Cosmicomics

Move over Franz Kafka, Calvino's Cosmicomics offers metamorphoses that transcend our earthbound existence. Twelve stories (meant to imitate the Zodiac perhaps?) take the read back in time, to cosmological pre-history. Yet there is a consciousness present, even before the Big Bang, where space is sparring. Starting each story with a scientific observation, Calvino provided us with marvelous insights into the vanities of consciousness, along with accounts of the last dinosaur (which lives as a stranger among the new inhabitants), and the consciousness of the eyeless clam that wills his own shell and conceptualizes the eye, which all other beings now have, except the clam. Most amusing is Calvino's story of the time when the Moon was so close to the earth that it was possible for earthlings to climb a ladder and walk on the Moon. But as the Moon moves away, a woman who had tried to attract a lover (who gets off before it is too late, leaving the woman stranded there. As we, today, look at the Moon, do we see a Man in the Moon or a pining woman? Calvino is likely to prove a "find" for science fiction readers who are as interested in the past as in the future. Cosmicomics is also likely to be of interest in readers who wish to consider the evolution of literature, especially the short story. The stories are serious and amusing at the same time. This book is definitely worthy of reading, more than once. It will make the reader laugh and think at the same time.

I had never read Calvino before but I was interested in the idea of science principles embodied as characters. I'm not a "science person" but I think he makes the material accessible in that it isn't as much about the science as it is using these phenomena to explain very human experiences. I did think "The Distance of the Moon" was a bad story to put at the very beginning. I felt every other story in the collection had the same basic feel to it, except that one. I would recommend coming back to that one after you have read a few. As far as my favorites: "A Sign in Space" is very focused in semiotics, or the meaning and nature of signs and symbols. "The Aquatic Uncle" deals with the "problem of the older generation" and also has an ending that questions if it is worth being old and unchanging. "The Dinosaurs" was the strongest to me. It focuses on how perceptions of events or people groups change through time and how they can become untrue to the original event or people group. Also addresses how our understanding of history is subjective and interpretive. "The Light-Years" was also extremely strong and to me one of the most human ones in the collection. The narrator deals with the conflict of a bad first impression but being unable to correct it and how his overcompensation often leads to more problems than it solves. It also deals with our image of ourselves and if this is consistent with what others see of us. I would highly recommend this collection. It was a great read and my husband (who doesn't do as much magic realism as I do) read the ones above and liked them as well. :-)

Science-fiction is far from the realm of literature that I find fascinating. I mean the closest I ever was to the genre was reading the slightly spooky Northanger Abbey. Much to my chagrin one of my literature professors assigned this. Much to my surprise I couldn't put it down. A vignette of prehistoric stories retelling the creation of the universe from an unprecedentedly soulful point of view this novel really challenged the way I perceived language. I think I adored it so much because it made me question the significance and beauty of words. Calvino presents themes and emotions everyone can relate to in a totally difference setting and society. Imagine language before the creation of vowels, love before the creation of earth or time, or what family would look like if no one had bodies. Calvino repackages everything society presumes to be true into a thought-provoking series of stories that make you question the concept of truth. Calvino's fictional masterpiece is a springboard for discussing everything from creation stories to social constructs, and I could not recommend it enough. I rarely see this on the lists of "must read" books, but I can certainly tell you it is on mine. Delightful, poetic, and inspiring.

I can't write quite like some of the others, but I will say; Calvino is a genius. A book of short stories that will blow your mind. Fictitious characters who bring to your mind science on the galaxy, milky way, fusion, and so on. When I picked up the book, at first, I couldn't understand what was going on. This isn't a book where you read chapter one and it continues to chapter two and so on... Different stories, different aspects of the galaxy, and yet, they all relate. I have a hard time understanding some concepts of different things. Calvino, through this book, helped fill in some gaps for me. HE is truly a genius.

Though anyone can enjoy this book I think it appeals especially to students of the physical sciences. Some of the stories are bizarre exactly because they violate scientific laws and those who have a good understanding of the laws in question will get more of the joke. For example, there is one about the moon being very close to the Earth, allowing people to climb a ladder from one to the other with gravity switching direction halfway between. Of course the gravity would not change appreciably between them because the Earth's gravity would still be dominant on the moon at that distance but that's what makes it fun. That is only my perspective from a science background though and I'm sure people from other disciplines will find their own particular joys in these cosmicomics. We used it for a school seminar and wrote our own cosmicomics afterward and I highly recommend trying it yourself. Was a lot of fun!