Canopus in Argos books in order A series by Doris Lessing
The Canopus in Argos series by Doris Lessing has 5 books (4 novels and 1 shorter work), from Shikasta (1979) to The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983). Read it in order, starting with Shikasta.
Reading order: 1 Shikasta (1979) · 2 The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five (1980) · 3 The Sirian Experiments (1980) · 4 The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (1981) · 5 The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983)
Updated September 2026
All 5 Canopus in Argos books in order
- 1.
Shikasta (1979)
- 2.
The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five (1980)
- 3.
The Sirian Experiments (1980)
- 4.
The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (1981)
- 5.
The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983)
Canopus in Argos FAQ
- How many Canopus in Argos books are there?
- There are 5 Canopus in Argos books, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read the Canopus in Argos books in?
- In publication order, starting with Shikasta (1979): 1 Shikasta (1979) · 2 The Marriages Between Zones Three, Four and Five (1980) · 3 The Sirian Experiments (1980) · 4 The Making of the Representative for Planet 8 (1981) · 5 The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983).
- What is the first Canopus in Argos book?
- Shikasta (1979).
- What is the latest Canopus in Argos book?
- The Sentimental Agents in the Volyen Empire (1983).
- Is the Canopus in Argos series finished?
- There have been no new Canopus in Argos books since 1983; Doris Lessing died in 2013.
Sources: series order and dates from Wikidata and Open Library. Last updated September 2026.