The right of J. G. Ballard to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

‘The Ballard Tradition’ © Will Self 2003

‘Cataclysms and Doom’ © J. G. Ballard 1977

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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Cover by Stanley Donwood.

Image derived from a biological microscope image of salt crystal fragments and bacteria, made by Oliver Peck at the University of Bath.

Source ISBN: 9780586089965

Ebook Edition © October 2009 ISBN: 9780007321834

Version: 2014-07-11

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Introduction by M. John Harrison

PART ONE

1. The Draining Lake