The Just City

In a whimsical twist of divine curiosity, the goddess Pallas Athene decides to test Plato's philosophical ideals by creating the Just City on a Mediterranean island. She populates it with thousands of children and a select few adults from various eras, along with advanced robots from the future. The city is designed to be a utopia where inhabitants strive for excellence and self-improvement. Meanwhile, the god Apollo, intrigued by human understanding, becomes a mortal child to experience life in this unique society. The arrival of Socrates, however, brings a wave of challenging questions that disrupt the harmony of the Just City, leading to unexpected consequences and philosophical dilemmas. Jo Walton masterfully weaves a tale that explores the complexities of human nature, the pursuit of perfection, and the unintended consequences of idealistic visions. The Just City is not just a story about a utopian experiment gone awry; it's a deep dive into the nature of justice, morality, and the human condition, all wrapped in a narrative that is both thought-provoking and engaging.