Richard Pearson, quarantaduenne pubblicitario, si reca a Brooklands, una cittadina come tante tra Londra e l'aeroporto di Heathrow. Alcune settiman...
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Apr 26, 2011
D_Davis
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J.G. Ballard once again focuses his lens on modern living in this absurdly hilarious and damningly scathing examination of consumerism taken to the extreme. In the suburbs outside of London, a giant shopping mall - The Metro-Centre - stands as a consumer cathedral, looming over the motorway cities. Inside, gods and shrines to washing machines, toasters, and microwave ovens are erected, as shoppers - respecting the merchandise more than themselves or others - live their empty lives mindlessly m
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Jul 18, 2008
R.
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This book was supposed to be a dystopian novel about sports hooliganism turning into the militant branch of "soft fascism" through the subtle prodding of an ad agency and a charismatic closed-circuit shopping channel spokesman; I think we can drop the "dystopian" label (it smacks of fantasy; the tarnished raygun shooting a warning shot into the toxifying atmosphere) - Ballard has extrapolated so keenly, that the whole text seems to be an eventuality, not the see-saw "sof
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Apr 20, 2009
Brad
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We lost J.G. Ballard today.
If you've never read him before make sure you pick up one of his books this week so that you can get a taste of one of those rare, truly unique artists.
For the first time in a long time, I am completely baffled by a book. The fourth and last installment of JG Ballard's psychopathology cycle, Kingdom Come, has left me full of questions and my mind racing for answers.
Straight away I wonder what Ballard is saying about psychopathy? Is More...
If you've never read him before make sure you pick up one of his books this week so that you can get a taste of one of those rare, truly unique artists.
For the first time in a long time, I am completely baffled by a book. The fourth and last installment of JG Ballard's psychopathology cycle, Kingdom Come, has left me full of questions and my mind racing for answers.
Straight away I wonder what Ballard is saying about psychopathy? Is More...
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Oct 25, 2011
Raffaella
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Regno a venire (“Kingdom Come”) è l’ultimo romanzo pubblicato da J.G. Ballard. Termina qui, con la recensione di quest’opera, il nostro viaggio alieno intorno ad un autore che, pur se variamente apprezzato, sappiamo aver rappresentato una figura primo piano all’interno del postmodernismo europeo.
Parlarvi di questo libro non è semplice perché non si tratta “soltanto” dell’opera letteraria, ma di quello che, a mio parere, costituisce il “testamento spirituale” dello scrittore britannic More...
Parlarvi di questo libro non è semplice perché non si tratta “soltanto” dell’opera letteraria, ma di quello che, a mio parere, costituisce il “testamento spirituale” dello scrittore britannic More...
Jan 29, 2011
Tancredi
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"Comprare una lavatrice è un atto politico, l'unica vera forma di politica che ci rimane al giorno d'oggi."
E' il ventunesimo secolo. Il mondo civilizzato si apre ad una fase post-democratica. Il tardocapitalismo "si gratta le emorroidi" e cerca di capire "quale sia la prossima merda che può produrre". E la noia finisce col travolgere completamente la bassa borghesia provinciale inglese, che vive di sport violento e di consumismo sfrenato. Questa, la premes More...
E' il ventunesimo secolo. Il mondo civilizzato si apre ad una fase post-democratica. Il tardocapitalismo "si gratta le emorroidi" e cerca di capire "quale sia la prossima merda che può produrre". E la noia finisce col travolgere completamente la bassa borghesia provinciale inglese, che vive di sport violento e di consumismo sfrenato. Questa, la premes More...
Dec 05, 2010
Jim
rated it:
His most hay-making swipe at consumerism yet, which had me giggling like a schoolgirl at some of his most vicious takes on it. The residents of the Heathrow corridor, bored and disgruntled with their lives, find salvation only in the Metro Centre where, following a night at the football, they set out for a bit of ultra-violence. They march through the streets with their St George football tops on, beat up a few Asians and Kosovans, then retreat to the mall to worship the washing machines and dvd
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May 02, 2011
E' il ventunesimo secolo. Il mondo civilizzato si apre ad una fase post-democratica. Il tardocapitalismo "si gratta le emorroidi" e cerca di capire "quale sia la prossima merda che può produrre". E la noia finisce col travolgere completamente la bassa borghesia provinciale inglese, che vive di sport violento e di consumismo sfrenato. Questa, la premessa ad un nuovo spaventoso totalitarismo, che unisce politica, religione, sport ed economia: il nuovo fascismo consumistico (cit
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Sep 23, 2011
Dan
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I enjoyed this at first, but as I went on with it the writing became less plausible, until it just became obvious in every sentence that what Ballard was doing was writing a novel. That may seem like a bizarre criticism, but the story just didn't grab me, nor did any of the characters - one of the names even crops up for another character in Concrete Island, whether in a touch of laziness or forgetfulness I don't know.
