Concrete Island

by N/A

• Used

  Paperback
  1994

  $10.99

  Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his central London office when his car has a blowout, it swerves and crashes into a traffic island lying below three converging motorways. Uninjured, Maitland climbs up the embankment to flag down a car. But he soon finds out that no-one in the rush-hour traffic will stop for him, and he is trapped on the island, where he remains.

• Used

  Paperback
  1976

  $22.54

• New

  Paperback
  2008

  $11.83

  A chilling novel that pays twisted homage to Defoe's 'Robinson Crusoe'. Newly reissued with an introduction from Neil Gaiman. Robert Maitland, a 35 year-old architect, is driving home from his London offices when a blow-out sends his speeding Jaguar hurtling out of control. Smashing through a temporary barrier he finds himself, dazed and disorientated, on a traffic island below three converging motorways. But when he tries to climb the embankment or flag-down a passing car for help it proves impossible - and he finds himself imprisoned on the concrete island. Maitland must survive using only what he can find in his crashed car. As in all Ballard's best work 'Concrete Island' provides an unnerving study of our modern lives and world. With his alienating, 'Ballardian' view of normal events, this is a unique novel from one of the twentieth century's finest writers. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Zadie Smith, Adam Philips, Adam Thirlwell and Robert Macfarlane) and brand-new cover designs from the artist Stanley Donwood.