Canopus in Argos by Doris Lessing
"Canopus in Argos" is a series of novels that explores philosophical themes through a future history and reimagining of past events, such as the legend of Atlantis. The series is unified by its focus on competing ideologies rather than a continuous plot or recurring characters. Each novel emphasizes the necessity of unity among both humans and extraterrestrial beings to address societal issues. In "Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta," the narrative highlights humanity’s potential mental powers, the repercussions of losing connection to their creator, and the resulting apocalyptic consequences due to neglecting unity. "The Marriage Between Zones Three, Four, and Five" depicts the challenges faced by a queen from a feminist utopia as she navigates a marriage with a leader from a patriarchal society, emphasizing differing values. In "The Sirian Experiments," the tension between the scientific Sirians and the magical Canopeans is explored through a character's conversion to the Canopean way of life. The series critiques the myopic view of the Sirius empire while presenting Canopus as a female-identified realm that values magic and mental capabilities. Collectively, the novels underscore the importance of understanding diverse perspectives in addressing universal challenges.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Canopus in Argos
First published:Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta (1979), The Marriage Between Zones Three, Four, and Five (1980), The Sirian Experiments (1981), The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (1982), and The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983)
Type of work: Novels
Type of plot: Science fiction—galactic empire
Time of work: Various times between antiquity and the end of the universe
Locale: Various locations on Earth and other planets
The Plot
This series of novels was published in a period of four years with the series title Canopus in Argos prominently displayed on each. Although the novels contain no major continuing characters, they are all set in the context of competing ideologies. The series is connected through the repetition of ideas rather than a developing plot or continuing characters. Philosophical in content and in structure, the novels tell a future history and recast events of the past, such as the legend of Atlantis. All the novels emphasize that humans and beings on other worlds must learn the importance of unity in order to correct problems in their societies. In Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta, human beings discover the importance of mental powers. The human race possesses great powers, but it is unsure of how to use them. Losing its creator, the space empire Canopus, causes Earth to have seasons and its inhabitants to devolve. Canopean agents try to redeem Earth, and they appear under the guise of alternative science or magic. Unfortunately, only a few people hear and heed the Canopean message. As a result of human neglect of unification, an apocalypse occurs.
In The Marriage Between Zones Three, Four, and Five, the queen of a feminist utopian society (Zone Three) marries the leader of Zone Four, a patriarchal warrior society. The novel shows her struggle to accept a man who has completely different values. No mention is made of Earth or of the other novels.
In The Sirian Experiments, the Sirians, who represent an extension of twentieth century Western science, struggle with Canopeans, who represent magic or alternative science. An agent of Sirius converts to the Canopean way of viewing the world. The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 tells the story of an ecological collapse as an entire planet becomes covered by ice and snow. The planet cannot be saved except through a storyteller who preserves the planet’s people and experience in Canopus’ memory. The planet’s disaster is traced to Earth’s separation from the Canopus empire.
The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire depicts rebels on the planet Voleyenadna who are manipulated by false and misleading rhetoric. A Canopean agent, who also appears in Re: Colonised Planet 5, Shikasta, helps women save the planet with a regenerating plant food.
In the series as a whole, plots focus on the struggle between the empires of Canopus and Sirius. Canopus is a female-identified empire that uses magic and mental powers, and Sirius is a fact-based empire that relies on machines and Western science. The series takes the Canopean perspective and criticizes Sirians’ myopic point of view.