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bengriffin's review against another edition
3.0
Far from essential reading but definitely interesting, especially to gain more insight into Levi's broad, intellectual depths.
david611's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars !!
(Stories - 4, Essays - 4.5)
This was a really good book. A small book comprising of twelve science-fiction/fantasy short stories, and twenty-one short essays.
I have to admit, in spite of my love for SF, I liked and enjoyed reading the essays in this book more than the included stories! They brought in quite a few new thoughts to my craving brain. :P
THE STORIES:-
In The Interview, Elio is interviewed by an alien who wants to find out about Earth; while They Were Made To Be Together 'joins the two' through a different world !
In The Great Mutation, cases of contagious viral infection is observed, and the Major Mutation leads to a certain 'development'. This story asks the question, "Why should all viral infections be harmful ?" I especially loved this one. (5-stars)
In Five Intimate Interviews, five creatures are interviewed by a journalist; them being a Herring Gull, a Mole, a Giraffe, a Spider, and the Escherichia Coli (an intestinal bacteria). Nice to read from all of their perspectives. (5-stars)
In The Mirror Maker, Timoteo and his family have been creating mirrors through their ancestral times. But this time he invents Metamirs - Metaphysical Mirrors - capable of reflecting how (in various ways) others see us. And no two ways coincide !! (5-stars)
In Through The Walls, Memnone, an alchemist thrown in jail, knows that it is all about the density of Matter; and uses this idea to escape 'through the walls' - two meters thick, but with a heavy price !!, or was it a gift ?! This was an intense, superb story! (5-stars)
In The Ant's Wedding, a Queen Ant is interviewed. I cannot remember much of it now, but was certainly interesting.
In Time Checkmated, an invention is made to accelerate, slow down, or arrest subjective time at the subject's will.
THE ESSAYS:-
Rhyming On The Counterattack reflects on Poetry and the virtues of Rhyming.
Dear Horace is an imaginary letter to Horace Walpole on his two hundredth death anniversary in 1997, mentioning all the 'progress' made by mankind since his times.
About Gossip is a small write-up, the author imagining what would have been the contents of his book if he would write one about gossip.
Jack London's Buck is an analysis of the character of Buck the dog, in Jack London's The Call of the Wild.
Adam's Clay delves into a new hypothesis for the Origins of Life as laid down by [a:A.G. Cairns-Smith|946716|A.G. Cairns-Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] in his book [b:Seven Clues to the Origin of Life: A Scientific Detective Story|902905|Seven Clues to the Origin of Life A Scientific Detective Story|A.G. Cairns-Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348819222s/902905.jpg|888078].
The Spider's Secret, in which Levi having an experience in the field of producing varnishes, lays down the secret of the Spider Silk.
Defiance in the Ghetto speaks about the Warsaw ghetto uprising by the Jews in April 1943.
Hatching the Cobra is a call to all upcoming scientists to make a conscientious decision before giving oneself to a certain cause for research in the field of science.
Some more essays included are:
The Commander of Auschwitz
The Moon and Man
Our Dreams
The Struggle for Life
Spears Become Shields
Translating Kafka
Bacteria Roulette
Among the Peaks of Manhattan
The Wine of the Borgias
Reproducing Miracles
The Man Who Flies
The Dispute Among German Historians
Nearly all of the Essays are interesting.
I would love to read a few of these stories and essays again before returning my copy back to ____.
(Stories - 4, Essays - 4.5)
This was a really good book. A small book comprising of twelve science-fiction/fantasy short stories, and twenty-one short essays.
I have to admit, in spite of my love for SF, I liked and enjoyed reading the essays in this book more than the included stories! They brought in quite a few new thoughts to my craving brain. :P
THE STORIES:-
In The Interview, Elio is interviewed by an alien who wants to find out about Earth; while They Were Made To Be Together 'joins the two' through a different world !
In The Great Mutation, cases of contagious viral infection is observed, and the Major Mutation leads to a certain 'development'. This story asks the question, "Why should all viral infections be harmful ?" I especially loved this one. (5-stars)
In Five Intimate Interviews, five creatures are interviewed by a journalist; them being a Herring Gull, a Mole, a Giraffe, a Spider, and the Escherichia Coli (an intestinal bacteria). Nice to read from all of their perspectives. (5-stars)
In The Mirror Maker, Timoteo and his family have been creating mirrors through their ancestral times. But this time he invents Metamirs - Metaphysical Mirrors - capable of reflecting how (in various ways) others see us. And no two ways coincide !! (5-stars)
In Through The Walls, Memnone, an alchemist thrown in jail, knows that it is all about the density of Matter; and uses this idea to escape 'through the walls' - two meters thick, but with a heavy price !!, or was it a gift ?! This was an intense, superb story! (5-stars)
In The Ant's Wedding, a Queen Ant is interviewed. I cannot remember much of it now, but was certainly interesting.
In Time Checkmated, an invention is made to accelerate, slow down, or arrest subjective time at the subject's will.
THE ESSAYS:-
Rhyming On The Counterattack reflects on Poetry and the virtues of Rhyming.
Dear Horace is an imaginary letter to Horace Walpole on his two hundredth death anniversary in 1997, mentioning all the 'progress' made by mankind since his times.
About Gossip is a small write-up, the author imagining what would have been the contents of his book if he would write one about gossip.
Jack London's Buck is an analysis of the character of Buck the dog, in Jack London's The Call of the Wild.
Adam's Clay delves into a new hypothesis for the Origins of Life as laid down by [a:A.G. Cairns-Smith|946716|A.G. Cairns-Smith|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] in his book [b:Seven Clues to the Origin of Life: A Scientific Detective Story|902905|Seven Clues to the Origin of Life A Scientific Detective Story|A.G. Cairns-Smith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348819222s/902905.jpg|888078].
The Spider's Secret, in which Levi having an experience in the field of producing varnishes, lays down the secret of the Spider Silk.
Defiance in the Ghetto speaks about the Warsaw ghetto uprising by the Jews in April 1943.
Hatching the Cobra is a call to all upcoming scientists to make a conscientious decision before giving oneself to a certain cause for research in the field of science.
Some more essays included are:
The Commander of Auschwitz
The Moon and Man
Our Dreams
The Struggle for Life
Spears Become Shields
Translating Kafka
Bacteria Roulette
Among the Peaks of Manhattan
The Wine of the Borgias
Reproducing Miracles
The Man Who Flies
The Dispute Among German Historians
Nearly all of the Essays are interesting.
I would love to read a few of these stories and essays again before returning my copy back to ____.
molly_hn's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This collection of Primo Levi is a pure ode to curiosity, to ‘the itinerary fate has reserved for [him]’ (p.3). The writing style is smooth, simple and pure, making complex concepts easily digestible and making subjects about which we the reader might not care at all, seem edge-of-the-seat invaluable.
Some of the fictional stories read like fables, imbued in meaning that we the reader are free to make. ‘The Great Mutation’ is one of my personal favourites. ‘Five Intimate Interviews’ challenges us to reconsider human exceptionalism- I felt a deep resonance with the spider, her undying hunger, perfectionism and Syphian (check that!) task of web weaving, which was something I never would have anticipated! E.Coli’s warning ‘keep an eye on your test tubes. I personally have a good disposition but can’t vouch for those colleagues of mine whose switchboard you have changed’ (p.52) has a deeper resonance for our post-2020 world.
There are also tales with more sombre a tone and essays that reflect on the dark truths of humanity. Even in these, Levi weaves hope. Some of the arguments may feel a little dated but I think it’s important to consider that the collection is of an era. Even within the text that feels aged in its logic, there are gems of phrases and gems of ponderings that could be easily missed if we did not read on.
At Levi’s request (p.4), I will not go ‘in search of messages[, …] forc[ing] on [him] clothes that are not [his]’. This collection is full of absolute gems and I would be confident in recommending it to anyone, reader or not, due to its accessibility and beauty. Maelstroms ‘large and small, metaphorical and actual’ are certainly presented throughout, and presenting with a curiosity that is completely and utterly catching. If you have ever wondered about the intersection of science and art; about the science inherent in all life and the creativity that flows freely within that life… if you have ever wondered… then this collection is for you.
lettersinthemargins's review against another edition
4.0
This set of essays and short stories by Primo Levi is a cluster of such moments. Levi is careful with his words, not one is out of place or excessive. And each pushes a memory of puddle-water reflection in your mind. Levi has a way with meaning making. He says - by heart, ricordati, carried in the heart.
Sometimes these messages in the heart are translated to slight taps on the head. For the writer, he has a thought - when I write, he says, phrases from everywhere pour into it. For authors long dead, he has letters - he says, do you know, we can now fornicate without impregnating. For the self assured American, he has advice - a homeless man can sustain himself on your excessive waste. And your running shoes maybe everything, but beautiful, they are not. (Typical Italian?)
He has research for the gossiper and insight for the scientist - clue : how does the liquid from a spider turn into solid silk?
But when he approaches the Holocaust, his voice falters. With words that stumble against each other, he sort of cries out the pain and humiliation that afflicts human societies. His carefulness, then becomes a plea, a request, and it is here that I begin to curl into the voices he's left me with.
If you're struggling to make words build worlds, if you're struggling to press meaning or its lack into your stories, you should read Levi.
Sometimes these messages in the heart are translated to slight taps on the head. For the writer, he has a thought - when I write, he says, phrases from everywhere pour into it. For authors long dead, he has letters - he says, do you know, we can now fornicate without impregnating. For the self assured American, he has advice - a homeless man can sustain himself on your excessive waste. And your running shoes maybe everything, but beautiful, they are not. (Typical Italian?)
He has research for the gossiper and insight for the scientist - clue : how does the liquid from a spider turn into solid silk?
But when he approaches the Holocaust, his voice falters. With words that stumble against each other, he sort of cries out the pain and humiliation that afflicts human societies. His carefulness, then becomes a plea, a request, and it is here that I begin to curl into the voices he's left me with.
If you're struggling to make words build worlds, if you're struggling to press meaning or its lack into your stories, you should read Levi.
bengriffin's review against another edition
3.0
Far from essential reading but definitely interesting, especially to gain more insight into Levi's broad, intellectual depths.
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