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The Terminal Beach
by J. G. Ballard
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Carroll & Graf Pub (1987-11)
ISBN: 0881843709
EAN: 9780881843705
Dewy Decimal #: 823.914
Paperback
SKU: MM1748
Condition: Acceptable
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
The Terminal Beach is one of Ballard's most brilliant collections of short stories, ranging from the title story's disturbing picture of an abandoned atomic testing island in the Pacific to the shocking Oedipal fantasy of 'The Gioconda of the Twilight Noon'. At the heart of the stories lies the bitter paradox that the extraordinary creative power of man's imagination is matched only by his reckless instinct for destruction. 'One of the few genuine surrealists this country has produced, the possessor of a terrifying and exhilarating imagination - and a national treasure' Guardian
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Customer Reviews
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Luminous Elegy
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-03-26
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
The title story has a rich and luminous serenity that is both gentle and unsettling. It is very characteristic of Ballard's best work, and serves as a bridge between his earlier science fiction books, and his later surrealistic novels. There is a distinct link to T.S. Eliot..."The Terminal Beach" could be a response to "Burnt Norton." This book is an excellent introduction to one of the great writers of the 20th Century.
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Genius at work
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-04-14
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is a collection of short stories by J.G. Ballard, whose surrealistic approach to science fiction reaches its apex in this effort. "End Game", a story of executions in the future, leaves the reader not exactly knowing if the imprisoned political leader is about to be executed at its end, but the character development borders on the fabulous. Also recommended most highly are "Now Comes the Sea", and "Chronopolis", the latter being the story of a society where time measurement is outlawed, and of the outlaw who wants to bring it back.. You will never forget any of these stories. V Very, very highly recommended. This is a genius at his best.
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The Sun of the beach
Rating (5)
Date: 1999-12-07
This collection of beautifully strange stories contains some of Ballard's most accessible work. His unique style and surreal imagination are displayed well in, The Terminal Beach, End Game, and The Time Tombs. Though he casts a long shadow, there's really no one else out there like Ballard. I highly recommend this book.
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Fairly good collection of stories
Rating  (4)
Date: 1999-04-14
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Maybe even a 4.5. Not as comprehensive as "The Best Short Stories of...", but it's a good intro to Ballard's work. It gives a first-time reader a good idea of what to expect. Ballard writes some top-notch stories (The Drowned Giant, Bilennium, Deep End - all included here), but in his collections, they always seem to get diluted by the not-so-greats. Still, the majority of the stories in this book are quite good; more forward-thinking and original than anything that came out of that period. I think the best quality of his stories is that they deal with societal concerns, and not just sci-fi. Quite an enjoyable book.
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