Potemkin Village

Published in the early 20th century, 'Potemkin Village' by Fletcher Pratt is a science fiction novel set on the Venusian colony of Tolstoia, founded by followers of Leo Tolstoy. The inhabitants live under a pacifist political system, but the dark reality reveals that those who attempt to leave often commit suicide. A group of heroes is sent to investigate whether Tolstoia is a true Utopia or merely a facade designed to deceive others. The novel explores themes of idealism, societal control, and the nature of utopias.