Post-Apocalyptic Liminality in the Middle of Modern London! J.G. Ballard's Concrete Island

J.G. Ballard's 1974 novel, Concrete Island is not post-apocalyptic fiction, but it sure reads like it! Published right between Crash and Highrise, it tells the story of survival in the middle of modern London.
Check out ‪@outlawbookselleroriginal‬ for more Ballard content!
#postapocalyptic #booktube

[@psychbookman8613]

Completely agree with your enthusiasm for this novel...like you, I had never read anything by Ballard, and decided to give him a try based on the recommendations from Outlaw Bookseller. Wow. Layers upon layers of brilliant insights flow from this succinct novel, including how we can use other humans to either escape from (or stay mired in) the islands in our minds. Definitely worth a read. Thanks for your videos, love hearing your perspective and appreciate the recommendation of other similar writers and novels.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Thanks so much for watching! Yes, this writer quickly moved up my favorites list!

[@disconnected22]

Just now getting to Ballard, huh? Better late than never. The image of the circus guy swinging from the posts is still in my head 10 years later. I’ll personally recommend The Drowned World and The Unlimited Dream Company. You’ll never think of birds the same again. OH, High Rise too! MY GOD! If you think this one is Robinson Crusoe, that’s Lord Of The Flies!

[@phalanx3632]

„The drowned World“ by Ballard is also pretty good. Early Cli-fi with a lot of psychological themes.

[@agentxchannel6640]

there was a theatrical version that played (and closed) in Chicago back in the 80's..a fascinating survival parable

[@thekeywitness]

Love JGB. I prefer High Rise and Crash to Concrete Island but that’s not a knock against the latter. All of his work fits the Liminal Space aesthetic, even his mainstream bestseller Empire of the Sun. Happy reading.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

I loved the Empire of the Sun movie as a young man, haven't read the book yet, but all of Ballard's work is now on my TBR list!

[@patreekotime4578]

I'm laughing at the concept for this story.... torturing a modern architect with one of the great abominations of the modern era of city planning and architecture. I can just imagine the author cackling while writing it. Sounds amazing. Stopping before spoilers.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

It's a great time, I hope you enjoy it!

[@krell1080]

one of my favorites of his, besides unlimited dream company. the biggest challenge to the uninitiated wanting to get into ballard is that he does not have the empathy on the page that murakami or dick use to bring life to their characters. but if you can get past that, his ideas are amazing... different author but would love to see you cover Barefoot in the Head. post apocalyptic sci fi with a joyce-like playfulness with language.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Very well said. I feel like Ballard's characters are similar to Kafka's in that way. Barefoot in the Head added to the TBR list, thanks!

[@krell1080]

@@LiminalSpaces03 yeah, i have a feeling it may be up this channel's alley. it's post world war 3 type conflict where the entire populace is living in the aftermath of psychological trauma from LSD bombs. the main character has a messiah complex and starts a massive motorcade, a sort of revolutionary pilgrimage.

[@vintagesf]

Sitting in my library waiting for a read. Thanks for the encouragement to pick it up sooner than later. Love your T-shirt. Reminds me of a quote that goes something like “We are just temporary caretakers of books.”

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Thanks for watching! I've got quite a collection of book related t-shirts and youtube has given me an excuse to show them all off!

[@LBenjamin81]

I'm not trying to get called a nerd on KZbin. However, I can't help but feel that a Judge Dredd comic took the idea of a prison in the middle of a bunch of freeways from this book.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

I bet they did!

[@MichaelSmith-sd9kz]

An amazing Ballard novel that I never hear anyone talk about is THE CRYSTAL WORLD. An unforgettable story of an entire forest turning into jewels.... Great review, as always. I love this channel! And Ballard rules.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

His early apocalyptic novels (I think there are 3 or 4 of them) look really interesting! I'm sure I'll end up reading all of his novels eventually.

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Top work.

[@LiminalSpaces03]

Thank you so much for pointing me to this author!

[@aaronh.2496]

This channel is quickly becoming one of my favorites

[@LiminalSpaces03]

We appreciate it! Thanks so much for watching!