The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard (Paperback)

by J. G. Ballard (Author), Anthony Burgess (Introduction)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"A visionary in both style and substance . . .The literary equivalent of Salvador Dali or Max Ernst."—The Washington Post Book World

"A writer of enormous inventive powers. Ballard has, like Calvino, a remarkable gift for filling the empty, deprived spaces of modern life with the invisible cities and the wonder worlds of the imagination."—Malcolm Bradbury, The New York Times Book Review

"Complex, obsessive, frequently poetic, and always disquieting chronicles of nature rebelling against humans, of the survival of barbarism in a world of mechanical efficieny, of entropy, anomie, breakdown, ruin . . . The blasted landscapes that his characters inhabit are both external settings and states of mind."—Luc Sante
-- Review

Review

"A visionary in both style and substance . . .The literary equivalent of Salvador Dali or Max Ernst."—The Washington Post Book World

"A writer of enormous inventive powers. Ballard has, like Calvino, a remarkable gift for filling the empty, deprived spaces of modern life with the invisible cities and the wonder worlds of the imagination."—Malcolm Bradbury, The New York Times Book Review

"Complex, obsessive, frequently poetic, and always disquieting chronicles of nature rebelling against humans, of the survival of barbarism in a world of mechanical efficieny, of entropy, anomie, breakdown, ruin . . . The blasted landscapes that his characters inhabit are both external settings and states of mind."—Luc Sante

See all Editorial Reviews

---

Product Details Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Picador; 1st edition (July 6, 2001) Language: English ISBN-10: 0312278446 ISBN-13: 978-0312278441 Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,394 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #4 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Ballard, J.G. #8 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Burgess, Anthony

---

Citations (learn more)

3 books cite this book:

• Japanese Science Fiction: From the Inside (The Nissan Institute/Routledge Japanese Studies Series) by Robert Matthew in Back Matter
• Anatomy of Wonder: A Critical Guide to Science Fiction Fourth Edition (Anatomy of Wonder, 4th ed) by Neil Barron on page 244
• Blade Runner (BFI Modern Classics) by Scott Bukatman in Back Matter

---

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	78% buy the item featured on this page: The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard 4.3 out of 5 stars (7) $10.88
	11% buy The Atrocity Exhibition (Flamingo Modern Classics) 4.1 out of 5 stars (29)
	5% buy Crash: A Novel 3.3 out of 5 stars (125) $11.20
	3% buy High Rise (Flamingo Modern Classic) 3.6 out of 5 stars (11)

Explore similar items

---

Tags Customers Associate with This Product  (What's this?) Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people. Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below. book(1) fiction(1) Your tags: Add your first tag

Search Products Tagged with   See most popular tags

Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search

No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?

---

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

---

 

