9/11 Imaginaria: Writing Catastrophe, Memory, and the War on Terror

In 9/11 Imaginaria: Writing Catastrophe, Memory, and the War on Terror, Robert Moscaliuc explores how literature and cultural narratives have shaped and been shaped by the events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent “War on Terror.” In an effort to move beyond conventional discussions of trauma and representation, Moscaliuc introduces the concept of the selfish event―a cultural phenomenon so overwhelming that it absorbs and reshapes surrounding narratives to ensure its dominance in collective memory.

Divided into two parts, the book first examines post-9/11 fiction, tracing how the attacks disrupted storytelling and perception by drawing from works by Don DeLillo, Cormac McCarthy, Mark Doten, and others. The second part shifts to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, presenting the proximal-ancillary coverage continuum, a framework that differentiates between immediate media-driven representations and reflective literary accounts by authors like Elliot Ackerman, Phil Klay, Michael Pitre, Roy Scranton, and others.

Moscaliuc’s work ultimately explores the intersections of fiction, memory, and power, challenging readers to reconsider how literature not only represents catastrophe but also actively shapes its meaning.

Dr. Robert Moscaliuc holds a PhD in post-9/11 American literature and culture from the University of Genoa, Italy. His research focuses on contemporary American literature and culture, particularly the connections between bodies, catastrophes, climate, and nature. He is currently a language lecturer at the University of Turin, Italy, where he teaches Anglo-American literature, linguistics, creative nonfiction writing, and public speaking. He is the author of a novel, Architectural Design (2021), and several textbooks aimed at graduate students.

Dr. Giorgio Mariani is a recently retired Full Professor of American literature at “Sapienza” University of Rome.