Sirius

Publications: Reviews

SIRIUS by Olaf Stapledon

Gollancz 2000 200pp £9.99

First published in 1944, Sirius is a welcome addition to the "yellowback" Collectors’ Editions series, following the recent reprints of Stapledon’s far-better known Last and First Men (1930) and Star Maker (1937). And while Sirius has nothing of the dramatic sweep and chill cosmic epic quality of the earlier novels, it is at one and the same time as important, because of this difference, not just despite it.

Sirius is the story of the dog of the title -- a dog with artificially enhanced intelligence, who can communicate with the scientist who created him, his family, and trusted friends. In particular, his daughter Plaxy forms a specially close and intimate bond with Sirius.

As in several of his other novels, Stapledon proceeds to take a look at humanity and its world, through the eyes of an outsider. In this case, Sirius. The tensions between Sirius’ canine heritage and his human enhancement amply justify the novel’s subtitle: “A Fantasy of Love and Discord”.

Stapledon is far too subtle and sensible to let the story become mere heavy-handed satire or earnest didacticism. Instead, he sensitively explores the limitations of humanity, and its interconnectedness with the rest of the living world.

Despite its World War II background, this major theme has a very relevant feel to it, and there are hints of the same ideas and spiritual issues that Arthur Machen used in The Terror (1917), when world conflict also caused many to think about humanity’s distance -- or lack of it -- from “brute creation”.

As in Star Maker, Stapledon teasingly and movingly pursues the messiness and glory of existence as far as the Ultimate. And then returns to earth, leaving the reader considerably enriched by the journey.

Treasure this book, treasure the work of Olaf Stapledon (1886-1950) who, coming after H.G. Wells, and before Arthur C. Clarke, ranks with them as one of England’s major contributions not only to science fiction, but to liberal and humane thought.

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