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A review by ilman
Concrete Island by J.G. Ballard
4.0
Concrete Island was published in 1974 and it concerns an architect Robert Maitland whose car crashes over the concrete parapet of a highway into a patch of uninhabited wasteland below. He is trapped on a concrete island and he soon finds out that there is no easy way to escape. The passing vehicles seem to pay no attention to Maitland and his ordeal. What begins as an absurd predicament soon turns into horror, as Maitland realizes that there is no way out.
This novella can be viewed as a postmodern retelling of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Like Defoe’s protagonist, Maitland is marooned on a seemingly deserted island, except that this island is made of concrete and, instead of ocean, his path to freedom is blocked by oncoming traffic. Ballard explores a theme of psychological isolation in modern society. Despite being surrounded by people in their cars, our protagonist is completely alone and there is no one who pays attention to him. This premise might seem absurd in the hands of a lesser author, but Ballard manages to pull it off. What we get is a very interesting parable about the contemporary state of a human being in a globalized society. At least that was my interpretation of this novella.
So, who should read this book? If you enjoy Ballard’s fiction, this novella is a “must-read”. If you’re interested in postmodern allegories and parables, you will likely find this book especially suited to your tastes. Any fans of surrealist fiction will probably find this book enjoyable. Overall, I liked this book and I think it’s my favorite Ballard book at this moment.
This novella can be viewed as a postmodern retelling of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe. Like Defoe’s protagonist, Maitland is marooned on a seemingly deserted island, except that this island is made of concrete and, instead of ocean, his path to freedom is blocked by oncoming traffic. Ballard explores a theme of psychological isolation in modern society. Despite being surrounded by people in their cars, our protagonist is completely alone and there is no one who pays attention to him. This premise might seem absurd in the hands of a lesser author, but Ballard manages to pull it off. What we get is a very interesting parable about the contemporary state of a human being in a globalized society. At least that was my interpretation of this novella.
So, who should read this book? If you enjoy Ballard’s fiction, this novella is a “must-read”. If you’re interested in postmodern allegories and parables, you will likely find this book especially suited to your tastes. Any fans of surrealist fiction will probably find this book enjoyable. Overall, I liked this book and I think it’s my favorite Ballard book at this moment.