The Sirian Experiments

The Sirian Experiments is a 1980 science fiction novel by Doris Lessing. It is the third book in her five-book Canopus in Argos series and continues the story of Earth's evolution, which has been manipulated from the beginning by advanced extraterrestrial civilisations. It was first published in the United States in December 1980 by Alfred A. Knopf, and in the United Kingdom in March 1981 by Jonathan Cape. The book was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1981.

The Sirian Experiments
US first edition cover (Alfred A. Knopf)
AuthorDoris Lessing
Cover artistPaul Gamarello
Country
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
SeriesCanopus in Argos
GenreNovel (science fiction)
Published1980 Alfred A. Knopf, US, Jonathan Cape, UK
Media typePrint (hardcover)
Pages331
ISBN0-394-51231-6 (US)
0-224-01891-4 (UK)
OCLC5941786
823/.914
LC ClassPR6023.E833 S57 1981
Preceded byThe Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five 
Followed byThe Making of the Representative for Planet 8 

The Sirian Experiments relates directly to the first book in this series, Shikasta, which is the history of the planet Shikasta (an allegorical Earth) under the influence of three galactic empires, Canopus, Sirius and their mutual enemy, Puttiora. Shikasta is told from the Canopean viewpoint. The Sirian Experiments (subtitled The Report by Ambien II, of the Five) tells the story of Shikasta from the Sirian point of view and describes the activities of Sirians on the planet and the strained relations of Sirius with Canopus.

Lessing stated in an afterword in the next book in this series that The Sirian Experiments and The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 were inspired by her 50-year fascination with the ill-fated 1910–13 Antarctic expedition of Robert Falcon Scott.

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