Another World: Fragments from the Star City of Montalluyah

In Short

This book presents a series of "fragments" describing Montalluyah, a planet governed by a visionary supreme ruler, or Tootmanyoso. Through a mixture of autobiography and social observation, the work details a society that has eliminated disease, crime, and misery by applying the principle that prevention is superior to cure. By mastering natural forces—specifically the unique electricities inherent in all living and non-living things—the inhabitants have created a world of perpetual beauty, rational order, and profound happiness, serving as a template for what earthly civilization might one day become.

The Story

The narrative begins with a framing device: the editor presents fragments of a manuscript documenting an advanced civilization located on a distant star. Unlike Earth, Montalluyah is a unified kingdom led by a supreme ruler who serves as both its head of state and its primary architect of social reform. The story unfolds as the Tootmanyoso recounts his rise to power and the systematic transformation of his world from a state of primitive barbarism into a refined, celestial society. He explains how he moved beyond the remedial strategies of early reformers—who sought only to cure existing ills—and instead adopted a policy of “extirpating faults in the child” and neutralizing environmental threats before they could manifest as harm.

As the Tootmanyoso guides the reader through his kingdom, the narrative shifts from political philosophy to a detailed exploration of his technological and moral innovations. He describes the city of Montalluyah itself, a place of curvilinear architecture where straight lines are avoided and buildings are constructed from heat-repellent, jewel-toned stones. He explains the integration of art and utility, such as the use of lightning and solar heat for manufacturing, and the transformation of formerly dangerous creatures—like the once-dreaded hippopotamus—into valuable, domesticated resources.

The story progresses through the various stages of life in this utopia. We learn about the structured upbringing of the youth, the education of their temperaments, the elaborate, multi-stage marriage ceremonies that span a full year, and the ways in which societal honors are bestowed upon the aged and the meritorious. The Tootmanyoso describes the "Internal Cities," vast, light-filled galleries carved into mountains to provide comfort during extreme weather. He explains the role of music, where a specialized harp communicates complex emotions directly to the soul, and the use of the "attracting-machine" to influence behavior through sympathetic electrical currents.

Ultimately, the book reaches its conclusion by connecting these local developments to the broader mechanics of the universe. The Tootmanyoso reveals how his understanding of celestial bodies, comets, and the "waters above the firmament" was gained through a "Star Instrument," which allowed him to observe Earth and other planets. He reflects on his reign as a stewardship, suggesting that his successful implementation of these laws was a process of divine revelation and scientific application. The text ends with the Tootmanyoso viewing his completed work as a beacon of order, where wisdom and joy have replaced the folly and misery that once reigned, effectively bridging the gap between a terrestrial planet and a celestial star.

How It Unfolds

The promise of a new world The editor introduces the fragments as an authentic account of a distant planet, acknowledging that such claims usually invite skepticism. He asserts that long-term study has convinced him of the reality of these revelations and the wisdom of the Tootmanyoso.

The philosophy of prevention The Tootmanyoso outlines his governing principle: addressing moral and physical defects at their earliest possible stage. He explains how this preemptive approach replaced the remedial, punishment-based systems of his predecessors.

Architectural and natural harmony The narrative moves to the physical environment, describing a landscape where buildings mimic natural curves and electricity is harvested from everything from fish to sunlight. This section establishes the visual and scientific standard of the utopia.

The culture of the people The account shifts to social life, focusing on the rigorous training of children, the symbolic importance of marriage rites, and the formal recognition of age and merit. It details how daily life is regulated to ensure constant, joyful productivity.

The internal world The reader is taken beneath the surface of the planet into the Trombetski, or internal cities, which provide climate-controlled luxury for the intellectual elite. This emphasizes the society’s commitment to comfort and aesthetic beauty.

Cosmic understanding The story concludes by linking the civilization’s success to its broader astronomical insights. The Tootmanyoso describes how the study of the stars and the use of specialized instruments informed his final, most successful social reforms.

The People

The Tootmanyoso, the supreme Ruler of Montalluyah, is the central figure. He is a philosopher-king who views his people as his own children. Driven by a desire to eradicate suffering, he is tireless in his scientific pursuits and meticulous in his legislative ones. He is not a distant tyrant but a participant in the public life of his city, frequently attending games and setting the standard for industry and refinement. His authority is absolute, yet it is derived from his success in producing visible, tangible prosperity for his subjects.

The citizens of Montalluyah, including the children and the "higher classes" who inhabit the internal cities, act as the living manifestation of the ruler’s laws. The youth are observed and tested by "Walkers" to ensure that their potential is guided correctly, while the adult women receive decorations for their age and behavior, serving as symbols of the society’s values. Characters like the gardener and his wife, Lineena, reflect the deep affection the ruler holds for his subjects, and the way individual contributions—such as the creation of a new fruit—are celebrated. Finally, the "Introducer" serves as a guardian of social harmony, managing the few interpersonal conflicts that arise through a transparent process of mediation, ensuring that even the rare doubter is eventually reconciled to the whole.

In Its Own Voice

The policy of prevention--that is, of destroying maladies of mind and body in the germ, before they had been allowed to spread their poison--was one of his leading principles.

The Tootmanyoso defines the foundational belief that guides every aspect of his governance and social reform.

The houses are mostly curved, oval, or round; in Montalluyah straight lines are avoided.

This detail characterizes the aesthetic difference between the planet’s architecture and the rigid, straight-edged cities familiar to humans.

By means of sympathetic action living bodies can be attracted and raised without removing their inherent electricity, as you attract light substances with the magnet or the electricity known to you.

The author describes the advanced, electrical mastery of physical forces that allows his people to reshape their environment.

What It's Really About

The book is a blueprint for a managed, technocratic society. It explores the tension between individual liberty and collective well-being, arguing that the latter is best served when the state exerts total control over the environment and the development of the individual. At its core, the work poses a question: if every variable—from diet to education to physical comfort—can be precisely calibrated, can human nature be perfected? It suggests that the removal of suffering is not merely a political goal but a moral imperative, and that the mastery of nature, through the lens of electricity and scientific observation, is the key to achieving a state of existence that transcends the limitations of mortal life.

Why Read It Today

Reading this work feels like stepping into a Victorian-era dream of the future, one that is as much about the precision of 19th-century scientific curiosity as it is about utopian fantasy. Readers interested in the history of science fiction or the evolution of utopian literature will find the Tootmanyoso’s detailed descriptions of his "electric" world fascinating. The book offers a unique, albeit strange, charm in its blend of high-minded moralizing and oddly specific practical advice—such as the proper way to raise a hippopotamus or the correct mechanism for waking a teenager with a cymbal.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the author’s rigid paternalism. The society described is one of absolute control; the lack of privacy, the constant surveillance of children, and the assumption that all disagreements are merely "errors" to be corrected by a central authority will strike many as deeply unsettling. The prose is earnest and descriptive, reflecting the formal tone of its period, and it makes no effort to be ironic or postmodern. It remains a compelling curiosity for those who enjoy examining the historical roots of speculative fiction and the ways past generations envisioned the perfectibility of the human condition.