The novel “Re: colonized Planet 5, Shikasta”, also known simply as “Shikasta”, by Doris Lessing was published for the first time in 1979. It is the first novel of the Canopus in Argos series.

The planet Rohanda was among the most promising when its colonization was started by the interstellar empire of Canopus. However, the development of the humanoids on the planet became problematic due to outside interference. Between Canopus and the empire of Sirius there’s some collaboration but the planet Shammat of the Empire of Puttiora is an opponent with its own agenda.

Millennia later the planet Rohanda is known as Shikasta and Canopus agents can’t avoid the chaos that leads to constant wars between the native humanoids anymore. Some of them get corrupted worsening the situation. Johor, one of the agents of Canopus, does his best but his task seems impossible.