Without Colors by Italo Calvino

This week’s topic is on literary speculation, in which I have read Without Color and The Aquatic Uncle by Italo Calvino. I have already done a blog for The Aquatic Uncle so I will focus this blog on evaluating Without Color.

From Calvino’s collection of short stories called Cosmicomics, it is clear that his literature perfectly fits in this genre. His stories focus on the beginning of the universe, when the Earth is first taking form and life forms are evolving.  Without Color has the same character as The Aquatic Uncle, Qfwfq, and focuses on when the Earth was with little form and no color. Qfwfq meets another creature called Ayl, whose friends are later described humanoid, so we can assume she is too. Similar to The Aquatic Uncle, Qfwfq encounters a being he falls in love with that is very different than him. Qfwfq finds new and exotic things beautiful, things that stick out from the grey norm, while Ayl finds comfort in normality and consistency. When the Earth changes and colors come into existence, Qfwfq embraces this new beauty that he’s been waiting for while Ayl runs and hides herself in the colorless dark of the Earth.

Calvino’s speculation is very interesting; he has these original ideas that are so interesting to read. These concepts have no science to back them up, but he makes you believe that they could have happened in an entertaining and cute way with his characters. I think I will definitely read the rest of his stories in the future.