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''The Sirian Experiments'' is a 1980 science fiction novel by Nobel Prize in Literature-winner Doris Lessing. It is the third book in her five-book ''Canopus in Argos'' series〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Canopus in Argos: Archives )〕 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.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Who’s who in the Man Booker Prize )〕 ''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.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Shikasta )〕 ''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.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The Sirian Experiments )〕 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. ==Genre and reception== Because of its focus on characterisation and social/cultural issues, and the de-emphasis of technological details, ''The Sirian Experiments'' is not strictly science fiction but soft science fiction, or "space fiction" as Lessing calls her ''Canopus in Argos'' series. Robert Alter of ''The New York Times'' suggested that this kind of writing belongs to a genre literary critic Northrop Frye called the "anatomy", which is "a combination of fantasy and morality" and that "presents us with a vision of the world in terms of a single intellectual pattern." Lessing has stated that she has used this series as a vehicle to "put questions, both to myself and to others" and to "explore ideas and sociological possibilities." While Lessing's switch to "science fiction" in the late 1970s was not well received by all, the series in general has drawn positive criticism. Two reviews of ''The Sirian Experiments'' in ''The New York Times'' said that Lessing achieves "… a largeness of vision beyond the horizon of the conventional novel."〔 and that it has "… some playful moments and some splendid ones. It is interesting, however, primarily because Doris Lessing wrote it."〔 ''Time'' on the other hand, which had spoken highly of the first two books in this series, felt that this one "may be a small misstep on a long journey." 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「The Sirian Experiments」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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