Background and genre Shikasta

doris lessing speaking @ cologne literature festival in germany, 2006

in mid-1960s lessing had become interested in sufism, islamic belief system, after reading sufis idries shah. described sufis surprising book [she] had read , , said changed [her] life . lessing later met shah, became friend [and] teacher . in 1970s lessing began writing inner space fiction, included novels briefing descent hell (1971) , memoirs of survivor (1974). in late 1970s wrote shikasta in used many sufi concepts.

shikasta intended single self-contained book , lessing s fictional universe developed, found had ideas more 1 book, , ended writing series of five. shikasta, , canopus in argos series whole, fall category of soft science fiction ( space fiction in lessing s own words) due focus on characterization , social , cultural issues, , de-emphasis of science , technology. robert alter of new york times suggested kind of writing belongs genre literary critic northrop frye called anatomy , combination of fantasy , morality . gore vidal placed lessing s science fiction somewhere between john milton , l. ron hubbard .

idries shah, introduced lessing sufism

shikasta represented major shift of focus lessing, influenced spiritual , mystical themes in sufism. switch science fiction not received readers , critics. late 1970s, lessing considered 1 of honest, intelligent , engaged writers of day , , western readers unfamiliar sufism dismayed lessing had abandoned rational worldview . george stade of new york times complained our grand mistress of lumpen realism has gone religious on . reaction of reviewers , readers first 2 books in series, shikasta , marriages between zones three, 4 , 5 (1980), prompted lessing write in preface third book in series, sirian experiments (1980):

i if reviewers , readers see series, canopus in argos: archive, framework enables me tell (i hope) beguiling tale or two; put questions, both myself , others; explore ideas , sociological possibilities.

further criticism of canopus series followed, included comment new york times critic john leonard: 1 of many sins 20th century held accountable has discouraged mrs. lessing ... propagandizes on behalf of our insignificance in cosmic razzmatazz. lessing replied saying: didn t realize in science fiction of best social fiction of our time. admire classic sort of science fiction, blood music, greg bear. s great writer. lessing said in 1983 write stories red , white dwarves, space rockets powered anti-gravity, , charmed , coloured quarks, [b]ut can t physicists .

lessing later wrote several essays on sufism published in essay collection, time bites (2004). awarded 2007 nobel prize in literature, , described swedish academy epicist of female experience, scepticism, fire , visionary power has subjected divided civilisation scrutiny .

lessing dedicated shikasta father. while still child in southern rhodesia (now zimbabwe) used gaze @ night sky , say, makes think – there many worlds there, wouldn t matter if did blow ourselves – plenty more came from. shikasta gave rise religious cult in america. lessing said in interview followers had written , asked, when going visited gods? , , told them book not cosmology. s invention , , replied, ah, re testing .