Synopsis
Hathaway believes the huge signs being installed on the freeways are flashing sublimnal messages. “Advertising is here to stay. We’ve no real freedom of choice, anyway. We can’t spend more than we can afford the finance companies soon clamp down.”
History
First publication: New Worlds, January 1963
Review
A brilliant story about advertising and consumerism and the application of psychology in driving people to buy. Ballard pulls in every trick of advertising and obsolescence in this future where people are cattle being driven by capitalism. Pure fantasy? Recommended.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
The Complete Short Stories, hardcover, Flamingo, 2001-11-00
