Evaluation for The Aquatic Uncle by Italo Calvino

            Evolution is a prominent symbol in The Aquatic Uncle by Italo Calvino. The author explains how, over generations, most of the aquatic animals come onto land and became terrestrial, while others stayed behind and developed into more defined aquatic animals like fish. The main character, Qfwfq, says that his fiancé’s family is more developed than his and had never known they had once been aquatic, but he remembers coming out from the water. Another prominent symbol is segregation, in this case of aquatic and terrestrial. Qfwfq and his family stay on land and only visit his uncle in the water once a year. The two sides have nothing to do with each other, which is why Qwfwq is so surprised by Lll’s accepting reaction to N’ba N’ga’s culture.

            The Aquatic Uncle reminded me of Bloodchild by Octavia E. Butler, and Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld in the way that the two sides are completely against each other and have not much to do with each other. In The Aquatic Uncle, Qwfwq and his family are very against N’ba N’ga’s arguments and opinions, while in Bloodchild, the Terrans and the Tlic, despite their symbiotic relationship, have a tension between them. When Gan discovers the awful truth behind the Tlic, he hates them. This is clear in Leviathan, as we can see that one side of the war is Clanker and the other side is Darwinist. The element of two opposing sides is very common in science fiction.

            If I were to change this into another medium, I would probably make is into an animated short film. The beginning of this story, describing evolution, reminded me of the beginning of The Land Before Time film, which I watched recently. I would probably illustrate the beginning of The Aquatic Uncle similar to that; not as much narration but instead showing fish coming up from the water onto land and some staying behind, maybe over time terrestrial animals evolving from fish-like to animal-like. I think I would also change the story by making the climax, when Qfwfq discovers Lll’s secret, more dramatic, and drawing out the resolution a bit more to feel more of a closure. I felt like Calvino ended The Aquatic Uncle very abruptly and I didn’t feel satisfied.