Carlos Béjar Portilla (Ambato, February 17, 1938) is a prominent Ecuadorian writer, poet, and lawyer, who significantly developed the science fiction genre in Ecuador during the latter half of the 20th century. His works, such as Simón el mago (1970) and Tribu sí (1981), are known for blending futuristic and fantastical themes with societal commentary, offering a fresh and modern take on speculative fiction. Béjar’s contributions revitalized the genre and expanded its presence in Ecuadorian literature, distinguishing him as a key figure in the country’s literary evolution. He is also a founding member of the Society of Writers of Ecuador.
Early Life and Education
Carlos Béjar Portilla was born on February 17, 1938, in Baños de Ambato, Ecuador. His father, Miguel Béjar Negrete, was a hotel owner and liquor producer, while his mother, Isabel Portilla Tinajero, hailed from Ambato. Béjar spent his early years in Baños before the family relocated to Guayaquil in 1942. He attended San José-La Salle for his primary education and later studied at both the Aguirre Abad and Vicente Rocafuerte high schools, where he excelled in literature. Béjar’s academic strengths led him to the University of Guayaquil, where he studied law, obtaining his law degree in 1965 and later his doctorate in Jurisprudence with distinction.
Personal Life
In 1962, Carlos Béjar married Leonor Velasco Terán, with whom he had three daughters. Their marriage lasted 48 years until Leonor’s passing in 2009. Béjar’s life was filled with diverse interests beyond literature. After practicing law briefly, he shifted his focus to entrepreneurship, exploring fields such as industrial ventures and education. He co-founded the Colegio Británico in Guayaquil with his wife, establishing it as one of the leading schools in the city.
Béjar also ventured into the arts, engaging in painting and sculpture, and organized innovative exhibitions, including the I Exposición Nacional de Escultura Libre. His work in sculpture utilized unconventional materials, reflecting his creative spirit. Additionally, he explored various business projects, including the manufacture of beauty products and running several successful boutiques in Guayaquil. His travels to countries like India, Nepal, and Tibet in the 1960s further broadened his worldview, deeply influencing his literary output, which often blended global perspectives with Ecuadorian themes.
Literary Career
Carlos Béjar Portilla is recognized as one of the pioneering figures in Ecuadorian science fiction and fantastic literature. His writing career began with the unpublished novel Siete infiernos para Boris (1960), which won a prize in 1965. His early works reflect his interest in speculative fiction, as seen in his first collection of short stories, Simón el mago (1970), followed by Osa Mayor (1970) and Samballah (1971). These works established Béjar as a visionary, introducing themes of futuristic societies, space exploration, and dystopian worlds at a time when Ecuadorian literature was largely focused on social realism.
In the 1980s, Béjar reached new heights with his novel Tribu sí (1981), which became a cultural touchstone for the Guayaquil bohemian generation of the 1970s. The novel was a finalist in the prestigious Seix Barral prize, judged by literary giants like Gabriel García Márquez and Mario Vargas Llosa. It explores themes of freedom and rebellion, set against the backdrop of Ecuador’s shifting social landscape. Puerto de Luna (1986) and La Rosa de Singapur (1990) continued to develop Béjar’s exploration of existential and metaphysical questions, particularly in the context of the sea and its symbolic resonance.
Themes and Style
Béjar’s writing is notable for its merging of science fiction and fantasy with philosophical musings on modernity, technology, and humanity. His stories often present dystopian visions of the future, marked by an underlying critique of capitalist exploitation, technological dominance, and ecological decay. Works like Simón el mago and Samballah delve into questions of identity, ethics, and the human condition, while Tribu sí and La Rosa de Singapur reflect a more introspective exploration of self-discovery and spiritual peace.
Béjar’s prose is characterized by a tight economy of language and a penchant for metafictional devices. He often experiments with narrative forms, using multiple perspectives and voices to challenge readers’ perceptions of reality. His works frequently blend the fantastic with the real, creating a unique style that has been compared to the works of Borges.
Legacy and Recognition
Though Béjar Portilla’s works were celebrated by some of Ecuador’s literary circles, he has not received the broad national recognition he deserves. In 1982, he was declared a founding member of the Society of Writers of Ecuador. His influence, however, extends far beyond this accolade. Béjar is often credited with reinvigorating Ecuadorian science fiction, a genre that had been largely dormant in the country’s literary history until his contributions in the 1970s.
Despite the critical acclaim of his works, such as Tribu sí and Puerto de Luna, his literary legacy remains somewhat underappreciated, especially outside of Guayaquil. Recent calls have been made by Ecuadorian writers to ensure that Béjar’s work receives greater recognition before his passing.
Final Years and Continuing Influence
As of the early 2020s, Carlos Béjar Portilla continues to reside near the coast, where he remains deeply connected to his philosophical pursuits and love for the sea. While he has not published new works in recent years, his contributions to Ecuadorian literature—particularly in the realms of speculative fiction and post-modern narrative—continue to influence new generations of writers.
His work continues to circulate in anthologies, and renewed interest in his stories, particularly through the 2004 anthology Cuentos fantásticos, ensures that Béjar Portilla’s literary achievements will remain part of Ecuador’s cultural heritage for years to come.
Works
- Siete infiernos para Boris (1960)
- Los ángeles también envejecen : poesía (1968)
- Simón el mago (1970)
- Osa mayor (1970)
- Samballah (1971)
- Tribu si (1981)
- Puerto de Luna (1986)
- Puerto de luna ; La Rosa de Singapur (1990)
- 40 cuentos ecuatorianos (1997) (compilación de Carlos Calderón Chico)
- Pabellón de mujeres: cuentos (2003)
- Cuentos fantásticos (2004)
References
- Ecuadorian Literature, “Carlos Béjar Portilla.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Amazing Stories, “La ciencia ficción del ecuatoriano Carlos Béjar Portilla.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Primicias, “Urge un reconocimiento a Carlos Béjar Portilla y su obra.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Rodolfo Pérez Pimentel, “Carlos Béjar Portilla.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.
- Prezi, “Carlos Béjar Portilla.” Retrieved on October 1, 2024.