Talk:Canopus in Argos/Archive 1

Small Rewrite
I added a little about the background. I've no idea whether the reference to Sufism is correct, or whether it might serve as a valid introduction to Sufism - perhaps a real Sufi could comment. I did think that a lot of potential readers would be put off by the original stub. It does work perfectly well as an SF adventure story, for readers not inclined to mysticism.

--GwydionM 18:31, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Thanks for the changes - I tried to rewrite again - toned down the Sufism part, although the connection to sufism is well known and is noted also in the Doris Lessing article.

I think the following text is to POV:

"The series name confuses the Greek city of Argos with the historic constellation of Argo Navis, of which the star Canopus was traditionally a part. Most of the ancient history is legendary or imaginary.  Despite these faults, there is real power in the writing."

I don't think we really know what Lessing's intention was, so how do we know the name argos is a confusion? Also, that the ancient history is legendary or imaginary is not necessarily a fault. --Chinawhitecotton 22:54, 17 January 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps i did not read all of CinA, but it made a huge impression, (i think esp. canopus) This sentence in the article: "The focus is on forced evolution being carried out on less advanced species and societies." Does not relate. For me, i think the focus is the attempted description of the evolution of intelligence and culture. In that sense representative for Doris Lessings work for emancipation. Also i think this book has been a trendsetter for modern SF, wich is not related at all. Basically after lessing the difference between fantasy, and SF is a social sciences one, not anymore a technological. eg. Larry Niven, Ringworld you might consider a huge canopus-event, and Dune is pretty much about social evolution. to name a few great. There is little mere "Adventure-sf" after lessing, (extra)terrestial social evolution actually became a theme. Or is it perhaps because everyone became so much more familiar with technology? Opinions?77.251.179.188 14:14, 13 October 2007 (UTC)

Argos and Argo Navis
I think Lessing simply got it wrong, confused Argos and Argo Navis or Argo. But I'm not going to get into an edit war.

I did modify the main page. Your comments could be considered 'spoilers': let readers decide.

--GwydionM 18:20, 19 January 2006 (UTC)


 * Yes, about the spoilers you are right - I forgot that in the 4th book what happens to the planet is only really revealed towards the end. If you think they give away too much I have no problems with changing them. Now that you created pages for each book the descriptions can go there... --Chinawhitecotton 09:03, 20 January 2006 (UTC)

Ambien and Sirius
Ambien is not one of five oligarchs. She is an administrator, one of many. The five are her peer group. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Alchemist Jack (talk • contribs) 14:28, 30 July 2009 (UTC)
 * Thanks for pointing that out. I've made the correction. --Bruce1eetalk 15:03, 30 July 2009 (UTC)

Actually, having re-read the last 50 pages last night, I realise I am mistaken. The 5 Ambiens are the heads of the Colonial Service and, as such, are the oligarchs of the Sirian Empire. For example on Page 271 "... And yet never has there been such a gap between what this individual is told, is allowed to know and what is actually happening." "But Ambien, is it not always true, everywhere, to an extent at least?" "Yes, it is. For instance, If a Sirian were to be told that our Empire is run by a Dictatorship of Five, he would laugh or call the doctors."" I am not talking about that, Ambien- and I don't likehow you put it. If we are dictators, then when have there been rulers so responsive to the needs of their subjects..." Alchemist Jack (talk) 11:03, 31 July 2009 (UTC)
 * I've left her description as "one of a peer group of five who rule Sirius". --Bruce1eetalk 11:52, 31 July 2009 (UTC)

Publisher
The article currently says that the publisher is Alfred Knopf. We need to check this, as I strongly suspect the book was first published in the UK, so would be more likely to have a UK publisher. RomanSpa (talk) 01:44, 27 November 2013 (UTC)
 * The books were published in the US by Alfred A. Knopf, and in the UK by Jonathan Cape. The five books were each first published in the US, and then a few months later in the UK (see ,,,,). I've added Jonathan Cape as the UK publisher of the series. —Bruce1eetalk 06:01, 27 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Thank you. I'm surprised that the books were first published in the US, given that Lessing was a British writer. This is probably interesting enough to include in the main article. RomanSpa (talk) 22:43, 27 November 2013 (UTC)
 * Yes, I was surprised too. I'll look and see if I can find out why the books were published in the US first. —Bruce1eetalk 04:46, 28 November 2013 (UTC)

Given that the writer was British, I would question whether the fact that the books were published in the USA a few months before the UK justifies the description of their origin as "United States". I'm guessing that this was for commercial rather than artistic reasons. How about "United Kingdom/United States" or "United States/United Kingdom"? Haydn01 (talk) 10:41, 28 April 2015 (UTC)
 * You're right, it is better with United States/United Kingdom. I've made the change here, and on each of the 5 books. Thanks for your input. —Bruce1eetalk 12:15, 28 April 2015 (UTC)

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