Book Review: Sultana’s Dream

Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s ‘Sultana’s Dream’ isn’t just a feminist utopia—it’s a delightful literary mic drop on patriarchy, wrapped in satire and delivered with a sly grin. Written in 1905, this novel takes you to “Ladyland”, a world where gender roles are flipped on their heads, and women run the show—efficiently, peacefully, and without a single cheroot-smoking man idling in the corner.  

The story kicks off with Sultana, the protagonist, indulging in some classic "lazy thinking" about womanhood, a quiet acceptance of societal constraints that feels all too familiar. Enter Sister Sara, her confident guide into Ladyland, who asks Sultana if she’d like to take a walk. While Sultana hesitates, the night’s calm—free of male servants—makes her feel safe enough to step out. Her shyness, ingrained by purdah and years of being told to stay hidden, lingers even in this surreal setting. Yet in Ladyland, such timidity is flipped on its head, hilariously reframed as “acting like a man.” From here, Hossain takes readers on a whirlwind tour of a society so logical and peaceful that it leaves our own world looking like a circus.  

In Ladyland, men are tucked away in zenanas (essentially the patriarchal version of purdah, but now for the boys), and the results are revelatory. Crime? Gone. Violence? Eliminated. Women, freed from fear and oppression, have built a world driven by intellect, innovation, and, as Sultana discovers, a knack for making society work smoothly without the melodrama of power struggles and wars. Hossain cleverly reasons that locking up the predator solves the problem more effectively than locking up the prey—a truth as sharp as it is cheeky.

Sister Sara shines as the book’s sarcastic, witty spokesperson for Ladyland. Her commentary is pure gold, especially when she skewers traditional stereotypes. When she mocks men’s supposed inability to sew, she flips the trope of women being laughed at for not excelling at "manly" activities. And her insight into the mystery of men’s workplaces? A revelation. Apparently the "hard work" that goes on in those workplaces consists mostly of smoking cigars. It's a fascinating examination of how women are barred from professional settings not because they lack the necessary skills but rather because of a deep-seated anxiety of their own abilities and a fear of the unknown because they are never allowed admission and hence have no idea what goes on in the workplace. 

Technology in Ladyland is a game-changer. Labor-intensive tasks are handled by machines, proving that, yes, women have brains—and they’ve used them to build a world that’s both functional and forward-thinking. It’s a society where progress is measured not by brute strength but by intelligence, cooperation, and efficiency. The result? A crime-free utopia where everyone thrives. And while this world might sound too good to be true, Hossain’s biting humor and logical explanations make it surprisingly convincing.  

The Queen of Ladyland encapsulates its philosophy with a thought-provoking reflection: “Men, we find, are rather of lower morals and so we do not like dealing with them. We do not covet other people's land, we do not fight for a piece of diamond though it may be a thousand-fold brighter than the Koh-i-Noor, nor do we grudge a ruler his Peacock Throne. We dive deep into the ocean of knowledge and try to find out the precious gems, which nature has kept in store for us. We enjoy nature's gifts as much as we can.” Ladyland’s focus on knowledge, peace, and nature feels not just idealistic but refreshingly attainable—a sharp contrast to the greed and violence often associated with patriarchal systems.  

Sultana’s journey through Ladyland culminates in visits to universities, manufactories, and observatories—testaments to the intellectual heights women have reached. As she marvels at their achievements, she takes a ride in an air-car (because why wouldn’t there be air-cars in this utopia?), but her journey takes an abrupt turn when she falls, quite literally, back to reality. Startled awake, Sultana finds herself lounging in her own chair, the dream fading like a wisp of smoke but leaving behind a lingering sense of possibility.  

Hossain’s Sultana’s Dream is more than a daydream—it’s a sharp-witted challenge to the world we know. With its playful tone and incisive critiques, it invites readers to imagine a future where intelligence and logic—not gender—determine humanity’s course. It’s the kind of book that makes you laugh, think, and quietly hope that somewhere, somehow, Ladyland might exist. A must-read for feminists, speculative fiction enthusiasts, and anyone who’s ever questioned why the world can’t be a little more sensible (and crime-free).

by Vinnie C