This book offers a comprehensive account of the work of J.G. Ballard,
regarded by several critics as one of the most significant fiction
writers of recent times. Ballard's early science-fiction writing earned
him plaudits as one of the most innovative and individual voices in the
field, but his development as a writer has taken him far beyond the
confines of any single genre. This book traces Ballard's career from his
early science-fiction short stories and novels to his most recent work,
particularly his timely reflections on the role of violence in
contemporary social life. It argues that Ballard's writing is
characterised by a distinctive vision of the post-war world and its
possible futures, and suggests that his far-reaching analyses of the
present age make him one of the indispensable commentators of our
time.