The J.G. Ballard Thread

demonrail666 · 07.23.2007, 09:58 PM

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.

atsonicpark · 07.23.2007, 11:43 PM

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...

demonrail666 · 07.24.2007, 01:38 AM

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.

tesla69 · 07.24.2007, 10:39 AM

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.

demonrail666 · 07.24.2007, 10:41 AM

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.

!@#$%! · 07.24.2007, 10:42 AM

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

demonrail666 · 07.24.2007, 10:44 AM

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

tesla69 · 07.24.2007, 11:00 AM

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.

MellySingsDoom · 07.24.2007, 11:38 AM

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.

demonrail666 · 07.24.2007, 11:41 AM

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

tesla69 · 07.25.2007, 10:18 AM

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/

demonrail666 · 07.25.2007, 10:30 AM

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

demonrail666 · 07.25.2007, 10:32 AM

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

07.23.2007, 09:58 PM	#1
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	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.
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07.23.2007, 11:43 PM	#2
atsonicpark invito al cielo Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 28,843	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... __________________
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07.24.2007, 01:38 AM	#3
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	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.
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07.24.2007, 10:39 AM	#4
tesla69 Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 4,055	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.
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07.24.2007, 10:41 AM	#5
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	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.
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

07.24.2007, 10:42 AM	#6
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,566	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
	\|QUOTE AND REPLY\|

07.24.2007, 10:44 AM	#7
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	I'm not a huge fan of AE. It's weird how so many people start with it. Must be the Joy Division connection.
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07.24.2007, 11:00 AM	#8
tesla69 Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 4,055	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.
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07.24.2007, 11:38 AM	#9
MellySingsDoom invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 8,662	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. __________________ Snow on Easter Sunday - Jesus Christ in reverse.
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07.24.2007, 11:41 AM	#10
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	His more generic sci-fi stuff is excellent too: Drowned World, The Drought, Crystal World, etc
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07.25.2007, 10:18 AM	#11
tesla69 Banned Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NYC Posts: 4,055	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/
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07.25.2007, 10:30 AM	#12
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	That's a great site. Haven't read KC yet, but really looking forward to it. I loved his novel before that, Millennium People.
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07.25.2007, 10:32 AM	#13
demonrail666 invito al cielo Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 18,510	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
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