The J.G. Ballard Thread
 

Writers like W.S. Burroughs and P.K. Dick get plenty of mentions here but not so J.G. Ballard. Definitely my fave writer from that 60-70s sci-fi era and still writing today. High Rise and Concrete Island could've been written yesterday.

There's a definite English quality about his stuff from that period, and I wonder if that might be a reason why he has such a low profile on here.

Anyway, would be nice to know the thoughts of others who've read him.

the only one i've read is crash, and i thought it was really good, though it left me feeling reeeeeeally cold in parts (which i know was the point) (and of course the movie, typical of cronenberg, made me feel colder). atrocity exhibition looks cool, as does some of his other books, i just haven't gotten around to reading them yet...

Crash and Atrocity Exhibition are difficult ones to start with. High Rise is far more accessible and less dated than either of them.

The coldness is a factor in his work but even given that it can still get in the way sometimes - Atrocity Exhibition is especially guilty of it.

I got him to sign my copy of High Rise back in the 80's...his latest Kingdom Come is really good...I wonder if they will ever release it in the US.

wow, one of the few 'celebs' i'd actually like to meet. whenever i see him interviewed he seems like a guy who'd work in your local post-office. a genuine enigma that one.

ive been trying to read the atrocity exhibition for years & years. i own the book--not legitimately, as it was involuntarily stolen, but i do. in any case, intriguing pictures, but it puts me to sleep every time.

however his movie adaptations i've enjoyed immensely
-empire of the sun -- probably spielberg's best movie
-crash -- cronenberg fucking rules

I'm not a huge fan of AE. It's weird how so many people start with it. Must be the Joy Division connection.

AE would be like the last one I'd recommend someone to start with.

Ballard was a master of the short story up to the early 70's as well.

I really should read more of Ballard's recent work - the "Atrocity Exhibition" is good in an 'Industrial Culture' way, whereas 'Crash' touches upon similar themes in a far more engaging fashion. The opening pages of "High Rise" are still a firm favourite with me as well.

His more generic sci-fi stuff is excellent too: Drowned World, The Drought, Crystal World, etc

I was going to mention the www.ballardian.com site and I see they have a link to a site to promote the UK paperback release of Kingdom Come - still don't see a US release. Fools.

http://metrocentre.wordpress.com/

That's a great site. Haven't read KC yet, but really looking forward to it. I loved his novel before that, Millennium People.

Some of you might enjoy these:

Discussion of his 60s Sci-Fi (not complete but still excellent)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A6enYVgkNcA

The whole Thirteen to Centaurus episode!!!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=gcg_b6M00I0

BBC Documentary about his life (emphasis on his time in Shanghai):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7KaEhec9ZaQ

Interesting guy talking about Ballard:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=x28-tir984I

BBC dramatization of Ballard's The Enormous Space:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lk0H3AnjyOA