Customer Reviews

7 Reviews 5 star:  (3) 4 star:  (3) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.3 out of 5 stars (7 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 18 of 19 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Food for Thought, January 28, 2001 By  Scott Spires "scospi" (Prague, Czech Republic) - See all my reviews This review is from: The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard (Paperback) Ballard is one of the great "conceptualizers" of modern literature. The premises of his stories are the most immediately striking thing about them. Sometimes the story doesn't live up to the expectations he creates, but this is probably because he sets the bar so high. In any case, whether a Ballard story is a total or only a partial success, it invariably provides plenty of food for thought. Three of them--"The Overloaded Man", "The Drowned Giant", and "The Garden of Time"--rank among my all-time favorites for their perfect fusion of speculative and mythic qualities. The more technology-based stories ("Concentration City", "The Voices of Time") are more interesting for their ideas than their execution. In the introduction to this volume, Anthony Burgess hits on the central importance of Ballard's work: "Ballard considers that the kind of limitation that most contemporary fiction accepts is immoral... Language exists less to record the actual than to liberate the imagination." If you agree, buy this book. 15 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Ballard's short stories are superior to the novels, March 16, 2000 By  Seamus Sweeney "reader" (Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard (Paperback) In my humble opinion, Ballard is at his best in the short story format. "Now: Zero", "A Question of Re-entry", "The Venus Hunters" and "The Lost Leonardo" are among my favourite short stories of all time. Poe wrote that short stories are in many ways preferable to novels, since the aesthetic effect is more concentrated, and generally absorbed at one sitting. This applies particularly to Ballard I think. 12 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard, December 20, 2004 By  not4prophet (North Carolina) - See all my reviews I am much displeased to see that the current version of this story collection features such lackluster cover art. My original copy features a breathtaking portrait of a crowd and some cars in the desert, dwarfed by a towering pink collosus, while hand gliders dots the sky above and an enormous unicorn appears in the clouds. But what's most amazing is that this isn't just whimsy on the artist's part; it's actually a scene from one of Ballard's stories. That's the thing about Ballard. To him the idea that a ragtag but energetic crew of pilots might create enormous sculptures out of clouds in the desrt sky wasn't just possible, it seemed perfectly natural. His imagination ran to places that most science fiction authors couldn't even conceive, and once there it plopped into an armchair and started spinning a story that readers won't ever forget. In Ballard's view, the human race is in decline. It's not because of human weakness or bad political decisions, it's just in the nature of the universe that we'll fade out, and (possibly) make way for something else. In "Concentration City", we live in a gigantic metorpolis stretching out in every direction with no open spaces. One man sets out on a quest to reach the city's edge. Along the way, he finds troubling signs of encroaching urban decay. But if nothing other than the city exists, does this spell the end of the world? In "The Deep End", technology sets of a chain reaction of unintended consequences, leading to Earth's oceans running dry. Most people depart for other planets, but one crotchety old-timer insists on staying behind, hoping to protect the world's last fish. Other stories more directly tackle social issues. Some folks believe that modern society is too obsessed with schedules and deadlines. In "Chronopolis" we respond by outlawing clocks and watches. But as always there will be rebels who refuse to accept the revolution. Which side will win in the end? "Billennium" takes on overpopulation, while "Thirteen for Centaurus" looks at scientific ethics while also considering how easy it is to fool people ... or then again maybe not. Among the most memorable images in this collection is "The Drowned Giant". The title is self explanatory: a giant washes up on shore near a major city. Ballard worries less about where it comes from, more about how we'll react to seeing it. While the unnamed narrator reflects on the giant's mythological appearance, the body ends up getting chopped up and used as fertilizer, while the bones decorate doorways around the city. You can try tagging metaphorical meaning to that ending if you wish, but to Ballard it was just one analysis of how modern society functions, which isn't too well.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Great collection of short stories All the stories here are great. I really liked Manhole,the Cloud-sculptors of Coral D, and Thirteen for Centaurus. Read more Published on May 15, 2005 by Hobbs Dugan 3.0 out of 5 stars parts of this book are brilliant I would rate a few of the stories contained in this book with five stars, but other stories bring the total rating down to 3 stars. Read more Published on January 20, 2002 by Haseeb 5.0 out of 5 stars Some of the best short fiction This is some of the best short fiction ever written. A friend of mine lent me this book. I've read a lot more J. Read more Published on October 19, 2000 by Sid V 4.0 out of 5 stars Original. Immersive. Superb writing! Ballard is (IMHO) one of the greatest late 20th century writers. His style is engaging, it pulls you in with a strange curiosity, then holds on with an even stranger fascination... Read more Published on September 20, 1999 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

---

Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)

New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.

This product's forum (0 discussions)   Discussion Replies Latest Post   No discussions yet Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight Start a new discussion Topic: First post: Receive e-mail when new posts are made Prompts for sign-in   [Cancel] Guidelines Active discussions in related forums   Discussion Replies Latest Post science fiction SyFy - TV presentation for morons 10 25 minutes ago science fiction SETI - Are They Missing The Obvious? 241 39 minutes ago science fiction New Sci Fi TV Series? 14 1 hour ago science fiction More religion and aliens: How will our beliefs affect our behavior? 34 2 hours ago fiction Best laugh-out-loud books 167 2 hours ago science fiction Race To Space: Exploration, Commercial or Tourist Driven? 33 3 hours ago fiction On the Quality and Integrity of Self-Published Novels 173 8 hours ago

The Fiction community Latest activity 15 minutes ago 21,512 customers have contributed 23,338 products, 3,814 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community The Science Fiction community Latest activity 4 minutes ago 26,870 customers have contributed 25,214 products, 1,023 discussions and more... › Explore the community The Literary community Latest activity 2 hours ago 2,333 customers have contributed 2,804 products, 135 lists & guides and more... › Explore the community Related forums anthony burgess fiction (348 discussions) jg ballard literary (13 discussions) science fiction (1023 discussions) Explore more › See all Customer Communities › Your communities

---

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Be the first person to add an article about this item at Amapedia.com.

› See featured Amapedia.com articles

---

Listmania!

Dystopia. Pop Culture. Funny Little Mice.: A list by Tim Lieder "Founder of Dybbuk Press"   Excellent Short Fiction Collections: A list by Wade D. Haynes "postmodern_pundit"   Great Collections of Science Fiction Stories: A list by M. PAGE Create a Listmania! list

Search Listmania!

---

So You'd Like to...

Get back into some post-structuralism which is decent: A guide by J.S.M. "socializer"   Experience a real mindscrew: A guide by Laughing Tree   Pop some BIZARRO: A guide by Jordan Krall "fan of bizarro, horror, noir, and Karate Kid 3!" Create a guide

Search Guides

---

Look for Similar Items by Category

• Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Ballard, J.G.
• Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Burgess, Anthony
• Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories

---

Everything to Maintain Your Landscape From pruners and saws to shovels and rakes, we have the gardening tools you need to keep your landscape looking its best. ›Shop all gardening tools

Big Savings in Books Find great titles at fantastic prices in our Bargain Books Store.

Protect Your Valuables Choose from the large selection of safes, file cabinets, and security chests available in the Home Improvement Store. ›Shop for safes

Best Books See our editors' picks and more of the best new books on our Best of the Month page.

 

Feedback If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? Is there any other feedback you would like to provide? Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to all feedback submitted via this form, but we'll ask you to sign in so we can contact you if needed.

Where's My Stuff? Track your recent orders. View or change your orders in Your Account. Shipping & Returns See our shipping rates & policies. See FREE shipping information. Return an item (here's our Returns Policy). Need Help? Forgot your password? Buy gift cards. Visit our Help department.

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)

You have no recently viewed items or searches. After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.	Continue shopping: Top Sellers Paranoia by Joseph Finder 4.1 out of 5 stars (190)$0.00 Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck 3.8 out of 5 stars (253)$6.59 Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich 2.6 out of 5 stars (194)$9.99 My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent 4.5 out of 5 stars (2)$0.00

Amazon.com Home  |   Directory of All Stores

International Sites:  Canada  |  United Kingdom  |  Germany  |  Japan  |  France  |  China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Build an eCommerce Site  |  Advertise With Us  |  Developer Services  |  Self-Publish with Us

Help  |  View Cart  |  Your Account  |  1-Click Settings

Investor Relations  |  Press Releases  |  Careers at Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage

Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Picador; 1st edition (July 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312278446
• ISBN-13: 978-0312278441
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,394 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Ballard, J.G.
  #8 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( B ) > Burgess, Anthony

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Food for Thought, January 28, 2001

By	Scott Spires "scospi" (Prague, Czech Republic) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard (Paperback)

Ballard is one of the great "conceptualizers" of modern literature. The premises of his stories are the most immediately striking thing about them. Sometimes the story doesn't live up to the expectations he creates, but this is probably because he sets the bar so high.

In any case, whether a Ballard story is a total or only a partial success, it invariably provides plenty of food for thought. Three of them--"The Overloaded Man", "The Drowned Giant", and "The Garden of Time"--rank among my all-time favorites for their perfect fusion of speculative and mythic qualities. The more technology-based stories ("Concentration City", "The Voices of Time") are more interesting for their ideas than their execution.

In the introduction to this volume, Anthony Burgess hits on the central importance of Ballard's work: "Ballard considers that the kind of limitation that most contemporary fiction accepts is immoral... Language exists less to record the actual than to liberate the imagination." If you agree, buy this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ballard's short stories are superior to the novels, March 16, 2000

By	Seamus Sweeney "reader" (Dublin Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard (Paperback)

In my humble opinion, Ballard is at his best in the short story format. "Now: Zero", "A Question of Re-entry", "The Venus Hunters" and "The Lost Leonardo" are among my favourite short stories of all time. Poe wrote that short stories are in many ways preferable to novels, since the aesthetic effect is more concentrated, and generally absorbed at one sitting. This applies particularly to Ballard I think.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best Short Stories of J. G. Ballard, December 20, 2004

By	not4prophet (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

I am much displeased to see that the current version of this story collection features such lackluster cover art. My original copy features a breathtaking portrait of a crowd and some cars in the desert, dwarfed by a towering pink collosus, while hand gliders dots the sky above and an enormous unicorn appears in the clouds. But what's most amazing is that this isn't just whimsy on the artist's part; it's actually a scene from one of Ballard's stories. That's the thing about Ballard. To him the idea that a ragtag but energetic crew of pilots might create enormous sculptures out of clouds in the desrt sky wasn't just possible, it seemed perfectly natural. His imagination ran to places that most science fiction authors couldn't even conceive, and once there it plopped into an armchair and started spinning a story that readers won't ever forget.

In Ballard's view, the human race is in decline. It's not because of human weakness or bad political decisions, it's just in the nature of the universe that we'll fade out, and (possibly) make way for something else. In "Concentration City", we live in a gigantic metorpolis stretching out in every direction with no open spaces. One man sets out on a quest to reach the city's edge. Along the way, he finds troubling signs of encroaching urban decay. But if nothing other than the city exists, does this spell the end of the world? In "The Deep End", technology sets of a chain reaction of unintended consequences, leading to Earth's oceans running dry. Most people depart for other planets, but one crotchety old-timer insists on staying behind, hoping to protect the world's last fish.

Other stories more directly tackle social issues. Some folks believe that modern society is too obsessed with schedules and deadlines. In "Chronopolis" we respond by outlawing clocks and watches. But as always there will be rebels who refuse to accept the revolution. Which side will win in the end? "Billennium" takes on overpopulation, while "Thirteen for Centaurus" looks at scientific ethics while also considering how easy it is to fool people ... or then again maybe not.

Among the most memorable images in this collection is "The Drowned Giant". The title is self explanatory: a giant washes up on shore near a major city. Ballard worries less about where it comes from, more about how we'll react to seeing it. While the unnamed narrator reflects on the giant's mythological appearance, the body ends up getting chopped up and used as fertilizer, while the bones decorate doorways around the city. You can try tagging metaphorical meaning to that ending if you wish, but to Ballard it was just one analysis of how modern society functions, which isn't too well.