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Modern Masters of Science Fiction
J. G. Ballard
Prophetic short stories and apocalyptic novels like The Crystal World made J. G. Ballard a foundational figure in the British New Wave. Rejecting the science fiction of rockets and aliens, he explored an inner space of humanity informed by psychiatry and biology and shaped by Surrealism. Later in his career, Ballard's combustible plots and violent imagery spurred controversy--even legal action--while his autobiographical 1984 war novel Empire of the Sun brought him fame. D. Harlan Wilson offers the first career-spanning analysis of an author who helped steer SF in new, if startling, directions. Here was a writer committed to moral ambiguity, one who drowned the world and erected a London high-rise doomed to descend into savagery--and coolly picked apart the characters trapped within each story. Wilson also examines Ballard's methods, his influence on cyberpunk, and the ways his fiction operates within the sphere of our larger culture and within SF itself.
- GenresNonfiction
214 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2017
2 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
D. Harlan Wilson
75 books356 followersD. Harlan Wilson is an award-winning American novelist, literary critic, editor, playwright, and college professor. He is the author of over thirty book-length works of fiction and nonfiction, and hundreds of his stories, plays, essays, and reviews have been published across the world in more than ten languages. Wilson also serves as reviews editor for Extrapolation and editor-in-chief of Anti-Oedipus Press.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 1, 2017
I am not sure now where or when I was in my life when I discovered JG Ballard. I do know that I'm glad I found this author, and this book drew me in from the start asa means of learning more.
Wilson gives us the biography of Ballard, and then goes further to examine Ballard's work and reflect on major themes. I liked this book as a comparative study of Ballard and other authors, as well as an opportunity to dive in and explore more of Ballard's work.
I will note most appreciatively that Wilson also explores the author's short stories, including "The Drowned Giant," one of my favorites.
Most enjoyable.
Wilson gives us the biography of Ballard, and then goes further to examine Ballard's work and reflect on major themes. I liked this book as a comparative study of Ballard and other authors, as well as an opportunity to dive in and explore more of Ballard's work.
I will note most appreciatively that Wilson also explores the author's short stories, including "The Drowned Giant," one of my favorites.
Most enjoyable.
November 17, 2017
A solid and thoughtful examination of the man and his work. Full review soon at Skiffy and Fanty.
February 4, 2018
Excellent analysis of Ballard's work, giving special insight into novels not often discussed such as The Unlimited Dream Company and Hello, America. The author takes my (and others') position that all of JGB's writing is science fiction, what ever Ballard himself may have said on the matter. Well worth reading.
August 19, 2022
JG Ballard (Modern Masters of Science Fiction) by D. Harlan Wilson
This modern masters series of Science Fiction series is going to take over my shelves. Starting with my favorite John Brunner and recently releasing a Brian Aldiss book, these are important studies. They come in editions you can buy in hardcover or paperback. I only have two volumes so far the John Brunner one is the only other I have read so far. Of the two British writers, Brunner is more my jam and for that reason, I was a little more excited by the details and biographical stuff.
His nature as a more famous writer who wrote a few autobiographies novels I knew more about Ballard going in. That said the biographical notes in this book are good but Professor Wilson really does a wonderful job of breaking the man’s entire career. More importantly in this book are the wonderful and thoughtful interviews that are pulled throughout his career and deftly placed in the right spots.
This is the second DHW non-fiction book on a famous SF writer, although the other was seen entirely through the lens of The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. (See my Dickheads podcast Interview with DHW on that one). This is different as it is career-spanning, and in a sense, it makes it different from the past JG Ballard academic texts as most were written while he was still alive or working.
You can see the respect this book has gotten on the paperback it comes with blurbs from other Ballardian scholars. This book is great and the real deal. One thing I liked about this book was that Wilson is never afraid to have an opinion. That is why it is so important that he wrote this book. An important throughline in this book is the science-fiction nature of all of Ballard’s books. In the wrong hands, this book would not have called bullshit on Ballard’s protest that he was not SF.
For those interested in the history or canon of Science Fiction this is a must-read.
This modern masters series of Science Fiction series is going to take over my shelves. Starting with my favorite John Brunner and recently releasing a Brian Aldiss book, these are important studies. They come in editions you can buy in hardcover or paperback. I only have two volumes so far the John Brunner one is the only other I have read so far. Of the two British writers, Brunner is more my jam and for that reason, I was a little more excited by the details and biographical stuff.
His nature as a more famous writer who wrote a few autobiographies novels I knew more about Ballard going in. That said the biographical notes in this book are good but Professor Wilson really does a wonderful job of breaking the man’s entire career. More importantly in this book are the wonderful and thoughtful interviews that are pulled throughout his career and deftly placed in the right spots.
This is the second DHW non-fiction book on a famous SF writer, although the other was seen entirely through the lens of The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester. (See my Dickheads podcast Interview with DHW on that one). This is different as it is career-spanning, and in a sense, it makes it different from the past JG Ballard academic texts as most were written while he was still alive or working.
You can see the respect this book has gotten on the paperback it comes with blurbs from other Ballardian scholars. This book is great and the real deal. One thing I liked about this book was that Wilson is never afraid to have an opinion. That is why it is so important that he wrote this book. An important throughline in this book is the science-fiction nature of all of Ballard’s books. In the wrong hands, this book would not have called bullshit on Ballard’s protest that he was not SF.
For those interested in the history or canon of Science Fiction this is a must-read.
May 25, 2025
A serious look at J. G. Ballard. I don't read too many monographs, or monograph-esque, but this series is very good.
February 14, 2019
I am reviewing this book for D. Harlan Wilson, University of Illinois Press, and NetGalley who gave me a copy of their book for an honest review.
This book gives you an insight in JG Ballard – both his life and his works including some ofhis shorter stories.
This book gives you an insight in JG Ballard – both his life and his works including some ofhis shorter stories.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews