The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction
Summary
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The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction by Marco Malvestio
The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction investigates the representation of ecological issues in Italian science fiction and film from the 1950s to the present. Taking into account a previously understudied corpus, the book reveals how Italian science fiction has consistently been able to conceptualize and dramatize the impact of human activities on the health of planetary ecosystems and addresses the radical environmental changes that have occurred in the country since the Second World War. Moving from current debates on the environmental humanities and on the cultural status of speculative fiction, the book provides an in-depth analysis of the evolution of the genre in Italy in relationship to the country's environmental history. The book highlights the ways in which Italian science fiction represents non-human agencies – animal, vegetal, mineral – and how the recent Solarpunk movement imagines new synergies with the environment. Drawing on notable works ranging from Lino Aldani to Gilda Musa, from Francesco Verso to Paolo Zardi, from Nicoletta Vallorani to Laura Pugno, The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction covers topics as diverse as the evolution of petroculture in Italy, environmental justice and migrations, encounters with animal and vegetal alterity, ecofeminist stances, and new dreams of sustainability.
“This exhilarating and much-needed critical account shines a long-overdue spotlight on a neglected genre and body of workSpanning from World War II to the present, it compellingly illustrates the convergence of Italian science fiction and the discourse on the Anthropocene, revealing their deep cultural and historical entanglements. Through a perceptive and incisive analysis of key authors and texts, this book brings Italian science fiction from the margins to the forefront of critical and ethical conversations, demonstrating its power to visualize and dramatize urgent ecological issues that challenge the very limits of human imagination.” -- Pierpaolo Antonello, Senior Researcher, Yale University
“Long awaited, Marco Malvestio's The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction offers a sophisticated exploration of a genre uniquely attuned to our ecological anxieties. Rejecting simplistic comparisons to Anglo-American trends, Malvestio's elegant prose and insightful analysis reveal Italian sci-fi's distinctive engagement with environmental themes — petroculture, waste, non-human agency, and ecofeminist ethics — and the crucial role of audience taste in shaping the genre. His nuanced approach, situating these narratives within their specific cultural context and the broader sci-fi 'mega-text,' makes a landmark contribution to the field.” -- Serenella Iovino, James G. Hanes Distinguished Professor in Humanities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“In his thoroughly researched The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction, Marco Malvestio examines the revealing relationship between science fiction and some of Italy’s environmental problems. Analyzing Analysing key texts and authors, he explores themes of ecological degradation, non-human agency, and environmental justice. Malvestio offers fresh insights into how speculative fiction confronts the challenges of the Anthropocene, underlining its 'imaginative' power to illuminate urgent global concerns through a uniquely Italian lens. A timely and significant contribution to the field of the ’Italian‘ environmental humanities.” -- Enrico Cesaretti, Professor of Italian Studies, University of Virginia
“Long awaited, Marco Malvestio's The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction offers a sophisticated exploration of a genre uniquely attuned to our ecological anxieties. Rejecting simplistic comparisons to Anglo-American trends, Malvestio's elegant prose and insightful analysis reveal Italian sci-fi's distinctive engagement with environmental themes — petroculture, waste, non-human agency, and ecofeminist ethics — and the crucial role of audience taste in shaping the genre. His nuanced approach, situating these narratives within their specific cultural context and the broader sci-fi 'mega-text,' makes a landmark contribution to the field.” -- Serenella Iovino, James G. Hanes Distinguished Professor in Humanities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“In his thoroughly researched The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction, Marco Malvestio examines the revealing relationship between science fiction and some of Italy’s environmental problems. Analyzing Analysing key texts and authors, he explores themes of ecological degradation, non-human agency, and environmental justice. Malvestio offers fresh insights into how speculative fiction confronts the challenges of the Anthropocene, underlining its 'imaginative' power to illuminate urgent global concerns through a uniquely Italian lens. A timely and significant contribution to the field of the ’Italian‘ environmental humanities.” -- Enrico Cesaretti, Professor of Italian Studies, University of Virginia
Marco Malvestio is an assistant professor in the Department of Linguistic and Literary Studies at the University of Padova.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781487554705 |
| ISBN 10 | 1487554702 |
| Title | The Ecology of Italian Science Fiction |
| Author | Marco Malvestio |
| Series | Toronto Italian Studies |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | University of Toronto Press |
| Year published | 2025-07-22 |
| Number of pages | 256 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |