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The Complete Cosmicomics

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( 4,492 ratings, 603 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Complete Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino is a collection of whimsical short stories that blend fantasy and science. Narrated by the enigmatic Qfwfq, the tales take readers on imaginative journeys through cosmic phenomena, exploring the wonders of the universe with playful storytelling and philosophical insights. Each story offers a unique perspective on the origins and marvels of life and the cosmos.
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Format: Paperback / softback
$2600
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this collection if you appreciate imaginative storytelling that blends science with fantasy, featuring whimsical narratives and philosophical musings about the universe. This book is perfect for readers who relish a playful yet profound exploration of cosmic themes and human nature, delivered through richly inventive language.

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The Complete Cosmicomics

Includes stories about the evolution of the universe, with characters that are fashioned from mathematical formulae and cellular structures.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

First paperback publication of Italo Calvino's phenomenally funny account of the universe as a cosmic joke.

The Complete Cosmicomics enchants with stories about the evolution of the universe, presenting characters fashioned from mathematical formulae and cellular structures. These characters disport themselves among galaxies, experience the solidification of planets, move from aquatic to terrestrial existence, play games with hydrogen atoms, and even find time for a love life.

'Naturally, we were all there,' old Qfwfq said, 'where else could we have been? Nobody knew then that there could be space. Or time either—what use did we have for time, packed in there like sardines?'

Series: Penguin Modern Classics

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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Italo Calvino's The Complete Cosmicomics is lauded as a masterful work of fiction, appreciated for its inventive blend of science and fantasy. Ursula K Le Guin hails the collection as a landmark in the genre, while Salman Rushdie describes reading it as a joyful experience. The book challenges the imagination, prompting both thought and laughter, as noted by John Self.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780141189680

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 May 2010

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Classics

Contributors:

  • Translated by Tim Parks
  • Translated by Martin McLaughlin
  • Translated by William Weaver
  • Translated by William Weaver
  • Translated by William Weaver
  • Translated by Tim Parks

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 26.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 199.0mm

Weight: 314g

Pages: 432

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About the Author

Italo Calvino, one of Italy's finest postwar writers, has delighted readers around the world with his deceptively simple, fable-like stories. Calvino was born in Cuba in 1923 and raised in San Remo, Italy; he fought for the Italian Resistance from 1943-45. He died in Siena in 1985, of a brain hemorrhage. Martin L. McLaughlin is Professor of Italian and Fiat-Serena Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Oxford where he is a Fellow of Magdalen College. He is the English translator of Umberto Eco and Italo Calvino among many others.

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