Italo Calvino's stories are narrated by Qfwfq, a being who has lived since before the universe took shape. Each tale starts from a real scientific idea, such as the Moon's distance from Earth, the Big Bang, the dinosaurs' extinction, or the expansion of space, and treats it as lived memory. In one, everyone gathers in a single point before the universe begins and a woman named Mrs Ph(i)Nko makes a remark about pasta. Another follows a lunar love triangle. Humour, loss, and lyrical description sit side by side.
Readers who like science fiction with literary ambition, or who liked Calvino's Invisible Cities, will find a playful, funny entry point. Curious general readers get a way to feel scientific ideas through character.
Deep, contemplative, open-ended and thought-provoking; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Literary Connoisseur. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1965
- Language
- EN
