R.I.P. J.G. Ballard (1930-2009)
Quite harrowing to think what this loss means. I've no doubt that future generations will consider him one of the most important writers of the 20th century - at least as important as Eliot and other 'big names', probably more so.
posted by Dan at 3:19 PM
4 Comments:
Eliot??? Geddoutahere.
Alright, corrected. Keep in mind, Kek, Eliot is probably as important to me as Burroughs, etc. are to you. What I'm saying is that Ballard was one of *the* central figures of the writing of modernity, and, alongside Lovecraft, the defining spirit of its most powerful mode (pulp-modernism). He was also, of course, much more fun to read than Eliot, day-to-day.
I've only read "Empire of the Sun". Hated it. Almost as much as I hate running for the bus. And the sound it makes when badgers cry.
Obviously I've missed out on his experimental stuff that sounds more appealing. Where to start?
I would probs. say 'The Atrocity Exhibition', which is really his most seismically significant book, but even I find that one heavy going. 'Crash' and 'High Rise' come from something approaching the same territory, and are more traditionally narrative. The short stories are also a good point of entry - the stuff from 'Vermillion Sands', 'The Terminal Beach' and some of the others are as good as the novels, prob.
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