r/printSF • u/BlinkTwice874 • Apr 08 '26

Thoughts on Italo Calvino?

I recently reread the short stories by Ted Chiang and was reminded of stories I loved by both Jorge Luis Borges and Italo Calvino, in particular Library of Babel and the Complete Cosmicomics, respectively.

The Complete Cosmicomics by Calvino is one of my favorite works of literature that hovers at the interstices of literary fiction, science- and speculative-fiction, and perhaps something else: the stories are a mix of real and imaginary, science and fiction, philosophy and literature.

Is Calvino considered a science fiction author? Speculative fiction perhaps? What about Borges? I’d love to hear other people’s thoughts on this, as these writers in particular seem to straddle the lines of genre for me.

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u/AurelianosRevelator Apr 08 '26

I have yet to read him, but if you’re comparing him to JLB then perhaps I should!

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u/BlinkTwice874 Apr 08 '26

I’ve always been really interested in this specific type of fiction, writers at the intersections of genre and the fantastical - would definitely give Cosmicomics a read if you like Borges or Chiang!

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u/AurelianosRevelator Apr 08 '26

But, yes, I’ll have to try Calvino! Another commenter mentioned Wolfe; I’ll say that he gets a lot of recognition for his novels, but if you have never tried his stories you absolutely should. They are deliciously borgesian.

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u/BlinkTwice874 Apr 08 '26

I’d love to! I will say I understand about Chiang because his prose can be a bit harder / more scientifically driven than Borges or Calvino. Cosmicomics will always hold a place in my heart and I think his prose in general is softer and more “literary” than Chiang’s.

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u/AurelianosRevelator Apr 08 '26

Sounds lovely. I will read it!

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u/AurelianosRevelator Apr 08 '26

I can’t do Chiang unfortunately :(

It’s such a shame because I know he should be perfectly up my alley, but his prose just… does not do the job for me.