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A review by kontramundum
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino
3.0
A mixed bag of stories featuring Qfwfq, an anthromorphic being / sentient life-form who was there at the beginning of the universe and who is likely to be there at the end, and beyond. Qfwfq has existed in different forms: a single point, a dinosaur, a mollusca, a man.
Calvino is as inventive and playful as ever in these stories, basing their initial premise on a scientific fact. But it does not always work. Some of the stories felt too tiresome and contrived.
This edition is the definitive edition that includes all the Cosmicomic stories that Calvino wrote. I generally liked the early stories more than the later ones. Key highlights for me include "A Sign in Space", "The Aquatic Uncle" "How Much Shall We Bet?","The Dinosaurs", "The Chase", and "The Night Driver".
TL/DR: Qfwfq who was present at the beginning of the universe tells us of his adventures and how the world was like then. Each story starts with a scientific fact which Calvino uses as the germ of the idea for the story.
Recommended for: Fans of Calvino, Borges et al and more advanced readers of sci-fi / fantastic fiction.
Calvino is as inventive and playful as ever in these stories, basing their initial premise on a scientific fact. But it does not always work. Some of the stories felt too tiresome and contrived.
This edition is the definitive edition that includes all the Cosmicomic stories that Calvino wrote. I generally liked the early stories more than the later ones. Key highlights for me include "A Sign in Space", "The Aquatic Uncle" "How Much Shall We Bet?","The Dinosaurs", "The Chase", and "The Night Driver".
TL/DR: Qfwfq who was present at the beginning of the universe tells us of his adventures and how the world was like then. Each story starts with a scientific fact which Calvino uses as the germ of the idea for the story.
Recommended for: Fans of Calvino, Borges et al and more advanced readers of sci-fi / fantastic fiction.