The Unlimited Dream Company

Published in 1979 by Jonathan Cape, The Unlimited Dream Company is a surreal and mythic novel by J.G. Ballard that departs from his more overtly dystopian work. Influenced by William Blake, the narrative follows a misfit drifter named Blake who crashes a stolen light aircraft into the Thames near the London suburb of Shepperton. Whether he survives or dies is left ambiguous, but he emerges from the river with godlike powers and finds himself unable to leave the town. Blake gradually transforms the suburb into a tropical, dreamlike landscape filled with exotic birds and flowers, liberating its residents from social convention and teaching them to fly. The novel functions as a mythological fable about the transformation of the everyday world through the force of the unconscious.

Signed copy. Signed by Ballard on the title page.

Hardcover. First Edition, First Printing. Octavo, dark green paper covered boards with gilt lettering on spine. London: Jonathan Cape, 1979. British Science Fiction Award winner (1980). John W. Campbell Memorial Award nominee (1980). Pringle, Modern Fantasy: The 100 Best Novels (68). Burgess, Ninety-Nine Novels. ISBN: 022401742x. #11198.
Fine in near fine unclipped dust jacket with a tiny scuff near the top of spine and with the original publisher's price of £4.95 on flap. Many of the copies seen are clipped and have been repriced with a new sticker from the publisher.