From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

The Drowned World

J.G. Ballard,

Martin Amis (Introduction)

Start date: November 1, 2019

Finish date: December 1, 2019

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Discussion leader: Gertie

Why we're reading this: Discussion opens Dec 1st, read anytime before then. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...…more
[close] Discussion opens Dec 1st, read anytime before then. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie , Read "Fever 1793" now, discussion opens Dec 1st. · 69 posts · 223 views

last updated Nov 14, 2025 01:48PM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
By Gertie , Read "Fever 1793" now, discussion opens Dec 1st. · 16 posts · 1831 views

last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Jan 08, 2021 Joe rated it liked it · review of another edition

This early book by JG Ballard, who went on to write much more widely known work, seems more to be like a reframing of HG Wells than an original idea. That, or they both stumbled accidentally into the same concept. It starts very strong as a story, then slowly slides downhill - a common failing among his works.

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 30, 2018 Joshua rated it did not like it

This is a terribly outdated book. The author at one point was haled as a great writer (possibly) but this book didn't stand the test of time. Unbelievable characters, disjointed story line, terrible ending, no thoughts into the most basic workings of science. Etc. Just awful.
...more

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Aug 10, 2014 Donna rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: dystopia-apocalyptic, library, sci-fi

The matter-of-fact tone and alienated characters were similar to High-Rise, but I didn't enjoy this one as much. High-Rise felt more balanced, keeping things rolling while showing us a more thorough transformation.

The Drowned World centers around a man in a beautifully described flooded city. His internal journey doesn't always mesh with the rest of the story, leading to awkward pacing that can make the book feel too slow and too plot-driven by turns. ...more

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Jan 04, 2016 Aaron rated it it was amazing

Shelves: apocalyptic

Filled with $50 words, this is one of the times when I wish I could read it on a kindle and touch-and-hold for the definition of a word, I used to go get a dictionary and look words up. I know most of them now anyway. The book introduced concepts of epoch time and pyschoneuros...I understood some (many? most?) of the analogies and allegories. To see global warming from 1962 was a feat. I am sure there is more symbolism that I missed - perhaps if/when I read it again I can capture it then.

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