Abstract

This thesis is a multi-dimensional study of Doris Lessing’s science fiction:

Canopus in Argos: Archives. Doris Lessing, the winner of Nobel Prize for Literature

in 2007, whose reputation was established by The Golden Notebook, also produces a

series of science fiction novels that Chinese Scholars have made little effort to study.

This thesis is the applications of science fiction theories to the genre complexity of

Lessing’s science fiction, Canopus in Argos: Archives and tries to reveal the

technological theme in The Sirian Experiments and the political theme in The

Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire, the third and fifth installment of Canopus in

Argos: Archives, through the approach of sociobiology and politics. It argues that

these two works demonstrate Lessing’s disillusionment of utopia established by

politics and technology, and it concludes that Doris Lessing believes the idea of

establishing an idealistic society through technological development and political

reform is nothing more than a mirage.

This thesis is composed of four chapters. The first chapter is a brief introduction

to Doris Lessing and her Canopus series. It reviews the status quo of the study on

Lessing’s Canopus series, and points out the necessity and the significance of this

research. The second chapter is the applications of science fiction theories to Canopus

series. With the combination of qualitative analysis with quantitative analysis and

simple statistical method, it resolves the genre complexity of Canopus series, which

has perplexed the critical reviewers, and proposes the appropriate directions for the

researches of Lessing’s science fiction. The third chapter focuses on the study of The

Sirian Experiments, the third volume of Canopus series. Through the discussion of

Lessing’s attack on the eugenic experiments and technological determinism in this

novel, it reveals Lessing’s disillusionment with technological utopia. The fourth

chapter is the study of Lessing’s Sentimental Agents, the fifth volume of Canopus

series. It reveals Lessing’s disillusionment with political utopia through the discussion

of her attack on the political movements, political ideologies, and political

philosophies.

Key Words: Doris Lessing; science fiction; Canopus in Argos: Archives; utopia

摘 要

本学位论文是对多丽丝·莱辛科幻作品《南船座中的老人星：档案》的多角

度研究。

2007

年诺贝尔文学奖获得者，由《金色笔记》而名声大噪的多丽丝·莱

辛创作了一系列的科幻小说，这些作品国内学者研究甚少。本论文使用科幻文学

理论为工具，研究分析莱辛科幻小说体裁的复杂性，同时从生物社会学，政治学

角度，揭示了《南船座中的老人星：档案》系列第三部《天狼星实验》的科学技

术主题，第五部《福音帝国多愁善感的间谍》的政治主题。本文认为这两部作品

展现了多丽丝·莱辛在思想意识层面对于科技乌托邦和政治乌托邦的幻灭，并得

出在莱辛来看依靠科学技术发展或者政治改革建立理想社会的构想不过是空中

楼阁的结论。

本文的主要结构和内容如下：第一章简介了多丽丝·莱辛生平和她的科幻作

品“老人星”系列，梳理了国内外对于莱辛科幻小说的研究现状，并提出了在国

内研究莱辛科幻作品的必要性和研究意义；第二章将科幻文学理论应用于莱辛

“老人星”系列，定量分析与定性分析相结合，使用简单的统计方法解决了困扰

评论界的莱辛科幻作品体裁的复杂性问题，并为研究莱辛科幻作品提出了合适的

研究方向；第三章主要讨论莱辛“老人星”系列第三部《天狼星实验》，从莱辛

在该小说中对于优生学实验和科技决定论的批判，展现了莱辛在思想上对于科技

乌托邦的幻灭；第四章主要研究“老人星”系列第五部《福音帝国多愁善感的间

谍》，从莱辛对于政治运动，政治意识形态以及政治哲学的批判，展现了莱辛在

思想上对于政治乌托邦的幻灭。

关键词：多丽丝·莱辛；

科幻小说；《南船座中的老人星：档案》；乌托邦

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

摘 要

Chapter One Introduction ..........................................................................................1

1.1 A Sketch of Doris Lessing ..................................................................................................1

1.2 An Overview of Doris Lessing’s Canopus in Argos: Archives...........................................2

1.3 Status Quo of the Study on Lessing’s Science Fiction........................................................2

1.3.1 Status Quo of the Study in Mainland China.............................................................2

1.3.2 Status Quo of the Study in the World .......................................................................5

1.4 Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................7

Chapter Two The Applications of Science Fiction Theories to the Genre

Complexity of Canopus in Argos: Archives..............................................................10

2.1 The Genre Complexity of Canopus series.........................................................................10

2.2 The Applications of Science Fiction Theories in the World .............................................12

2.2.1 The Applications of Gernsback and Campbell’s Theories.....................................12

2.2.2 The Applications of Gunn and Moorcock’s Theories.............................................14

2.2.3 The Applications of Aldiss and Suvin’s Theories...................................................17

2.3 The Applications of Science Fiction Theories in Mainland China ...................................19

2.3.1 The Applications of Lu Xun, Ye Yonglie and Zheng Wenguang’s Theories ..........19

2.3.2 The Applications of Tong Enzheng and Rao Zhonghua’s Theories ......................21

2.3.3 The Applications of Han Song’s Theory................................................................23

2.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................24

Chapter Three The Technological Theme in The Sirian Experiments ..................28

3.1 Doris Lessing and The Sirian Experiments .......................................................................28

3.2 Doris Lessing’s Disillusionment with Technological Utopia ...........................................29

3.2.1 The Physical Conception of Utopia and Sci-fi Novels...........................................29

3.2.2 Atomic Energy Experiments and Lessing’s “Great Nightmare”............................30

3.2.3 The Evolution and the Technological Experiments ...............................................31

3.2.4 Sociobiology and Biological Determinism ............................................................31

3.2.5 The Eugenics and the Procedures of Ambien II’s Experiments.............................33

3.2.6 The Defeat of Eugenic Experiments and Lessing’s Attack upon Genetic

Determinism..........................................................................................................34

3.2.7 Technological Utopianism .....................................................................................35

3.2.8 The Principles of Modern Technological Utopia and The Sirian Empire ..............36

3.2.9 The Doom of the Sirian Empire and the Two Threats Leading Technological

Utopia to Its Destruction .......................................................................................37

3.2.10 Abusive Technologies and Its Originations .........................................................41

Chapter Four The Political Theme in The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen

Empire .........................................................................................................................44

4.1 The Political Doris Lessing and The Sentimental Agents..................................................44

4.2 Lessing’s Disillusionment with Political Utopia...............................................................46

4.2.1 The Political Conception of Utopia........................................................................46

4.2.2 On Political Movements.........................................................................................47

4.2.2.1 On Political Activists...................................................................................47

4.2.2.2 On Political Leaders ....................................................................................49

4.2.2.3 On Revolutions............................................................................................49

4.2.2.4 Lessing’s Rejection of Political Movements ...............................................51

4.2.3 On Political Ideologies ...........................................................................................52

4.2.4 On Political Philosophy..........................................................................................54

Bibliography ...............................................................................................................56

Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................61

1

“Science fiction is merely a skin, underneath is the bloody reality”

Liu Cixin, the author of Three Bodies, China

Chapter One Introduction

1.1 A Sketch of Doris Lessing

Doris Lessing is a prolific British writer and the winner of the Nobel Prize for

Literature in 2007, who writes diverse novels, short stories, plays, nonfiction, and

autobiographies.

She has produced the classic The Golden Notebook and more than 40 other

works. Her writing career starts with The Grass is Singing (1950), and after that, she

has produced many novels with different styles and themes. Her writing career can be

divided the following stages: first of all, the Communist theme (1944–1956),

when she was writing radically on social issues; secondly, the psychological theme

(1956–1969); thirdly, the Sufi theme. Due to the diverse themes of Lessing’s works,

she is pictured as an African writer, a communist writer, a feminist writer, a

psychological writer, a science fiction writer and a mystic writer.

Though Doris Lessing is well-known by Chinese readers for her The Golden

Notebook, by which whose reputation is established in the world, when being asked to

name her most satisfactory novels, Lessing always points at her Canopus in Argos:

Archives, a series of science fiction which is not popular with readers and receives

less praise from literature reviewers.

