Shikasta
Harper Collins
Shikasta is the first volume in Doris Lessing s celebrated space fiction series Canopus in Argos Archives In this interlinked quintet of novels she creates a new extraordinary cosmos where the fate of the Earth is influenced by the rivalries and interactions of three powerful galactic empires Canopus Sirius and their enemy Puttiora 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 In Shikasta 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 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
