The Sirian Experiments: The Report by Ambien II, of the Five (Canopus in Argos:Archives - Volume 3)

Lessing, Doris May

ISBN 10: 0394512316 / ISBN 13: 9780394512310

Published by Alfred A. Knopf Inc., a Borzoi Book, New York, New York, U.S.A., 1981

About this Item

Alfred A. Knopf Inc., a Borzoi Book, New York, New York, U.S.A., 1981. First (1st) Printing (no others stated, per publisher's policy) of the "First Edition" (stated). This is the true first edition, published in the USA in December,1980, and preceding the UK publication by Jonathan Cape in March, 1981. As New in a Fine Dust Jacket. Unread. The Text Block is clean, white, tight, straight and square with deckled fore-edges and no markings of any kind. The Binding is full black cloth (color uniform throughout) with the title blind-stamped to the front board, bright gilt title, etc., to the spine, unmarked cream-colored endpapers, and all corners square and sharp. The Dust Jacket is bright, colors uniform throughout, and intact, with a tiny tear to the bottom of the rear panel discreetly closed from behind with archival materials, light wear at the head and heel of the spine, and with the original price ($11.95) intact on the front flap. See photos. ix + 288 + i pages. 6 1/2" x 9 1/2". Short-listed for the 1981 Booker Prize, this soft science fiction novel has been described by Robert Alter as "a combination of fantasy and morality" that "presents us with a vision of the world in terms of a single intellectual pattern." Lessing stated that this novel and The Making of the Representative for Planet 8, the next novel in the series, were inspired in part by her fascination with Scott's ill-fated Antarctic Expedition. The entire five volume Canopus in Argos series, of which this is the third novel, was also inspired by her interest in Sufi philosophy. ISBN 10: 0394512316 / ISBN 13: 9780394512310.

Seller Inventory # 000627

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Sirian Experiments: The Report by Ambien II, of the Five (Canopus in Argos:Archives - Volume 3)
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Inc., a Borzoi Book, New York, New York, U.S.A.
• Publication Date: 1981
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0394512316
• ISBN 13: 9780394512310
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Printing: 1st Printing
• Condition: As New
• Dust Jacket Condition: Fine

About this title

Synopsis

The third volume of Lessing's visionary series is the first-person account of Ambien II, a female ruler of the Sirian empire who slowly realizes how sophisticated the Canopus empire is and attempts to effect a similar society

From the Publisher

'The story Ambien tells is a panorama of the posibilities of civilisation and barbarism, ranging from a matriarchal version of Atlantis to the Aztec cult of human sacrifice. Doris Lessing's interests are strictly terrestrial an the figures from outer space are there to serve as tellers of an earthly tale providing a new, sometimes startling, perspective on earthly affairs and a largeless of vision beyond the horizon of the conventional novel.' - Robert Alter, New York Times

'One of our greatest contemporary writers...Doris Lessing has invented a new cosmology to look at the world in new way: she is attempting to tackle nothing less than all human life on Earth.' - Financial Times