Canopus in Argos: Archives [Paperback]

Doris Lessing (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An exquisite glimpse into a unique and imaginative view of eternity." -- Chicago Tribune

Canopus in Argos: Archives is an omnibus collection of Doris Lessing's five visionary novels -- Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta; The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five; The Sirian Experiments; The Making of the Representative for Planet 8; and Documents Relating to the Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire -- about the intergalactic empire of Canopus. Even as it gives an epic account of the struggles between Canopus and its rivals over the fate of the universe, Canopus in Argos comments, with Lessing's characteristic insight and eloquence, on human history and our prospects for the future.

"An audacious and disturbing work from one of the world's great living writers." -- Time

"A dissection of the political illusions of our own terrestrial 20th century." -- The New York Times Book Review

"Stunning... Read Lessing like a message of hope in dark times ...read her to nourish your soul." -- Los Angeles Times

From the Back Cover

"An exquisite glimpse into a unique and imaginative view of eternity." -- Chicago Tribune

Canopus in Argos: Archives is an omnibus collection of Doris Lessing's five visionary novels -- Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta; The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four, and Five; The Sirian Experiments; The Making of the Representative for Planet 8; and Documents Relating to the Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire -- about the intergalactic empire of Canopus. Even as it gives an epic account of the struggles between Canopus and its rivals over the fate of the universe, Canopus in Argos comments, with Lessing's characteristic insight and eloquence, on human history and our prospects for the future.

"An audacious and disturbing work from one of the world's great living writers." -- Time

"A dissection of the political illusions of our own terrestrial 20th century." -- The New York Times Book Review

"Stunning... Read Lessing like a message of hope in dark times ...read her to nourish your soul." -- Los Angeles Times

Product Details

• Paperback: 1228 pages
• Publisher: Vintage (December 29, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679741844
• ISBN-13: 978-0679741848
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #569,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, imaginative, thrilling, January 26, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (Central Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canopus in Argos: Archives (Paperback)

I am afraid this book may turn out to have a limited audience: too literary and "unrealistic" for science-fiction fans, and too fantastic for literary types. Too bad, because this is a stupendous book, or rather, series of novels. Some may think it strange that an author with as high-brow a reputation as Doris Lessing would stoop to writing "space fiction" (her term), but she has been incorporating sci-fi elements in her fiction as far back as The Four-Gated City, and maybe farther, depending on your definitions. What is science fiction if not the use of extreme and imaginative settings to point out truths invisible in our crowded world? Science fiction encourages "thinking outside the box," a concept that Lessing has explored in a lifetime of ground-breaking work. What are we? What does it mean to be human? Is there more? Lessing hits these questions with a courageous mind and an arsenal of experience and imagination.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant analysis of our civilisation, May 29, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Canopus in Argos: Archives (Paperback)

These 5 novels are difficult reading but well worth the effort. Doris Lessing has taken her uncanny observation of the treachery of mankind and translated it into a narrative as presented by beings from Canopus. What they think of us, how they've influenced us. "Shikasta..." is the most harsh, and the most accurate and my favourite of the set. "The Marriages..." is a beautiful fairy tale. "The Sirian Experiments..." is an alternative view of "Shikasta" and a brilliant depiction of humankind. "The Representative..." is a beautifully written fantasy of a dying planet. "The Sentimental Agents" is a scathing, excellent commentary on the arrogance of rhetoric. Ours, of course... While these novels appear to be science fiction, they really are not. They are "Space Fiction" and are a thought-provoking, sometimes beautiful, but always brilliant view of our world and possible others...

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obscure Discordian Masterpiece, July 30, 2007

By 

Taufiq - See all my reviews

This review is from: Canopus in Argos: Archives (Paperback)

Many who read this book would be shocked to learn that Doris Lessing dropped out of school at the age of 14, considering the breadth of knowledge she displays. Maybe they would be less surprised to learn that this series was written shortly after she began studying Sufism. This series not only presents a clever way of providing some persective on human affairs, it also give to us a mythology of prehistory as valid as any other I've come across. The Canopean view of Shammat as not necessarily "evil" and the idea of "forced evolution" were especially valuable to me.
Some parts may be difficult but I found it all highly stimulating and obviously it is very well written. If you're unfamiliar with Chinese culture or have no background knowledge, a book on Chinese history may seem terribly boring to you. Similarly, these books may bore you if you haven't any interest in pre-history or spiritual dimensions. This is a work of science fiction and those who appreciate the genre should enjoy it, however, it is one of those pieces with a broader appeal, perhaps comparable to some of Vonnegut's work.
Robert Anton Wilson's introduction to his illustrated screenplay, Reality is What You Can Get Away With, is an homage to this book and confirmed a feeling I had that this should be added to the Discordian Canon. I know very few who have read this marvel and none who were disappointed. I keep my volumes in a place of honor.