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A review by lykkes_laeserier
The Drowned World by J.G. Ballard
2.0
Sadly, this classic speculative novel did not work for me despite an interesting-sounding premise. But the weird psychology, two-dimensional characters, and off-putting gender roles simply did not make for a very good read.
The premise of the novel is a world where increased solar activity has caused the temperature to rise significantly. The ice caps have melted, and most of the planet is covered with either water or jungle in conditions similar to the Triassic period – which is important as some characters have started to regress psychologically to that era as well.
I found both the main character, Robert Kerans, and most, if not all, of the side characters uninteresting. Kerans is head biologist on an expedition led by a military unit to describe and catalogue the new world. They are currently stationed in a couple of lagoons covering London with the exception of the top floors of some of the tallest buildings.
Living in the penthouse of one of these buildings is the novel’s only woman, Beatrice Dahl. Dahl is also the only ‘local’ in the novel and an entirely unbelievable character. Having lived alone in this penthouse with her long-deceased father in an abandoned and submerged city, we are somehow supposed to believe that her only interests in life are being immaculately turned out at all times and living the leisurely life of a socialite?? Just… no. Even for 1962 this must have been pure nonsense, surely!
All in all, “The Drowned World” is a glimpse into the slow decline into madness of most of its characters under a unique set of circumstances. While I do see what the novel is trying to do, I simply do no care for it.
The premise of the novel is a world where increased solar activity has caused the temperature to rise significantly. The ice caps have melted, and most of the planet is covered with either water or jungle in conditions similar to the Triassic period – which is important as some characters have started to regress psychologically to that era as well.
I found both the main character, Robert Kerans, and most, if not all, of the side characters uninteresting. Kerans is head biologist on an expedition led by a military unit to describe and catalogue the new world. They are currently stationed in a couple of lagoons covering London with the exception of the top floors of some of the tallest buildings.
Living in the penthouse of one of these buildings is the novel’s only woman, Beatrice Dahl. Dahl is also the only ‘local’ in the novel and an entirely unbelievable character. Having lived alone in this penthouse with her long-deceased father in an abandoned and submerged city, we are somehow supposed to believe that her only interests in life are being immaculately turned out at all times and living the leisurely life of a socialite?? Just… no. Even for 1962 this must have been pure nonsense, surely!
All in all, “The Drowned World” is a glimpse into the slow decline into madness of most of its characters under a unique set of circumstances. While I do see what the novel is trying to do, I simply do no care for it.