured into the primordial Chaos beyond time itself. The story incorporates time travel, divine beings, and interactions between humans, gods, and alien entities. Characters from previous books in the trilogy return, including historical figures like Giovanni Pico della Mirandola and Socrates. This final installment explores themes of divinity, human potential, and the nature of knowledge, while examining the practical applications of philosophical ideals in society. The novel questions the relationships between gods and mortals, and considers how theoretical systems adapt when confronted with reality.

Readers found this conclusion to the Thessaly trilogy less satisfying than previous books. Many noted it felt rushed and disconnected from the established storyline. Positive reviews highlighted: - The philosophical discussions about free will and determinism - Integration of Greek mythology with science fiction elements - Resolution of character arcs from earlier books Common criticisms: - Plot feels scattered and hard to follow - New characters aren't as developed as in previous books - Time travel elements create confusion - Less focus on the original premise of Plato's Republic Ratings: Goodreads: 3.55/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.7/5 (50+ reviews) Several readers noted the book works better when viewed as a meditation on philosophy rather than a traditional narrative. As one Goodreads reviewer wrote: "The ideas remain fascinating but the story lost its way." Multiple reviews mentioned disappointment that the series' unique premise became overshadowed by newer plot elements.

The Just City by Ada Palmer Features a similar blend of Greek philosophy and science fiction, depicting philosophers attempting to create their own utopian society.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Explores the intersection of gods and mortals in the modern world through a narrative of ancient deities adapting to contemporary times.

Too Like the Lightning by Ada Palmer Presents a future society structured around philosophical principles with themes of social experimentation and the role of divinity in human affairs.

The Philosopher Kings by Jo Walton Continues the exploration of Platonic ideals and divine intervention in human society that readers of Necessity will recognize.

The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin Examines the practical implementation of philosophical and political ideals in an isolated society, with parallel themes to the Platonic experiment in Necessity.

🔸 The book is part of the Thessaly trilogy, which began with "The Just City" and continued with "The Philosopher Kings," all exploring the concept of establishing Plato's Republic in practice. 🔸 Jo Walton won both the Hugo and Nebula awards for her novel "Among Others," establishing her expertise in blending literary elements with speculative fiction. 🔸 The novel's premise draws from Plato's "Republic," a philosophical text written around 380 BCE that describes an ideal society governed by philosopher-kings. 🔸 Walton combines two traditionally separate genres - hard science fiction and classical mythology - in a unique way that creates a new sub-genre sometimes called "philosophical science fiction." 🔸 The author was born in Wales and frequently incorporates Welsh mythology and storytelling traditions into her work, though in this series she focuses on Greek mythology and philosophy.