706. Shikasta

Shikasta
Doris Lessing
1979
Around 365 pages

Oof. The next sci fi novel after The Hitchhiker's Guide was bound to hit the ear wrong. I know it's an unfair comparison, but this seems like something Isaac Asimov would write. I thought we all agreed we needed more fun in the genre. Okay, I guess that was just me, but still.

Shikasta is the first in a five novel series. Canopus is a galactic empire that colonizes a young planet they name Rohanda. They nurture its humanoids and accelerate their evolution. When the Natives are ready, Canopus imposes a "Lock" on Rohanda that links it via "astral currents" to the harmony and strength of the Canopean Empire. Two other empires also establish a presence on the planet: Canopus' ally, Sirius  and their mutual enemy, Puttiora. The Sirians confine their activities largely to genetic experiments on the southern continents, while Puttiora remains dormant, waiting for opportunities to strike.

So this is just kind of a snore to get through, although considering it is the first entry of a series, the action might pick up down the line. I'm always disappointed by Lessing's prose, which struggles with pacing. In Lessing's defense, Douglas Adams is a tough act to follow on this List.

Another skippable entry. Damn, we were doing so well for a while there.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Shikasta comes from the Persian word, meaning "broken."

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