Author J.G. Ballard Dead at 78
The writer of Crash and the autobiographical Empire of the Sun had been battling prostate cancer. He was inspired by science fiction, but placed his novels outside the genre, rooting them in the modern world.
From the Guardian:
He was interested in "the evolving world, the world of hidden persuaders, of the communications landscape developing, of mass tourism, of the vast conformist suburbs dominated by television – that was a form of science fiction, and it was already here".
This focus was well chosen, helping Ballard produce fiction over the course of five ensuing decades.
Ballard is survived by three children, James, Fay and Beatrice.
