The Terra Ignota series by Ada Palmer is a complex and ambitious work of science fiction that delves into themes of utopia, progress, and human nature. It combines elements of Enlightenment philosophy with a futuristic society, exploring questions about the perfectibility of human society and the role of providence. The series includes four main books: Too Like the Lightning, Seven Surrenders, The Will to Battle, and Perhaps the Stars.
In 'Jacques the Fatalist', Denis Diderot challenges conventional French fiction by presenting a world of unpredictability and variety. The novel follows Jacques, a servant who believes in determinism, yet acts with apparent freedom. Through a series of interrupted stories and philosophical discussions, Diderot explores Enlightenment ideas in a playful and picaresque style. The book is a precursor to post-modern literature and remains influential in its exploration of human existence and the nature of choice.
De rerum natura is a didactic poem that presents the principles of Epicureanism, focusing on atomism, cosmology, and the nature of the mind and soul. It argues against superstition and divine intervention, advocating for a materialistic understanding of the universe. The poem is divided into six books, covering topics from the atomic structure of the universe to human society and natural phenomena.
Too Like the Lightning is the first novel in the Terra Ignota series, set in the year 2454. It explores a utopian society where technological advancements have created a world of abundance, but beneath the surface, tensions simmer. The story follows Mycroft Canner, a brilliant and infamous convict, and Carlyle Foster, a sensayer, as they navigate a world where a child named Bridger can bring inanimate objects to life, threatening the stability of their society. The novel delves into themes of politics, power, and desire in a future where traditional gender distinctions are taboo and religion is outlawed.
In this groundbreaking novel, Ursula K. Le Guin delves into the society of Gethen, a planet where the inhabitants are androgynous and only enter a state of sexual arousal once a month. The story follows Genly Ai, an envoy from the Ekumen, as he navigates the complexities of Gethenian culture and politics. The novel is a profound exploration of gender, identity, and the human condition, challenging traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Dispossessed" is a science fiction novel that explores themes of anarchism, utopianism, and social justice. The story follows Shevek, a physicist who travels between two planets with contrasting social systems: Urras, a capitalist society, and Anarres, an anarchist society. Le Guin's novel is a thought-provoking exploration of different social and political systems and their impact on individual lives. The novel's exploration of freedom, equality, and the challenges of creating a just society continues to resonate with readers today. It's a classic of science fiction.
The Lord of the Rings, written by J.R.R. Tolkien, is an epic high fantasy novel set in Middle-earth. The story follows Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who inherits the One Ring from his uncle Bilbo. The Ring, forged by Sauron, holds the power to control all other Rings of Power and must be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom to prevent Sauron's return. Frodo is joined by a fellowship of other characters, including Gandalf the Grey, Samwise Gamgee, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, and Boromir, as they embark on a dangerous quest across Middle-earth. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, the corrupting influence of power, and the struggle between fate and free will[3][4][5].
Written in the early 16th century, 'The Prince' is a realistic instruction guide for new rulers. Machiavelli argues that an effective leader must be skilled in the art of war, sometimes cruel, and willing to use deception and manipulation to achieve political goals. The book is divided into chapters that discuss various types of principalities, how to acquire and maintain power, and the qualities a prince should possess. Machiavelli uses historical examples, including the career of Cesare Borgia, to illustrate his points. The treatise emphasizes the importance of maintaining the goodwill of the people and the stability of the state, even if it means deviating from traditional virtues. 'The Prince' remains a controversial but influential work in modern political philosophy.
Candide, written by Voltaire, is a satirical novel that critiques metaphysical optimism, particularly the philosophy of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz. The story revolves around Candide, a naive and optimistic young man who is expelled from his home after an illicit affair with the baron's daughter, Cunégonde. Candide and his companions, including his tutor Pangloss, experience a series of horrific events such as wars, earthquakes, slavery, and other atrocities. Despite these hardships, Pangloss persists in his belief that 'all is for the best in this best of all possible worlds.' The novel ultimately concludes with Candide and his friends settling on a farm in Turkey, where they find happiness by focusing on practical, everyday tasks rather than philosophical speculations. Voltaire uses satire to lampoon various aspects of 18th-century society, including science, philosophy, religion, and government[2][3][5].
Ada Palmer is a Renaissance historian at the University of Chicago who studies radical free thought and censorship, composes music, consults on anime and manga, and is the author of the acclaimed Terra Ignota sci-fi series, among many other things.
Tyler sat down with Ada to discuss why living in the Renaissance was worse than living during the Middle Ages, how art protected Florence, why she’s reluctant to travel back in time, which method of doing history is currently the most underrated, whose biography she’ll write, how we know what old Norse music was like, why women scholars helped us understand Viking metaphysics, why Diderot's Jacques the Fatalist is an interesting work, what people misunderstand about the inquisition(s), why science fiction doesn’t have higher social and literary status, which hive she would belong to in Terra Ignota, what the new novel she’s writing is about, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded June 28th, 2023.
Other ways to connect
Photo Credit: Jason Smith
Conversations with Tyler 
