High-rise
Erratic
Gross
Repetitive

High-rise

J. G. Ballard1975
From the author of Crash and Cocaine Nights comes an unnerving tale of life in a modern tower block running out of control. 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 riots and technological mayhem. In this visionary tale of urban disillusionment society slips into a violent reverse as the isolated inhabitants of the high-rise, driven by primal urges, create a dystopian world ruled by the laws of the jungle. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Iain Sinclair, Ali Smith, Neil Gaiman and Martin Amis) and brand-new cover designs.
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Reviews

Photo of Cassie B
Cassie B@partialtruth
3 stars
Jan 1, 2024

3.5

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly
5 stars
Aug 13, 2022

Incredible. A sick, surreal thrill.

This review contains a spoiler
+3
Photo of Olivera Mitić
Olivera Mitić@olyschka
1 star
Nov 24, 2021

Well, this was...disgusting.

Photo of Elize van Heerden
Elize van Heerden@bashfulreader
3 stars
Oct 8, 2021

Listened to the audiobook read by Tom Hiddleston, will leave a review when I can get my thoughts together

Photo of Jacob Reader
Jacob Reader@logladyland
2.5 stars
Feb 9, 2024
+4
Photo of 里森
里森@lisson
3.5 stars
Jun 10, 2023
+5
Photo of Izzy Huddleston
Izzy Huddleston@izzyinbetween
4 stars
Dec 27, 2023
Photo of Maurice FitzGerald
Maurice FitzGerald@soraxtm
5 stars
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of Daniel Fernández
Daniel Fernández@defo89
4 stars
Mar 25, 2023
Photo of Caroline Oestergaard
Caroline Oestergaard@c_oec
3 stars
Feb 14, 2023
Photo of Lola
Lola@readmyselfintopeace
3 stars
Jan 22, 2023
Photo of jami welch
jami welch@jami
3 stars
Dec 28, 2022
Photo of Stephan Happe
Stephan Happe@stephan
3 stars
Sep 3, 2022
Photo of Tim Holman
Tim Holman@lit
5 stars
Aug 25, 2022
Photo of Gustav Vallin
Gustav Vallin@gvallin
5 stars
Apr 13, 2022
Photo of Liam Byrne
Liam Byrne @tvtimelimit
5 stars
Jan 17, 2022
Photo of Kerrie Webb
Kerrie Webb@kwebb
3 stars
Jan 14, 2022
Photo of Jade Flynn
Jade Flynn@jadeflynn
3 stars
Nov 20, 2021
Photo of Greta Brüggemann
Greta Brüggemann@greta
3 stars
Oct 26, 2021
Photo of Lara
Lara@veganravenclaw
4 stars
Oct 23, 2021
Photo of Juozas Salna
Juozas Salna@pukomuko
3 stars
Sep 14, 2021
Photo of Hidde
Hidde@hdv
3 stars
Aug 14, 2021
Photo of Gareth Kay
Gareth Kay@garethk
4 stars
Aug 12, 2021
Photo of Gary Homewood
Gary Homewood@GaryHomewood
4 stars
Jul 28, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly

Picking up his chromium cane, Royal left the dining room, a single candle in its silver stick lighting his way. As he stumbled over the black plastic bags he wondered why they had never heaved them over the side. Presumably they held this rubbish to themselves less from fear of attracting the attention of the outside world than from a need to cling to their own, surround themselves with the mucilage of unfinished meals, bloody bandage scraps, broken bottles that once held the wine that made them drunk, all faintly visible through the semi-opaque plastic.

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly

Later, as he sat on his balcony eating the dog, Dr Robert Laing reflected on the unusual events that had taken place within this huge apartnent building during the previous three months.

I often think about this sentence. Surely one of the most opening lines in modern literature.

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