Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site bunny.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!harvard!bunny!ehn0 From: ehn0@bunny.UUCP (Eric Nyberg) Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers Subject: Re: Canopus in Argos - Doris Lessing Message-ID: <238@bunny.UUCP> Date: Thu, 10-Oct-85 08:46:28 EDT Article-I.D.: bunny.238 Posted: Thu Oct 10 08:46:28 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 12-Oct-85 06:15:44 EDT References: <6060@cbscc.UUCP> Organization: GTE Laboratories, Waltham, MA Lines: 50 > > I am looking for an opinion (or review) of the > five book series by Doris Lessing "Canopus in > Argos: Archieves". I have started reading the series. The first book, "Shikasta," is in my opinion an excellent book. It is difficult to characterize; although there are many elements of fantasy and SF in the story, the main focus is on "the decline of man" and the futility of modern politics, new/old generations and their relationships, etc. I was definitely blown away by the book, but I can't say whether anyone else would be for sure. I've started the second book (I think it's called "Marriage between Zones 4 and 5"), and it is completely different from "Shikasta." It is almost a fairy tale about a marriage between the female leader of a very peaceful, advanced culture and the crude warrior-king of a warring race, ostensibly to create a balance in the cosmos. That's about all I can tell you - so far I like this one, too. I'm not sure that Lessing's SF is the best place to start. I have also read "Briefing for a Descent into Hell," which is one hell of a book (arrgh, bad pun). If you like psychological/dream-like fiction, this book is for you. In fact, there are notable similarities between the style of this book and some of Gene Wolfe's stories. There is also the "Children of Violence" series, which I have started, but I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it. Set in South Africa, the story seems to be drawn from Lessing's own experiences as a young woman, but the protagonist seems shallow, uncertain, and downright exasperating at times. There are five books in this series too, ending with "The 4-Gated City," which my wife has read and claims is excellent; it takes place in post-holocaust London. I'm not sure I can stand the next 3 books in the series in order to get there, though. As you can tell from my long-winded reply, I am definitely a Doris Lessing fan (of sorts). I would be glad to discuss any of her books with you if you decide to read them. Regards, Eric Nyberg ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CSNET: ehn0@gte-labs Eric H. Nyberg, 3rd UUCP: ..harvard!bunny!ehn0 GTE Laboratories, Dept. 317 40 Sylvan Rd. Waltham, MA 02254 (617) 466-2518 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***