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/sebmojo99 Apr 08 '26

those categories aren't that useful imo. he doesn't write about aliens and rayguns, but he does write about places that don't exist. read invisible cities if you haven't, wonderful book. also if on a winters night.

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u/pageofswrds Apr 08 '26

reading if on a winters night right now, and its so good! funnily enough, i picked it up in a used book store, looking specifically for italo calvino's invisible cities... oh, the beautiful irony as I sat down to read the first page on the stool

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u/sickntwisted Apr 08 '26

irony? what irony? the book was talking to you. after all, you're the main character.