This book offers a comprehensive account of the work of J.G. Ballard, regarded by several critics as one of the most significant fiction writers of recent times. Ballard's early science-fiction writing earned him plaudits as one of the most innovative and individual voices in the field, but his development as a writer has taken him far beyond the confines of any single genre. This book traces Ballard's career from his early science-fiction short stories and novels to his most recent work, particularly his timely reflections on the role of violence in contemporary social life. It argues that Ballard's writing is characterised by a distinctive vision of the post-war world and its possible futures, and suggests that his far-reaching analyses of the present age make him one of the indispensable commentators of our time.