A chilling novel that pays twisted homage to Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe'. Newly reissued with an introduction from Neil Gaiman. Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his London offices when a blow-out sends his speeding Jaguar hurtling out of control. Smashing through a temporary barrier he finds himself, dazed and disorientated, on a traffic island below three converging motorways. But when he tries to climb the embankment or flag-down a passing car for help it proves impossible - and he ...
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A chilling novel that pays twisted homage to Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe'. Newly reissued with an introduction from Neil Gaiman. Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his London offices when a blow-out sends his speeding Jaguar hurtling out of control. Smashing through a temporary barrier he finds himself, dazed and disorientated, on a traffic island below three converging motorways. But when he tries to climb the embankment or flag-down a passing car for help it proves impossible - and he finds himself imprisoned on the concrete island. Maitland must survive using only what he can find in his crashed car. As in all Ballard's best work 'Concrete Island' provides an unnerving study of our modern lives and world. With his alienating, 'Ballardian' view of normal events, this is a unique novel from one of the twentieth century's finest writers. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Zadie Smith, Adam Philips, Adam Thirlwell and Robert Macfarlane) and brand-new cover designs from the artist Stanley Donwood.
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Seller's Description:
Good Condition in Good jacket. 9780224029902. ~~Withdrawn Ex-Library hardback~~Good/Good 1st impression 1984 reissue Cape hardback, top corner of inner flap of jacket clipped but price showing to complete inner front flap. Light surface wear and wrinkling to jacket which has a little stickiness from previous plastic sleeve, log-sheet residue, a little spotting and stamp to fly-leaf, stamp also to copyright page, black mark to top edge of pages else tight and unmarked. More by this author available Sent Airmail at no extra cost; Worldwide Shipping IMMEDIATE 1ST CLASS/AIRMAIL DISPATCH First edition of the work in this format and binding, and/or set or series. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Science Fiction & Fantasy; ISBN: 0224029908. ISBN/EAN: 9780224029902. The photos provided are of our own book, further photos may be arranged upon request. Inventory No: 076417.
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Collectable-Good Condition in Good jacket. 9780224009706. Contemporary Fiction. Good+/Quite Good 1st impression 1st ed 1974 Cape hardback, unclipped DJ, Bill Botten jacket design. Untidy tears to top edge of jacket, approx 2cm to top front of DJ spine, almost 4cm to top rear corner of DJ and 1.5cm to top rear edge close to spine, 1cm closed tear lower front edge, some edge-wear and small chips to top edge of DJ with patches of spotting to insides of DJ, spotting to page edges, unmarked. Size: 140\nx 200mm. 176 pages. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilogram. Category: Fiction; Contemporary Fiction; ISBN: 0224009702. ISBN/EAN: 9780224009706. The photos provided are of our own book, further photos may be arranged upon request. Inventory No: 085569.
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The theme of the book and its setting is a piece of land isolated by intersecting motorways. Now a wilderness it was once part of a street, cinema and graveyard.
In 1970s, when the book was written, the motorway was a fairly recent addition to the English landscape and not so pervasive as it is now.
But Ballard recognised the changing times and found a fresh setting for a story, the Concrete Island, a modern unoccupied space. Shades of Robinson Crusoe but also reminded me of Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household.