J.G. Ballard
Condominium

For this occasion, I have retrieved from my slightly yellowed book collection the memorable and still highly relevant novel by Urania (n.707, 153 pages) "Condominium," original title "High Rise" from '75.

As time goes by, our society will inevitably become more and more technological and apparently rational, just as most homes are perfectly arranged inside a condominium... DeB The Interiors (Vol.1.3).

The plot explores the life of a group of people in the context of a vast forty-story structure. In this enormous architectural complex, all the small and large conveniences a city can offer are arranged: the supermarket, the bank, the school, swimming pools, the sauna, and much more. From the very first lines, it will become apparent that something is not working inside these 'concrete bunkers,' and indeed, in a short time, the situation will rapidly change. The fears, misunderstandings, and antagonisms of the residents will begin to become increasingly evident, reaching and surpassing the limits of both psychological and environmental degeneration and regression. It is no coincidence that the position of the apartments is seen as a sort of division of social classes: the rich and powerful on the upper floors, the middle class in the center, and those with less means on the lower floors. The condominium is analyzed through the writer’s eyes as a brain, and the 'regressed' neurons are the tenants living there. In this vast environment, we encounter: lawyers, psychiatrists, tax consultants, academics, film technicians, journalists, bankers, and many other characters. The action will focus particularly on three figures, who are obviously neither heroes nor classic protagonists, but merely figures filled with hate, repressed fears, and envies. Richard Wilder on the first floor has the sole aim of 'climbing' the entire building to 'conquer' the fortieth floor, where resides in his penthouse the architect Anthony Royal, the creator and designer of this and other residential complexes. Between the two tenants lives Dr. Robert Laing on the twenty-fifth floor, who outwardly attempts to maintain a cold and detached demeanor concerning the new happenings within the building, but in reality, is filled with insecurities and frustrations. Royal, due to the degenerative progression both mentally and structurally of the environment, will initially decide with his wife to abandon everything but then prefers to stay, to observe how the inhabitants of the structure he created will organize themselves.

Probably the writer with this novel wanted to send a warning to our society which is increasingly cold, detached, and ambiguous, where despite the apparent propriety, people, in reality, hide miscommunications and misunderstandings at every social level. In the story, Ballard best expresses his capabilities of depicting mental and environmental desolation, thereby placing himself among the masters of the 'inner space' genre. This literary vein radically abandoned sci-fi themes and settings, moving towards the true and ultimate frontier: the human mind. Personally, I also see a particular connection with DeB's Interiors.

In my opinion, it is a desperately dramatic story capable of making the reader reflect on various aspects of our apparently civilized society. Unfortunately, as we all know, reality often surpasses fiction. Regrettably, I discovered that the Italian version published by Mondadori was cut, perhaps because some scenes might have 'shocked' the readers. The cover, splendid as usual, was created by painter Karel Thole. By the same writer, I also recommend: "The Drought" from '64 and "Concrete Island" from '74. Currently, director Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Cypher) is working on a film adaptation based on the aforementioned novel.

Reading difficulty: 2.5 out of 5. Musical accompaniment: Hawkwind "Tales from Atom Henge the Robert Calvert Years," which includes the track "High Rise" inspired by Ballard's work. Now I must leave you because this evening there will be a meeting... Condominium greetings.