The whole thing read like an episode of The Bill trying to be a le More...
The whole thing read like an episode of The Bill trying to be a le More...
Jan 05, 2009
Mira
rated it: 
The plot is really good but unfortunately it is very repetitive...which may be on purpose to up the anxiety levels even more, but for me it would've been more effective as a shorter story.
It's pretty much about a shopping complex built off of the M5 motorway in London. The people of the town see "The Metro Centre" as the place where all their problems are solved (pretty much because you can buy a whole bunch of useless crap there)..sound familiar? I think that's why I didn't li More...
It's pretty much about a shopping complex built off of the M5 motorway in London. The people of the town see "The Metro Centre" as the place where all their problems are solved (pretty much because you can buy a whole bunch of useless crap there)..sound familiar? I think that's why I didn't li More...
Sep 24, 2010
Roger
rated it:
Ballard's last book was also his best. His vision of a near future in which fascist nationalism has become a consumerist brand with loyalty cards attached, and shopping malls are the Cathedrals to false Gods, about sums uo where our sosiety is headed at the moment.
There were always two strands to Ballard's writing. That which begins with THE SUBLIMINAL MAN in which he exposes the venality of consumerist capitalism and CRASH where he explores society's lack of moral boundaries. In More...
There were always two strands to Ballard's writing. That which begins with THE SUBLIMINAL MAN in which he exposes the venality of consumerist capitalism and CRASH where he explores society's lack of moral boundaries. In More...
Sep 06, 2011
Maurizio
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Non sono mai riuscito esattamente a capire come mai molti considerino Ballard un autore di fantascienza. Soprattutto nelle sue ultime opere, come questo Regno a venire l'unica cosa "fantascientifica" è l'attuale impossibilità - o almeno si spera, in realtà ho letto il libro nei giorni delle rivolte londinesi, e mi sembrava di avere un déjà vu - che avvenimenti come quelli narrati si svolgano davvero. Come altre volte, il romanzo è ambientato nell'Inghilterra contemporanea, in una citta
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Sep 26, 2011
Alastair
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Previously all I've read of Ballard are some early short stories and Cocaine Nights. I have neither read Atrocity Exhibition nor Crash. What I enjoy of these Ballard novels is his through a glass darkly view is written in such a mundane bestseller style. This is not high brow literature yet it has an understanding of, in this novel at least, postmodernist theory that eludes most airport/ service station fodder.
I find this style endearing, even though there seems to be a haunted upper middle clas More...
I find this style endearing, even though there seems to be a haunted upper middle clas More...
Aug 30, 2007
Ben
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Others have written that Ballard’s novels are not in fact novels, but social theory that happens to be put in novel form. They are to be read not for plot, character or plausibility, but to see how Ballard identifies trends and brings them together in imaginative ways to provoke and disturb the reader. The trends in Kingdom Come’s version of contemporary England are consumerism, anti-immigrant violence, and sport fanaticism, which come together in small towns in the home counties to form what Ba
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Nov 12, 2009
pinknantucket
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If you really hate shopping malls this might be the book for you. Can't say it grabbed me much - I kept rolling my eyes and all the completely unsubstantiated things the main character would presume about other characters. All the characters seemed very nebulous, samey and inconsistent and Ballard beats you about the head with his rampant consumerism = boredom = sick civilisation = people dying to do something mad and violent message. I get it, already! Nearly gave up on this one several times.
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Oct 09, 2009
Alison
rated it:
Confirms why I hate suburbia. Sometimes too much is spelled out, otherwise it's quite subtle, and shows a perspective on fascism not often portayed in literature.
Ultimately I'm sorry to say that I find it quite unsatisfying, peopled with characters who are not fully present, put into play the plot. OK that in itself you could say is part of what the book's theme is about,but it's grim.