Doris Lessing’s works have been studied by many academic researchers in the

world, and lots of papers, theses and dissertations in different languages have offered

the critical reviews from various perspectives. In China, most attentions of the

scholars have been paid to the study of Lessing’s The Golden Notebook and her

female consciousness within.

2

1.2 An Overview of Doris Lessing’s Canopus in Argos:

Archives

Since few readers in Mainland China have ever approached Doris Lessing’s

sci-fi works for the lack of translated versions and the slightest possibilities of

obtaining the original English versions, it is necessary to present a brief introduction

to Canopus in Argos: Archives.

Canopus in Argos: Archives is a series of science fiction novels (space fiction in

Lessing’s own words)written by Doris Lessing from the year 1979 to 1983, started

with its first volume Shikasta and ended with its last volume The Sentimental Agents

in the Volyen Empire. These novels are set in the future and portray a number of

empires in the galaxy advanced or less advanced with its various events taking place

between. Wars, colonization, revolution and invasion are vividly displayed in these

novels to depict the evolution of different empires and societies. These novels can be

viewed as the chronicles of the world, as Time describes it as “… at once a brief

history of the world, a tract against human destructiveness, an ode to the natural

beauties of this earth and a hymn to the music of the sphe

r

es.”

1

As for plots, unlike

the sci-fi trilogy of Star Wars or the fantasy trilogy of The Lord of the Rings which

has its continuous storyline, these five volumes of novels are not so closely connected

to one another , and each one can be read as an independent story.

1.3 Status Quo of the Study on Lessing’s Science

Fiction

1.3.1 Status Quo of the Study in Mainland China

In the 21

st

century, after the release of translated version of The Gold Notebook

(Yilin Press) and the introduction of The Diaries of Jane Somers (Foreign Language

Teaching and Research Press), Doris Lessing’s The Golden Notebook has been listed

1

Gray, P. “Visit to a Small Planet” [EB/OL].: Time, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/ 0, 917

1 ,947537,00.html, 1979-10-22.

3

as a “HOTTie” in the discussion of literary works. According to the statistics gathered

by Jiang Hua, a scholar of Sichuan International Studies University, in less than 7

years, 27 papers in journals, 15 M.A. theses and a few PhD dissertations have

analyzed and discussed Doris Lessing’s works.

However, most of the scholars focus on the analysis and discussion of Lessing’s

“magnum opus” The Golden Notebook. 14 out of 27 journal papers and 6 out of 15

M.A. theses discuss The Golden Notebook. 5 out of 14 papers writing about The Gold

Notebook explore its form and writing skills. 7 out of 14 journal papers and 3 out of 6

M.A. theses present its feminist consciousness.

2

It is obvious that Chinese scholars’ researches (critics and M.A. theses)

concentrate on the study of Lessing’s The Golden Notebook. There are 17 journal

papers and 6 M.A. theses analyzing and discussing The Golden Notebook from

different perspectives, and the study on Doris Lessing’s works center on its feminist

consciousness.

CNKI Database Cross-database Search System has indicated that from the year

2000 to the year 2009, April 20th, there is not even one paper related to Doris

Lessing’s Science Fiction that has been published in journals. For past 30 years, there

is only one paper that briefly reviews Doris Lessing’s sci-fi works, entitled “A

Discussion on Doris Lessing’s Space Fiction” by Li Fuxiang.

3

In the year 2008, April 12th, an article published on Art Newspaper, entitled

“Doris Lessing in Western Science Fiction History,” reviewed the position of Doris

Lessing’s sci-fi works in the history of western sci-fi history and the author suggested

that “Doris Lessing’s Sci-fi is the combination of logical analysis and fantasy.”

4

Doris Lessing’s Sci-fi has been neglected by literary critics in Mainland China

for the following two reasons:

The first reason: Science fiction (abbreviated SF or sci-fi with varying

punctuation and capitalization) is a broad genre of fiction that often involves

2

蒋 花. 多丽斯·莱辛研究在中国[J]. 中国比较文学, 2008,3: 57-125.

