The Inner Man - The Life of J. G. Ballard

To many people, J.G. Ballard will always be the schoolboy in Steven Spielberg's movie "Empire of the Sun," struggling to survive as an internee of the Japanese during World War II. Others remember him as the author of Crash , a meditation on the eroticism of the automobile and the liebstod of the car crash. The book he styled "the first pornographic novel about science" dramatized the reality behind his formula for the twenty-first century - "Technology x sex = the future." It too became a film, and a causeclbre for its frank depiction of a fetish which, as this book reveals, was no literary conceit but a lifelong preoccupation. Uniquely among his contemporaries, Ballard understood and exploited the language of advertizing and promotion. Because of him, the term "inner space" and phrases like "the only alien planet is Earth" passed into the language. So did the adjective "Ballardian" - "resembling or suggestive of the conditions described in Ballard's novels and stories, esp. dystopian modernity, bleak man-made landscapes and the psychological effects of technological, social, or environmental developments." In this first biography, John Baxter draws on an admiration of and acquaintance with Ballard that began when they were writers for the same 1960s science fiction magazines. With the help of the few people whom he admitted to his often hermit-like existence, it illuminates the troubled reality behind the urbane and amiable facade of a man who was proud to describe himself as "psychopathic." SF, Biography Front Cover 1 Front Page 2 Copyright Page 3 Quotation 4 INTRODUCTION 5 CHAPTER ONE 11 CHAPTER TWO 17 CHAPTER THREE 25 CHAPTER FOUR 31 CHAPTER FIVE 37 CHAPTER SIX 42 CHAPTER SEVEN 47 CHAPTER EIGHT 55 CHAPTER NINE 59 CHAPTER TEN 63 CHAPTER ELEVEN 69 CHAPTER TWELVE 75 CHAPTER THIRTEEN 80 CHAPTER FOURTEEN 87 CHAPTER FIFTEEN 93 CHAPTER SIXTEEN 99 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN 105 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 110 CHAPTER NINETEEN 114 CHAPTER TWENTY 118 CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE 123 CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO 136 CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE 143 CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR 151 CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE 155 CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX 161 CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN 167 CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT 172 CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE 184 CHAPTER THIRTY 192 CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE 200 CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO 207 CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE 211 CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR 221 CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE 226 CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX 235 CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN 242 CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT 249 CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE 257 CHAPTER FORTY 273 CHAPTER FORTY-ONE 281 CHAPTER FORTY-TWO 285 CHAPTER FORTY-THREE 291 CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR 298 CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE 304 CHAPTER FORTY-SIX 311 CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN 314 CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT 320 CHAPTER FORTY-NINE 325 CHAPTER FIFTY 333 CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE 339 CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO 346 CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE 353 CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR 356 EPILOGUE 361 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 366 Rear Cover 371 madmaxau Uniquely Among His Contemporaries, Ballard Understood And Exploited The Language Of Advertising And Promotion. Because Of Him, The Term 'inner Space' And Phrases Like 'the Only Alien Planet Is Earth' Passed Into The Language. So Did The Adjective 'ballardian' - 'resembling Or Suggestive Of The Conditions Described In Ballard's Novels And Stories, Esp. Dystopian Modernity, Bleak Man-made Landscapes And The Psychological Effects Of Technological, Social Or Environmental Developments'.in This First Biography, John Baxter Draws On An Admiration Of And Acquaintance With Ballard That Began When They Were Writers For The Same 1960s Science Fiction Magazines. With The Help Of The Few People Whom He Admitted To His Often Hermit-like Existence, It Illuminates The Troubled Reality Behind The Urbane And Amiable Facade Of A Man Who Was Proud To Describe Himself As 'psychopathic'. John Baxter. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Uniquely among his contemporaries, Ballard understood and exploited the language of advertising and promotion. Because of him, the term 'inner space' and phrases like 'the only alien planet is Earth' passed into the language. So did the adjective 'Ballardian' - 'resembling or suggestive of the conditions described in Ballard's novels and stories, esp. dystopian modernity, bleak man-made landscapes and the psychological effects of technological, social or environmental developments'. In this first biography, John Baxter draws on an admiration of and acquaintance with Ballard that began when they were writers for the same 1960s science fiction magazines. With the help of the few people whom he admitted to his often hermit-like existence, it illuminates the troubled reality behind the urbane and amiable facade of a man who was proud to describe himself as 'psychopathic' Excellently written and perceptive biography of writer J.G. Ballard.