J.G. Ballard

“A marked change had come over the forest, as if dusk had begun to fall. Everywhere the glace sheaths which envelope the trees and vegetation had become duller and more opaque. The crystal floor underneath was occluded and grey, turning the needles into spurs of basalt. The brilliant panoply of colored light had gone, and a dim amber glow moved across the trees, shadowing the sequined floor.”

Just an example of how beautifully Ballard wrote. I finished “The Crystal World” the other day and it became one of my favorite books. His words flowed like poetry and the story moved along effortlessly. I can’t wait to read more of his work.

Now I wait for the “The Atrocity Exhibition” to arrive from Borders. It’s on backorder and I get the occasional “we haven’t forgotten you” e-mail but it’s been a month now. I think I’ll check out “Empire of the Sun” as well.

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The Crystal World

The novel tells the story of a physician trying to make his way deep into the jungle to a secluded leprosy treatment facility. While trying to make it to his destination, his chaotic path leads him to try to come to terms with an apocalyptic phenomenon in the jungle that crystallizes everything it touches.

At first glance I wasn’t to excited to read this book that Jeff Ford gave me to read. He’s been trying to expand my reading horizons and the first book he let me borrow was “Dangerous Laughter”, which quite honestly I had to force myself to get through.

I had never heard of J. G. Ballard and the book was published in 1966 so what was there to get excited over?

Well I’m about 1/2 done and this book is great. I have never read such enjoyable characterizations before. And his pacing and suspense are great as well. Best of all he is grandiloquent and pulls it off nicely.

I haven’t finished it yet but I highly recommend the book. Has anyone heard of any other good books by Ballard?