A Little Something about Dead Astronauts

J.G. Ballard's short stories have repeatedly presented readers with the image of the dead astronaut. This article analyzes five stories published between 1962 and 1982-"The Cage of Sand," "A Question of Re-Entry," "The Dead Astronaut," "Notes Towards a Mental...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science-fiction studies 2009-03, Vol.36 (1), p.101-120
Main Author: Rossi, Umberto
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Astronauts
Ballard, J G (1930-2009)
Capsules
Earth
Holy relics
Literary criticism
Mars
Metaphor
Orbits
Science fiction
Science fiction & fantasy
Short stories
Space Age
Space exploration
Timelessness
Vehicular flight
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Summary:J.G. Ballard's short stories have repeatedly presented readers with the image of the dead astronaut. This article analyzes five stories published between 1962 and 1982-"The Cage of Sand," "A Question of Re-Entry," "The Dead Astronaut," "Notes Towards a Mental Breakdown," and "Memories of the Space Age"-in which dead spacemen have a pivotal role connected to a place that looms large in Ballard's imagination: Cape Kennedy/Canaveral. The essay focuses on the recurring religious symbols and metaphors Ballard uses in the stories, examining their social, cultural, and political implications against the background of the US space program, from the Gemini capsules to the space shuttle.
ISSN:0091-7729
2327-6207