book_busy 's review for:

The Garden of Time by J.G. Ballard

5.0

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This is probably one of my favourite short stories now. Especially in light of the state of this world and attenuated by the Met Gala theme this year being ironically based upon this short story, I find its messaging depressingly cathartic. Oh how I wish a swarm of workers could overtake every member of our society's "elite" in a one-time moment of mass equalisation. I found the time flower itself being a think of luxury attributed to the rich is very interesting in terms of its messaging.... Overall, this was a very obviously allegorical short story but it was that obviousness and bluntness which made it feel so enjoyable to read. Beside even this, Ballard writes very well here and his control of pacing, sparse use of dialogue and pleasing description makes for one of the ultimate short stories in my opinion