Shikasta
Sign in to saveRe: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta (often shortened to Shikasta) is a 1979 science fiction novel by Doris Lessing, and is the first book in her five-book Canopus in Argos series. It was first published in the United States in December 1980 by Alfred A. Knopf, and in the United Kingdom in November 1979 by Jonathan Cape. Shikasta is also the name of the fictional planet featured in the novel.
Book · Open Library
- Author
- Doris Lessing
- First published
- 1979
- Editions
- 24
- Subjects
- Fiction, science fiction, general, Life on other planets, Fiction, Ancient Civilization, Extraterrestrial influences, English Science fiction, Fiction in English
via Open Library
Key facts
- Book.name
- Shikasta
- Book.image
- Lessing Shikasta.jpg
- Book.caption
- US first edition cover (Alfred A. Knopf)
- Book.author
- Doris Lessing
- Book.cover_artist
- Paul Gamarello
- Book.country
- United Kingdom
- Book.language
- English
- Book.series
- Canopus in Argos
- Book.genre
- Novel (science fiction)
- Book.media_type
- Print (hardcover)
- Book.pages
- 448
- Book.isbn
- 0-394-50732-0
- Book.isbn_note
- (US)0-224-01767-5 (UK)
Article
9 sectionsContents
- Plot summary
- Background and genre
- Analysis
- Reception
- Notes
- References
- Works cited
- Further reading
- External links
Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta (often shortened to Shikasta) is a 1979 science fiction novel by Doris Lessing, and is the first book in her five-book Canopus in Argos series. It was first published in the United States in December 1980 by Alfred A. Knopf, and in the United Kingdom in November 1979 by Jonathan Cape. Shikasta is also the name of the fictional planet featured in the novel.
Subtitled "Personal, psychological, historical documents relating to visit by Johor (George Sherban) Emissary (Grade 9) 87th of the Period of the Last Days", Shikasta is the history of the planet Shikasta (whose inhabitants call it Earth) under the influence of three galactic empires, Canopus, Sirius, and their mutual enemy, Puttiora. The book is presented in the form of a series of reports by Canopean emissaries to Shikasta who document the planet's prehistory, its degeneration leading to the "Century of Destruction" (the 20th century), and the Apocalypse (World War III).