3

李福祥. 试论多丽斯·莱辛的“太空小说”[J]. 成都师专学报, 1998,2: 48-53.

4

舒伟. 《西方科幻小说史》中的多丽丝·莱辛[N]. 文艺报·周六版, 2008-4-12.

4

speculations based on the current or the future sciences and technologies, and it is a

special production of literary creation, which combines literature with scientific

theories and inventions. Generally, sci-fi can be divided two kinds: hard science

fiction and soft science fiction. Besides characterization and design of the plot, the

hard sci-fi also emphasizes the description of scientific technology details. For those

who study literature and language, hard sci-fi novels with abundant knowledge of

technologies are difficult to understand. For those who enjoy reading sci-fi novels e.g.

science students, engineers, the chances to write literary critics are slim. Hence, the

research on Doris Lessing’s sci-fi novels (space fiction) has remained almost in a

vacuum state.

The second reason: for years, there are not sufficient translated versions of Doris

Lessing’s works for Chinese readers to appreciate. Hu Qin, from the Chinese

Department of Zhongshan University, writes in the paper “Review on Translations

and the Study of Doris Lessing’s Works in China” that “The researches on Doris

Lessing’s works, conducted by Chinese scholars are started later than the scholars of

the western world. The translations of Doris Lessing’s works are insufficient. Some of

the original works can not be approached in Mainland China and the materials used

for research are often obtained through private channels. All these above become the

obstacles of the study on Doris Lessing’s works.”

5

When Doris Lessing is awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007, readers

begin to notice that Doris Lessing, well-accepted by the mainstream literature circles,

also produces large amounts of sci-fi novels. March 16, 2008, “Doris Lessing Science

Fiction Academic Symposium”

6

was held in Beijing. Many scholars have made their

report and shared their thoughts about Doris Lessing’s Canopus in Argos: Archives in

the symposium. Wang Fengzhen, the former researcher of Chinese Academy of

Science considered the prize awarded to Doris Lessing as “the victory of science

fiction literature.” Shu Wei, a professor of the School of Foreign Languages, Tianjing

University of Technology, commented “Doris Lessing’s sci-fi is the metaphor of

5

胡 勤. 多丽斯·莱辛在中国的译介和研究 [J]. 贵州大学学报, 2007,25(5): 75-80.

6

匿

名

. “

莱辛科幻小说：对人类命运的深沉思索

” [EB/OL].:

中华读书报

, http://www.gmw.cn/01ds/

2008-04/30/ content_768653.htm, 2008-4-30.

5

human beings’ existence.” Tian Song, a professor of Philosophy School, Beijing

Normal University, suggested “Science fiction is a ‘Mind Experiment’ with critical

spirits.” Zhang Guolong, from the Literature School of Beijing Normal University,

proposed that “Doris Lessing’s Science Fiction is ‘the exploration of relationship

between male and female in the future’.”

Besides, a statement made by Tian Song is very important, he emphasized that

“at first, this event will bring reader to some of the sci-fi elements in her works, and

the readers will pay more attention to sci-fi novels. Based on the understanding above,

Lessing’s victory is the victory of science fiction. However, it is a ‘reserved’ (not

complete) victory: readers have to realize that it is not a sci-fi writer who won the

Nobel Prize for Literature, but a Nobel Prize winner who also wrote some sci-fi

novels.” Obviously, for the mainstream literature circles, it is Doris Lessing who won

the Nobel Prize, instead of her sci-fi novels. In a word, the victory doesn’t belong to

the sci-fi works or the sci-fi fans.

In conclusion, the study on Doris Lessing’s sci-fi works, conducted by Chinese

Scholars, is insufficient. There is only one associated paper published in the journal.

As for the other critics, they are usually found sporadically in the newspaper or

private blogs.

1.3.2 Status Quo of the Study in the World

Based on the information provided by Wikipedia, Lessing’s switch to science

fiction was not popular with many critics. However, Lessing defended herself and

replied “What they didn’t realize was that in science fiction is some of the best social

fiction of our time. I also admire the classic sort of science fiction, like Blood Music,

by Greg Bear. He’s a great writer.”