Ultimately I'm sorry to say that I find it quite unsatisfying, peopled with characters who are not fully present, put into play the plot. OK that in itself you could say is part of what the book's theme is about,but it's grim.
Jan 08, 2011
Steven D
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Almost up there with millennium people. The plot is frightening in that it makes sense as a line of thought considering consumerism, mindless following of celebrity culture and the general 'dumbing down' of society.
I believe this was one of his last books. I'm glad to say he kept his edge until the end.
I believe this was one of his last books. I'm glad to say he kept his edge until the end.
Jul 03, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Explores similar themes to Millenium People, though in this instance instead of destroying all of their material goods, the characters inhabiting this book are elevating them as idols to be worshipped.
In the suburbs along the M5, a new kind of community is forming. Centred around the Brooklands Metro Centre, a deeply bored people wholeheartedly embrace the ideologies of consumerism and sports, but the emptiness of capitalism and the tribal aspects of the sporting teams are breeding a More...
In the suburbs along the M5, a new kind of community is forming. Centred around the Brooklands Metro Centre, a deeply bored people wholeheartedly embrace the ideologies of consumerism and sports, but the emptiness of capitalism and the tribal aspects of the sporting teams are breeding a More...
Jun 07, 2010
Duyvken
rated it:
More dystopian pessimism from Ballard. Very similar to Super-Cannes which I recently read but this time set in a suburban shopping centre. He writes so beautifully, I really enjoyed this even though the subject matter was so similar to Super-Cannes. Well worth reading!
Mar 10, 2010
Charles Dee
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While it is entertaining to read Ballard's deliciously sour descriptions of the Heathrow suburbs, their inhabitants, and their elevation of consumerism into a religion, the book's tone becomes hectoring and repetitious. The outrageous plot has its own logic, but the first-person narration keeps Ballard from letting the narrative become as outrageous as the actions he depicts.
Jan 08, 2011
Carlo Andrea
rated it:
Una feroce critica alla società dei consumi e dell'immagine portata avanti con la solita lucida cattiveria. Tra i migliori libri di Ballard, sublimazione dei temi già trattati in "Super-Cannes", "Il Condominio" e "Millenuim People".
Jul 31, 2011
Struggling with this one. What Was Lost by Catherine O'Flynn does a superb job of subtly laying in to shopping mall culture. JG's take seems rather heavy handed and a little far fetched so far. Will get back to this one.
Jul 17, 2011
Susanne
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J.G. Ballard has done too good a job on this one for me. I don't have the energy to finish it at the moment. I fit into this dystopia as part of the irrelevant middle class with their irrelevant values - which takes energy to absorb. But also, I don't have the energy to read about the consumerism, hooliganism, racism and rioting of the neo-fascist motorway towns centered on enormous shopping malls. Too frightening - Too possible. Maybe when I'm feeling stronger.....
Nov 22, 2011
Fia
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A great satire of our over-consumerism world and what it can do to your mind. I think Ballard writes something real even though it is set in a dystopian society and it is not far fetched from the real world which is sadly filled with racism, violence and consumerism. Ballard is a master writer and when he died we lost a man who could brilliantly criticize our flawed world.
Jan 01, 2012
Natasa
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A book that shows how passiveness and consumerism can lead to fascism. How "belonging to" can turn us against each-other and how voting with credit cards creates a dysfunctional society. At times maybe a bit far fetched but a great read anyhow.
Aug 12, 2011
Lyndsey
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Felt it was a slightly ridiculous premise at the beginning but got drawn into a well-written dystopian tale of a consumer-led suburbia
Dec 02, 2011
Liam
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I've worked in many shopping malls in my life, Ballard gets it so right it's almost a horror.
Jun 18, 2010
SL
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So incredibly great, so surreal, and so sad to think this will be the last Ballard novel...
Feb 16, 2008
Shirley
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Interesting book about a guy whose father was shot by a lunatic in a shopping mall in the suburbs of London. He goes to his father's place and finds clues that lead him to believe that his father has been hanging out with football holigans and neo Nazis.
There are many bored people out there that become addicted to the shopping. They start are looking for someone or something to wake them up. The premise is that consumerism and worship of goods gives rise to a new kind of fasci More...
There are many bored people out there that become addicted to the shopping. They start are looking for someone or something to wake them up. The premise is that consumerism and worship of goods gives rise to a new kind of fasci More...
