Shikasta (Canopus in Argos: Archives) [Paperback]

Doris Lessing (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 23, 1994 | Series: Canopus in Argos: Archives

Doris Lessing's celebrated space fiction set in an extraordinary cosmos where the fate of the Earth is influenced by the rivalries and interactions of three powerful galactic empires. The story of the final days of our planet is told through the reports of Johor, an emissary sent from Canopus. Twentieth-century Earth, named 'Shikasta, the stricken' by the kindly, paternalistic Canopeans who colonised it many centuries ago, is under the influence of the evil empire of Puttiora. War, famine, disease and environmental disasters ravage the planet. To Johor, mankind is a 'totally crazed species', racing towards annihilation: his orders to save humanity set him what seems to be an impossible task. Blending myth, fable and allegory, Doris Lessing's astonishing visionary creation both reflects and redefines the history of our own world from its earliest beginnings to an inevitable, tragic self-destruction.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Magnificent ! an astouding book that sets out to chronicle the whole world of humanity, spirit, earth, stars, soul, virtue, evil, pre-Eden forever' Myrna Blumberg, The Times 'Profound, relevant and daring' Rachel Billington, Financial Times 'Shikasta is a piercing diagnosis of the unease spreading through our civilization. A powerful fable.' W.L. Webb, Guardian 'Shikasta is at once a brief history of the world, a tract against human destructiveness, an ode to the natural beauties of this earth and a hymn to the music of the spheres.' Time

From the Publisher

'Magnificent...an astounding book that sets out to chronicle the whole world of humanity, spirit, earth, stars, soul, virtue, evil, pre-Eden forever.' - Myrna Blumberg, The Times

'Profound, relevant and daring' - Rachel Billington, Financial Times

'Shikasta is a piercing diagnosis of the unease spreading through our civilisation. A powerful fable.' - W. L Webb, Guardian

'Shikasta is at once a brief history of the world, a tract against human destructiveness, an ode to the natural beauties of this earth and a hymn to the music of the spheres.' - Time

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Flamingo (May 23, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0006547192
• ISBN-13: 978-0006547198
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,528,509 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Like the series, but ..., January 26, 2004

By 

wiredweird "wiredweird" (Earth, or somewhere nearby) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Shikasta (Hardcover)

Lessing's criticism of the twentieth century is pointed, somtimes funny, and ultimately hopeful. The other four books in her 'Canopus' series are much stronger, though.

Shikasta - the outsider's name for Earth - is presented in a series of vingettes, case studies, and partial exchanges of letters. Perhaps the intent was to create a mosaic from those many pieces. I just found it fragmentary; somehow, it never formed a whole, coherent image for me. Also, this book is longer than the others in the set. In those, Lessing makes her points concisely; this book's increased length just gave more of the poor organization.

I recently re-read the other four books (not the proper order of the set of five), and came away more impressed than ever. Singly and as a set, they are wonderful. I'm glad I read this one last. If I had read this before the others I might not have bothered with them - that would have been a true loss on my part.

I recommend the Canopus series most highly. The other books are among the finest literature I know. It is unfortunate that Shikasta does not rise to their standards, and it would be sad if a new reader judged the series by it's first member.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This really is astounding, November 19, 2002

By 

Wayne Malkin (Edmonton, Alberta) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

Shikasta is a huge, imaginative, and thoughtful novel, presenting the history of humankind, and its eventual fate, through a series of reports and letters. This immense history is woven through and connected with a deeply understood and beautifully presented spiritualism that is a real pleasure to experience. I often found myself picking this book up to read in the evening, and then sitting lost in thought after re-reading a single paragraph.

Shikasta is a rare find, and I look forward to many repeat visits.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best in socio-cultural sci-fi, January 20, 2001

By 

Ann Deden (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

Shikasta is my all-time favorite sci-fi book -- and I've been reading sci-fi for over 40 years! If you like Ursula LeGuin's work, you'll love Shikasta, by Doris Lessing. It is a gripping, visionary tale. Written over 20 years ago, the story seems prophetic, as it describes much that is happening on our planet today. But it's not a sociological treatise. Far from it! The story revolves around the lives of three siblings, and the agony of trying to remember and then fulfil the reason they decided to reincarnate on Earth during a time of global crisis.

Shikasta ties together the very personal, the immediate global, and the cosmic at the heart level. While there is plenty of action, this is not Buck Rogers. The story of Shikasta is the story of real people, human and non, struggling with the issue of how an individual can make a difference.

I'm buying another copy because I lent my tattered one to someone who kept it!