The Complete Short Stories, Volume 2

The culmination of a long-running project, June saw the month in which I finally finished 1,500-plus pages of Ballard's short stories, compiled across two volumes. While not all were successes, inevitably the collection gives a wonderful insight into the unique vision and style of Ballard. More so than many authors, Ballard seemed genuinely willing to think and then write about future scenarios, be they the exploration of space, the endgame of consumer capitalism, or the power of natural forces (a return to nature, an Edenic state). As has been discussed elsewhere, much of the Ballard project has always been about liminality; the distinction between inner and outer space, the arbitrary distinctions imposed by time, dreams of the new (of flight, leaving), are pervasive. Also interesting to me was Ballard's extensive referencing of artists, lots of food for (PhD thesis) thought. Not rated.

By J. G. Ballard