📚APR 2026 Cosmicomics #7 THE AQUATIC UNCLE
Original topic subject: 📚APR 2026 Cosmiccomics #7 THE AQUATIC UNCLE
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1DebiCates
Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino translated by William Weaver, collection first published 1965.
Discussion links:
Introduction
The Distance of the Moon
At Daybreak
A Sign in Space
All at One Point
Without Colors
Games Without End
The Aquatic Uncle (This page)
How Much Shall We Bet?
The Dinosaurs
The Form of Space
The Light-Years
The Spiral
Final Thoughts
Discussion links:
Introduction
The Distance of the Moon
At Daybreak
A Sign in Space
All at One Point
Without Colors
Games Without End
The Aquatic Uncle (This page)
How Much Shall We Bet?
The Dinosaurs
The Form of Space
The Light-Years
The Spiral
Final Thoughts
2DebiCates
Now, in the cosmology of the Universe and the history of Earth, come sea creatures trying out the land and adapting. Qfwfq and most of his family, going back a few generations are among that type. However, there is one familial holdout.
Great Uncle N'ba N'ga. He's still stuck in his old ways, in primal, muddy waters. He's still a fish.
He's that uncle that has an opinion on everything, and everything new is bad. He's rude and grumpy and thinks everyone is an idiot. But, well, he's still family and at least once a year they go visit him. They entreat him to come live with them, where he would be well taken care of and they are sure he would love it. He is sure he would not.
Around this time Qfwfq falls in love and plans to marry. Her name is Lll. It can't be helped, at some point he has to take her to meet his uncle. She comes from a long, long line of land lubbers, and Qfwfq is sure she will be aghast at his uncle's ways and the things he says. Instead, she is truly interested. It is so novel to her, to meet a fish, to learn about a fish life. Qfwfq thinks his fiancé is putting him on, to later shame him. No, she is not. Soon, this wonderful creature, so lovely and lithe on land, so well adapted, learns to swim, takes to it easily. She leaves Qfwfq to live with old Uncle N'ba N'ga. I suppose that is also evolution, if evolution is change to a new environment. Is it not?
This is the third time we've heard of the affairs of the heart of Qfwfq, although he calls this his first love. Maybe it is his first love as a living, organic being he means.
This is somewhat how I imagined Qfwfq as this entity. I can see why Lll night be more attracted to a well-adapted fish.
Great Uncle N'ba N'ga. He's still stuck in his old ways, in primal, muddy waters. He's still a fish.
He's that uncle that has an opinion on everything, and everything new is bad. He's rude and grumpy and thinks everyone is an idiot. But, well, he's still family and at least once a year they go visit him. They entreat him to come live with them, where he would be well taken care of and they are sure he would love it. He is sure he would not.
Around this time Qfwfq falls in love and plans to marry. Her name is Lll. It can't be helped, at some point he has to take her to meet his uncle. She comes from a long, long line of land lubbers, and Qfwfq is sure she will be aghast at his uncle's ways and the things he says. Instead, she is truly interested. It is so novel to her, to meet a fish, to learn about a fish life. Qfwfq thinks his fiancé is putting him on, to later shame him. No, she is not. Soon, this wonderful creature, so lovely and lithe on land, so well adapted, learns to swim, takes to it easily. She leaves Qfwfq to live with old Uncle N'ba N'ga. I suppose that is also evolution, if evolution is change to a new environment. Is it not?
This is the third time we've heard of the affairs of the heart of Qfwfq, although he calls this his first love. Maybe it is his first love as a living, organic being he means.
This is somewhat how I imagined Qfwfq as this entity. I can see why Lll night be more attracted to a well-adapted fish.
