The Making Of The Representative For Planet 8 (1994) - Plot & Excerpts
Un monologo interrotto da pochi dialoghi che descrive la lenta distruzione di un pianeta. Difficile da capire, anche leggendo la post-fazione dell'autrice. Ispirato dalle vicende legate all'esplorazione del polo sud e dalla morte di Scott, dovuta a inefficienze e disorganizzazione nella spedizione, suggerisce molti temi e spunti di riflessione, ben oltre le questioni legate al cambiamento climatico. Una delle tematiche che più mi ha colpito è la distinzione individuo-ruolo pubblico. I Rappresentanti svolgono un ruolo pubblico nella comunità che però è intercambiabile e il loro nome cambia a seconda del ruolo. Una delle domande cruciali fatte a Johor è infatti se esistono altri "se stessi" su un altro pianeta una volta che l'individuo su pianeta 8 sarà morto. L'osservazione della lenta e progressiva distruzione della personalità degli abitanti del pianeta, parallelamente all'avanzare del freddo, richiama inoltre la progressiva rinuncia a se stessi e l'abbandono alla morte dei deportati nei campi di concentramento. Un altro tema importante è la possibilità di comunicare e condividere l'esperienza. Poiché la mente collettiva non esiste, il punto di vista individuale non è comunicabile nè del tutto comprensibile ad altri (nella post-fazione si fa riferimento alla diversa "atmosfera" che pervade i diari dell'esplorazione di Scott e Amundsen) e che in realtà i ricordi che la popolazione si trasmette di generazione in generazione siano solo ricordi precostituiti e artificiali, perché uguali di racconto in racconto. La nuova situazione che stanno vivendo invece genera nuove esperienze e nuovi pensieri, nuovi sogni, che non sono comunicabili né comprensibili ad altri.
The shortest novel in Doris Lessing's space fiction series is a surprisingly extensive allegory of the state of human civilization. It tells the story of a planet facing an ecological disaster that's turning it too cold for most of the life forms inhabiting it. The narrator is a member of a native humanoid race overseeing a possible relocation of his people. On top of the clear reference to our own global warming, humanity is also represented on a deeper level. Faced with possible extinction the race in this book falls into cultural apathy that feels very familiar. It's a tale of a people who have lost a sense of purpose, choosing passive existence over a constructive one.Like all of the previous installments in the Canopus in Argos -series "The Making of the Representative for Planet 8" suffers from a certain aimlesness and lack of cohesion. This short piece is again filled with wisdom and innovation, but as far as form goes, it could definitely be more streamlined and complete. Fortunately form issues doesn't cripple the novel too much, again maybe just going together well with the authentically alien voice of the narrator, "The Sirian Experiments"-style.
What do You think about The Making Of The Representative For Planet 8 (1994)?
This is a very slim book – however, it could not keep my interest long enough to finish it. Reading this novella requires real dedication, because it has no chapters and no breaks. Planet 8 is besieged by drastic climate change, and the inhabitants change their entire society on the advice of Canopus, another, more advanced race. The buildup was incredibly slow, and I frequently found my eyes sliding off the page. I finally gave up when I found myself grinding my teeth at the thought of picking up the book again.
—Melissa McCauley
Lessing's 'Canopus' books are quite unique in literature. I have read few series of books that have set themselves so grand a goal to achieve as to try to explain and unravel the complex tapestry that is human culture, civilisation and the stimuli that leads to the creation of both. She does this through the use of symbolic sci-fi and myth-making.Sci-fi (which I love by the way) is on the whole genre based and so generally follows a classical narrative arc but by eschewing such conventions she avoids predictable story telling and can focus on the make-up of the human animal and all the motivations that propel him.Each book has been a bit of an event for me and I must admit there has been quite a period between each one (and I have one left) which is not to say that I haven't loved them all but they have been difficult at times (although always unpredictable) and they are intensely remembered reading experiences that I feel need a sea of time between each one. I can't imagine the crowd of ideas if I tried to finish them all in one go.Again this was unexpected and if a little wandering and portentous towards the end was majestic and riveting on the whole. I won't wait so long for the finale.
—Mark Peters
This and book 2 (Marriages...) are the weakest volumes of the cycle. My recommendation is to skip those two which is easily doable as they have no significance for the rest of the Canopus cycle.The story again is more narrowly focused in contrast to books 1 and 3. Planet 8 is entering an ice age, making survival of any species impossible. Canopus knows this and prepares to save the relevant traits of its inhabitants in selected representatives for Planet 8.The central topic is individuality or more specifically the lack of real individuality and overestimation of each individuals' importance. Everybody deems himself to be unique while in fact none of us is extraordinary when seen in the context of all civilizations over time.The Making is already the shortest book of the cycle but for what little content is there it's still too long and suffers from repetition.
—Jos
