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vemilla's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, and Sexual assault
machadamia's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book and after which had a compelling urge to read Plato. I loved all the questioning dialogues and the thought of someone setting up an ideal city, a form of utopia, supposedly, and for it to end that way was so unexpected but also completely justified. I liked all the relationships that formed between the cast of characters and even thought it was a large cast, it never felt like I was lost. I also loved the portrayal of socrates. The author clearly read and researched and loved greek literature and philosophers. A very interesting premise and is really only just getting started.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault
pferdina's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the next volume in the series.
Athena and Apollo set up an isolated city on an island with a volcano that will destroy it in the future as an experiment to test Plato’s Republic. Apollo takes mortal form to be part of the experiment and learn about volition and equal significance. I thoroughly loved the idea of the city as a way for people to become their best selves, but of course Plato did not consider human nature and the complexity of what he was asking these people to do. The sentient workers were an additional wonderful bit, as Sokrates shows they have souls.
Athena and Apollo set up an isolated city on an island with a volcano that will destroy it in the future as an experiment to test Plato’s Republic. Apollo takes mortal form to be part of the experiment and learn about volition and equal significance. I thoroughly loved the idea of the city as a way for people to become their best selves, but of course Plato did not consider human nature and the complexity of what he was asking these people to do. The sentient workers were an additional wonderful bit, as Sokrates shows they have souls.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child death, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, and Slavery
thuguely's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Rape, and Slavery
madhu42's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
A fascinating thought experiment into the potential strengths and downfalls of setting up Plato's Republic in real life, drawing upon the expertise of iconic figures (and gods) across history - past, present, and future. As a former philosophy student, I was positively surprised by how authentic and fun the socratic dialogues felt, I honestly felt like I was reading Plato at times. The characters were a little flat, though I loved Sokrates himself, but this is because the book is about 80% dialogue and often relies on characters to function as argumentative pawns. It's a very fast read but the setup to the climax/final debate is well paced, thought-provoking, and satisfyingly chaotic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy and Rape
Moderate: Slavery
sarapocher98's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Slavery
th206's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Gaslighting
aradeia's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book is pure fun! If you love classics, sci-fi, and philosophy, this is the book for you. I loved the characters, I loved the themes. Plato meets robots! The Free Will™ debate! Incarnated gods! And hopefully this book will help anyone who thinks it's cool to hate Socrates get over that. He's just great in this book.
Unfortunately, I don't think the two sequels are quite as good as The Just City, but they're still plenty of fun too. It's probably time for a reread, I think.
Unfortunately, I don't think the two sequels are quite as good as The Just City, but they're still plenty of fun too. It's probably time for a reread, I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
recorderkfk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Fascinating concept, mixed execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Slavery, Pregnancy, and Stalking
Minor: Grief
liorallen's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
More than anything, this feels like Plato fan fiction. I got there overwhelming feeling that I was reading a lot of world building, which was interesting, but because the characters are poorly developed and the plot is thin it fell flat for me. Several significant incidents (see content warnings) happened with no character being held accountable, which was disappointing. Also, because of the concept (a group of time traveling philosophers trying to create Plato’s Republic), the text is cisheteronormative to the extreme.
Disappointed is the best word to describe my feelings during and after reading this book. Which is sad, because I’ve met and had lovely conversations with Jo in the past. She’s a delight, and I had hoped for better.
Disappointed is the best word to describe my feelings during and after reading this book. Which is sad, because I’ve met and had lovely conversations with Jo in the past. She’s a delight, and I had hoped for better.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Slavery, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
Contains multiple incidents of rape and/or sexual coercion, with the offenders facing zero consequences.