7

Unlike some authors primarily known for their

mainstream works, Doris Lessing has never hesitated to admit that she writes science

fiction. She was the “Writer Guest of Honor” at the 1987 World Science Fiction

Convention (Worldcon), and made a well-received speech in which she described her

7

Blume, H. “Doris Lessing: Hot Dawns” [EB/OL].: Boston Book Review, http://www.dorislessing.org/boston.html,

1998.

6

science-fictional Memoirs of a Survivor as “an attempt at an autobiography.”

8

As for academic research:

The critics in the world mainly focus on the studies of the structures of Lessing’s

Canopus series, the feminist presentation and the connection between Sufism and

Lessing’s sci-fi works.

In the year 1995, New York Palgrave Macmillan/St. Martins Press published a

book named Doris Lessing: Sufi Equilibrium and the Form of the Novel By Fahim,

Shadia S.

9

In the year 1997, State University of New York Press published a book named

Between East and West: Sufism in the Novels of Doris Lessing by Galin, Müge.

10

It should be noted that Weiyun Yang, a professor of Yuanzhi University made

great contribution to the study on Lessing’s sci-fi works with the publication of her

series of papers. She analyzed Lessing’s sci-fi works from the perspective of religion,

humanity and multiculturalism during her stay in Royal Holloway, University of

London for her PhD.

11

Mary Carolyn Gough McCormack, a PhD in the University of South Carolina

explores the changes in the scientific foundation of Doris Lessing’s novels from the

late fifties through the eighties. It argues that Lessing constructs and sets forth an

alternate scientific paradigm of complexity within Canopus in Argos: Archives.

12

Roberts, Robin Ann, in the University of Pennsylvania, explores the

particularities of the feminist utopia theme in Doris Lessing’s Canopus in Argos:

Archives.

13

Jill K. Andrews, a PhD in the University of Calgary, explores the alienating

8

Resnick, M., Siclari, J. “Guest of Honor Speech” in Worldcon Guest of Honor Speeches [M]. Deerfield, IL:

ISFIC Press, 2006: 192.

9

Fahim, Shadia S. Doris Lessing: Sufi Equilibrium and the Form of the Novel [M]. Basingstoke, UK/New York,

NY: Palgrave Macmillan/St. Martins Press. 1995.

10

Galin, M. Between East and West: Sufism in the Novels of Doris Lessing. Albany [M]. NY: State University of

New York Press, 1997.

11

匿

名

. “

今年的诺贝尔文学奖得主

” [EB/OL].: http://lifetype.Hhjhs.tp.edu.tw/categor y/4/145, retrieved

2009-4-22.

12

Carolyn, M. “A New Frontier”: The Novels of Doris Lessing and the Science of Complexity [D]. South Carolina:

University of South Carolina, 1998.

13

Roberts, Robin A. A New Species: The Female Tradition in Science Fiction from Mary Shelley to Doris Lessing

[D]. Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania, 1985: 157.

7

subjectivity in The Making of the Representative for Planet 8.

14

Brian G. Glondin, a PhD in Florida Atlantic University, demonstrates how

Lessing’s quest for integration has shaped her present apolitical ethos in The Making

of Representative for Planet 8.

15

Julia E. Sauders, a PhD in Carleton University, uses the insights gleaned from

reader-response theory in general and the theories of Wolfgan Iser, and Roland

Barthes in particular to address the causes behind the widely disparate critical and

public responses to Doris Lessing’s all five volumes of the Canopus series.

16

Galin, Muge N., a PhD in Ohio University, explores the Sufism in Doris

Lessing’s works, including her series of Science Fiction works.

17

Phyllis Sternberg Perrakis focuses on the analysis of Lessing’s two different,

complementary perspectives on her fictional world, which is demonstrated in

Lessing’s first volume of Canopus series: Shikasta.

18

As for books views:

“English (Book Review)” in World Literature Today, 58:3(1984: Summer) p.415


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