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High-Rise

By J. G. Ballard
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Check link for latest rating. ( 36,956 ratings, 3,765 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
High-Rise by J. G. Ballard explores the disintegration of social order within a luxury apartment building. As the residents of the high-rise begin to succumb to their primal instincts, the self-contained world of the building descends into chaos and violence, reflecting on the darker side of human nature and the fragility of societal norms. This thought-provoking tale combines elements of science fiction and psychological drama.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're intrigued by dystopian tales that explore the darker aspects of human nature and societal breakdown within a confined, vertical world. The narrative delves into the psychological evolution of residents in a modern high-rise, offering a thought-provoking perspective on class division and isolation. Fans of speculative fiction with a psychological edge are likely to find this a compelling read.

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The unnerving tale of life in a modern tower block running out of control.

A haunting urban dystopian revelation

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Cocaine Nights comes an acclaimed backlist title—an unnerving tale of life in a modern tower block running out of control—now reissued in a new cover style.

Within the concealing walls of an elegant forty-storey tower block, the affluent tenants are hell-bent on an orgy of destruction. Cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on 'enemy' floors, and the once-luxurious amenities become an arena for technological mayhem...

In this classic visionary tale, human society slips into violent reverse as the inhabitants of the high-rise, driven by primal urges, recreate a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Readers and critics praise High-Rise for its intense and vivid portrayal of societal collapse within a high-rise building, delivering a chilling, fast-paced exploration of social dynamics. It's noted for its eerie predictions of the future and its gripping, spine-tingling fable-like quality that highlights the dark aspects of human nature. Many find the novel to be among J. G. Ballard's finest works, leaving a lasting impression for its harsh, ingenious storytelling.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780586044568

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 February 1993

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Flamingo

Contributors:

  • Introduction by Ned Beauman

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 20.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 260g

Pages: 272

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About the Author

JG Ballard was born in 1930 in Shanghai, where his father was a businessman. After internment in a civilian prison camp, he and his family returned to England in 1946. His 1984 bestseller Empire of the Sun won the Guardian Fiction Prize and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. It was later filmed by Steven Spielberg. His most recent novels include the bestselling (and critically acclaimed) Cocaine Nights and Super-Cannes.

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