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The Drowned World

J.G. Ballard · 1962 · Novel

Explore this on the mapTrace its ancestors and descendants live in the tree.

It pioneered 'catastrophe literature,' focusing on the psychological and evolutionary regression of humanity in a world transformed by extreme environmental change.

What it is

Set in a future where global warming has flooded cities and reverted Earth to a Triassic-like jungle, this novel explores humanity's psychological regression. It defined a new wave of 'inner space' science fiction focused on environmental catastrophe and psychological landscapes.

↓Passed on to(6)

Dune· 1965↓ open

While different in scope, 'Dune' shares with 'The Drowned World' a focus on a planet fundamentally transformed by environmental forces and the intricate relationship between humanity and a drastically altered ecosystem.

The Crystal World· 1966↓ open

As a work by J.G. Ballard, 'The Crystal World' directly continues and evolves the 'catastrophe' subgenre and the psychological exploration of radical environmental transformation established in his earlier novel, 'The Drowned World'.

As Ballard's subsequent 'catastrophe' novel, 'The Crystal World' directly continues and evolves the themes of environmental transformation and psychological regression established in 'The Drowned World'.

The Sheep Look Up· 1972↓ open

Brunner's work takes Ballard's focus on environmental transformation and its societal impact into a more grounded, near-future depiction of catastrophic ecological breakdown.

Dhalgren· 1975↓ open

Delany's exploration of psychological landscapes within a decaying, transformed urban environment, and the allure of entropy, aligns with Ballard's themes in his catastrophe novels.

Waterworld· 1995↓ open

Directly inspired by the concept of a world entirely submerged by water due to climate change, and humanity's adaptation to such an environment.

The Fifth Season· 2015↓ open

While introducing a unique 'geological' science fiction, 'The Fifth Season' explores a world fundamentally reshaped by catastrophic environmental forces and humanity's struggle to adapt, echoing the themes of radical environmental transformation and psychological impact found in Ballard's 'The Drowned World'.

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