Ballard’s stories place characters in often strikingly bizarre and gloomy scenarios, both as prescient warnings as to the possible future of humanity and perceptive dissections of the human psyche. Instead of writing about spaceships and far away planets, Ballard finds the extraordinary in the mundane. He writes about everything from apartment blocks erupting into violence to a man getting marooned on a traffic island. Several of his novels have been adapted into films including a 1987 production, Empire of the Sun, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Christian Bale. Ballard has a uniquely identifiable writing style that to many has become an iconic staple of the genres of science fiction and dystopia. (Rahul Marchand)
Ballard was and remains one of the most prolific and influential writers of the 20th century. His powerfully lyrical writing evokes a pessimistic view of humanity through a distinctive style of narration. This writing also pioneers an interest into the dissection of human behaviour and social order. Not only is he an interesting writer, Ballard is also a widely researched and intriguing figure. An inspiring and impactful background greatly influenced his post-apocalyptic style themes and allows for his writing to focus on the micro-societies and climates that take the setting of his stories. Through his characters, Ballard puts forward the message that individuality is only provisional and broken down when the stability of society can no longer be taken for granted. In summary, Ballard entertains through his bizarre storylines and you will be taken by surprise frequently when reading his work. (Lucas Suarez)
Ballard is remarkable because his writing has a unique atmosphere that pulls you into his worlds, which are often grim reflections of the present. These environments, despite being created over 50 years ago, predict current problems to an eerie degree of accuracy. Ballard’s stories explore the psychological result of placing a human in such conditions, which ultimately makes for an interesting and introspective read. (Lucas Van Den Oever)
J.G Ballard is a one of the most striking, accomplished novelists of the 20th century. His rich background is evident in his writing through his unique style and ideas. His medical background is evident through the scientific terminology and precise numbers that are used frequently. This allows him to give the reader a unique insight into the world of science that other authors may not be capable of. Moreover, after having spent the early years of his life as a prisoner in a Japanese prisoner of war camp, his literature shows an obsession with enclosed society and its effect on humans. The fact that he can speak from dramatic experience is again unique and striking. This leads to the striking nature of his literature being not as fantastical or extra-terrestrial as many other writers but he focuses more on the strangeness in the everyday. (Sandro Weeks)
If you'd like to follow up LE2's enthusiastic recommendations, you can find plenty of examples of Ballard's fiction in the Kayton Library - including The Drowned World, Empire of the Sun, High Rise and his autobiography, Miracles of Life.
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