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04-19-2009, 09:52 AM
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Site Host
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JG Ballard dies
My dear friend of nearly fifty years, Jimmy Ballard, died this morning at 7am. A great writer.
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04-19-2009, 09:56 AM
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the fox what is tempted by Schadenfreude
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I am saddened by this news, and my best goes out to his friends and loved ones during this time. Bad news indeed.
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The "multiverse" is a multitude of alternative universes intersecting sometimes with our own and to which, of course, our own belongs — an infinite number of slightly different versions of reality in which one is likely to come across a slighlty different version of oneself." — Michael Moorcock
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04-19-2009, 10:10 AM
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Eternal Administrator
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Oh  .
Mike, I'm very sorry for your personal loss. Ballard was one of the greats and, I think, an unique voice in English Literature. He'll be sorely missed both by his readers as well as his friends and family.
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_"He drifted through infinite jungles. Brightly coloured jungles in which vast, grotesque birds flew, obscuring the sky. The birds turned on him, their huge beaks wide. Lions prowled, their bodies green and their manes orange, turning into blindingly bright, abstract patterns that were no less terrifying.
_For an eternity Allard was alone in an icy limbo where all the colours were bright and sharp and comfortless.
_For another eternity Allard swam through seas without end, all green and cool and deep, where distorted creatures drifted, sometimes attacking him.
_And then, at last, he had reached the real world – the world he had created, where he was God and could create or destroy whatever he wished.
_He was supremely powerful. He told planets to destroy themselves, and they did. He created suns. Beautiful women flocked to be his. Of all men, he was the mightiest. Of all gods, he was the greatest."
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04-19-2009, 10:19 AM
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Jester, ret.
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I offer my sincerest condolences to all that knew him. This is a great loss.
I only knew of him through his work and I can say that my life changed for the better after I had encountered Empire of the Sun.
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04-19-2009, 10:32 AM
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A Hypothetical Lizard
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Sad news, indeed. My condolences also go out to those who knew him.
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04-19-2009, 11:17 AM
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Champion of the Balance
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Very sad to hear this Mike. As David said, Ballard was one of the greats of British post-war literature and a unique voice, someone who was ostensibly an sf writer but stood outside the genre to an extent and managed to enter the mainstream.
Condolences to his family and friends and to you for losing yet another close, life-long friend. He will be missed.
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'I distrust people that write books and people that read books. I cannot understand people who have enough time to sit down and read about other people's experiences. I find myself far too busy talking or lying in wet fields drunk.'
Oliver Reed
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04-19-2009, 11:20 AM
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Denizen of Moo Uria
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This is awful, awful news, although not unexpected, of course. He is one of the greats, right up there with Orwell as far as I am concerned. They saw things in a way that most of us don't (until it is too late), and could put it into words.
Ballard's world may have been science fiction (far too crude a term, I know) when he wrote it, but his vision seem to be becoming more and more relevant, and we desperately need writers like him to keep reminding us what sort of world it is that we seem hellbent on making for ourselves.
I read Crash at probably too early an age, at around the time I was discovering Mike's work, but that led me on to his other books and his superb short stories in my late teens, and I've been reading and rereading him for the last thirty years, finding new things of value in his work each time, which help me to make sense of the world.
My condolences to his family and friends - I can't imagine how it must feel, Mike, not having lost anyone that close. Rest assured, he will be missed by many, many other people.
I'll be raising a glass of finest pure single malt in his honour tonight.
RIP
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04-19-2009, 11:32 AM
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Crestfallen
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Ballard will never be replaced, which makes his passing all the more painful for readers everywhere - I only met him once, but he was utterly charming and happy to talk to his admirers, a real gentleman. The world will not be the same without him, but at least his thoughts are still with us - Ballard's relevance will remain cardinal to our understanding of the world for a very long time to come, I think.
Condolences, Mike. I wish there was something more eloquent I could say. 
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2006: 100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels (4th printing 2008).
2008: 100 Must Read Books For Men (2nd printing 2008)
2009: 100 Must Read Fantasy Novels (Just published)
Come and talk about Mike (and other Fantasy & SF writers) with me at:
Waterstone's, Bath, Somerset 6:30 p.m. Thursday 29th October (Launch of 100 Must Read Fantasy Novels)
Trowbridge Library, Wiltshire, 7:00 p.m. Saturday 7th November
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04-19-2009, 12:02 PM
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Moonbeam Traveller
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Paul here from the BBC world service radio, the Newshour programme. Condolences for the loss of your friend. Would you possibly be able to spare 5 minutes on the phone this evening to talk to us about your memories of JG Ballard? Many thanks, the number is 0207 557 2141.
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04-19-2009, 12:15 PM
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mousebane
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Mike, I'm sorry to hear of this news today.
I have not read much of his work, but by a strange co-incidence I read "Low Flying Aircraft" in hospital last week. He was a visionary indeed, and will live on through his works.
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04-19-2009, 12:22 PM
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Orgone Accumulator
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Very sorry to hear this sad news. My sincere condolences go out to you, Mike, and all his friends and family.
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You see, it's... it's no good, Montag. We've all got to be alike. The only way to be happy is for everyone to be made equal.
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04-19-2009, 12:50 PM
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Moderator
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I immediately thought of you when I just saw the news Mike. You've expressed your fondness for the man as a friend as strongly as you have as an author. Given what a brilliant writer he was, that makes for a pretty incredible friend. I am saddened for your loss as well as for humanity's.
To add to his credit, he faced his mortality in public as only he could by getting his memoir out before the final curtain. I am certainly going to have to read it very soon now. May his words continue to be his immortality.
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04-19-2009, 01:15 PM
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Denizen of Moo Uria
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Sorry to hear JG Ballard has died. the world is a dimmer place without him.
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04-19-2009, 01:25 PM
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Wanderer of the Mittel March
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I've only just heard on Radio 4 news. 
I'm so sad to hear this news - my thoughts go out to you, Mike, and his family. As Dead-Air said earlier, I thought of you as soon as I heard the news. I started reading his books after hearing from you in yours, as to what a good friend and writer he was.
Thank you for introducing his work to me.
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04-19-2009, 01:36 PM
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Nac Mac Feegle
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He was one of the best. His work has meant a great deal to me.
My deepest condolences to all who knew him.
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McN
"I learned: the first lesson of my life: nobody can face the world with his eyes open all the time." Salman Rushdie, 'Midnight's Children'
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04-19-2009, 02:01 PM
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Champion of the Balance
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My condolences.
Very sad news.
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04-19-2009, 02:15 PM
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Champion of the Balance
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Sorry for your loss Mike,
and for our loss of such a defining writer.
Last edited by Talisant; 04-19-2009 at 04:33 PM.
Reason: r
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04-19-2009, 04:24 PM
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Champion of the Balance
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A superb talent and deep sensibility.
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04-19-2009, 05:35 PM
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Champion of the Balance
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My deep condolences to his family and friends.
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04-19-2009, 07:56 PM
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Site Host
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Spare a thought for Claire Walsh, his companion of some 45 years, who has nursed him and taken care of him for a considerable length of time. And for his children, Fay and Bea. As well as his son James. Claire (Claire Churchill for those who know his 1960s 'advertisements') is an old friend of mine. She's a great woman and must be feeling absolutely terrible at the moment.
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