Comments on: BBC World Book Club show cancelled

By: Simon Sellars

Simon Sellars — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:45:23 +0000

A night drive, definitely! I myself might visit the abandoned petrochemical plant nearby…

By: Chris Jaw

Chris Jaw — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:13:53 +0000

Until this evening I had been pottering along, looking forward to reading the autobiography at some stage, and now I hear the great man has cancer. Terrible news. I started reading Ballard in my mid teens and have never let go – everyone else I liked from those days has long been discarded.

I’ve felt with the recent stuff (post Rushing to Paradise) that however sharp the satirical edge that each new book was something of a bonus, that age was against him, but to have that clarified is awful. Yes, we can remain optimistic, of course, but I carry a heavy heart around. Maybe a couple of drinks and a night drive will help.

By: Manuel

Manuel — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 08:54:46 +0000

Let ‘s hope for Ballard fast recovery.

By: Mark Lyndon

Mark Lyndon — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:46:45 +0000

Greg and Crashman are right, but then again are Ballardians noted for their optimism?
Are our swimming pools drained or full?
In any case let us hope and pray that it turns out like the wry Mark Twain observation.

By: Crashman

Crashman — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 20:13:28 +0000

Greg’s right. The treatments for prostate cancer can be very debilitating, but he is far from gone. Is there anything we can do for JGB?

By: Greg Harris

Greg Harris — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:35:51 +0000

Let’s not act like he is dead already. Don’t want to tempt fate!

By: Mark Lyndon

Mark Lyndon — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:23:01 +0000

These are painful days for Ballardians. No doubt Self is preparing a tribute.

By: Bosse de Nage

Bosse de Nage — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 06:45:39 +0000

I had a hunch that Kingdom Come was the coda to the work, the seal; the news of the autobiography was troubling. Immense loss; Ballard’s work is already posthumous. Immense loss; I have stopped working on my list of questions.

By: Rick McGrath

Rick McGrath — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 03:14:34 +0000

I have a very strong urge to carve a mandala in the winter-bruised floor of the empty swimming pool next door…

By: Supervert

Supervert — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:40:31 +0000

Sounds like JGB is on his last legs. Sad.