Synopsis
A pandemic outbreaks where people are slowly and mysteriously lapsing into comas. Powers is a former employee at a medical research facility and is slowly becomming more tired. In his lab he and a former colleague are gentically manipulating animals and insects to quickly evolve new abilities, as if preparing for some change in the world.
History
First publication: New Worlds #99, October 1960
Review
This is one of Ballard’s most collected stories. It contains many of the images that would be common in his stories, such as swimming pools and clocks. It concerns the heat-death of the universe and entopry breaking down all things. Ballard describes this as it affects his human characters and brings in a host of surreal images and ideas. A magnificent story and Ballard at his best. I think this story healds the period of Ballard’s work where he seems obsessed with the world being destroyed in various natural calamities. Absolutely recommended.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
Chronopolis and Other Stories, hardcover, G. Putnam’s Sons, 1971-09-00
The Complete Short Stories, hardcover, Flamingo, 2001-11-00
The Great SF Stories 22 (1960), edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg, paperback, DAW Books, 1991-02-00
