1963-03-00
short story
By J. G. Ballard
Alternate Titles:
“The Sherrington Theory”
Synopsis
Pelham and Mildred are relaxing on the beach along with a large amount of other sunbathers, while someone behind them is taking in the broadcast of a launch at Cape Canaveral.
History
First publication: Amazing, March 1963
Review
From the start of this story Ballard expertly creates a sense of menace from the crowd of sunbathers.
“... homo sapiens en masse presented a more unsavory spectacle than almost any other species of animal.”
The story is rather surreal and disturbing, ultimately incorporating the theme of many of Ballard’s stories in 1963 of a racial memory and technology producing the effect of mankind reverting back to the past. Recommended.
Videos
We have the story in these editions:
The Complete Short Stories, hardcover, Flamingo, 2001-11-00
The Terminal Beach, paperback, Carroll & Graf, 1987-11-00
