Shikasta (Masterplots II: British and Commonwealth Fiction Series)
At a glance:
- Author: Doris Lessing
- First Published: 1979
- Type of Work: Science fiction
- Time of Work: From about 35,000 to about 2000 , but mainly the twentieth century
- Setting: Shikasta (Earth) and surrounding planes or zones
- Principal Characters: Johor, George Sherban, Benjamin Sherban, Rachel Sherban, Taufiq, John Brent-Oxford
- Genres: Long fiction, Science fiction
- Subjects: Freedom, History, Twentieth century, Extraterrestrial life, Future, Other worlds, Fantasy, Earth, Prehistoric times
- Locales: Earth, alternate versions of
The Novel
The complete title of Doris Lessing’s first “space novel” is Canopus in Argos: Archives: Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta: Personal Psychological, Historical Documents Related to Visit by Johor (George Sherban), Emissary (Grade 9) 87th of the Period of the Last Days. This title accurately describes the novel as a collection of documents compiled as a general picture of Shikasta for first-year students of Canopean colonial rule. The reader is placed in the position of godlike beings who possess a cosmic perspective on Earth (Shikasta), who see the planet...
[The entire page is 2040 words long]
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