J. G. Ballard | Lecturia

J. G. Ballard: The Subliminal Man

The Subliminal Man is a short story by J. G. Ballard, first published in January 1963 in New Worlds Science Fiction and later included in The Terminal Beach (1964). Dr. Franklin lives in a society obsessed with consumerism, where standardization and the constant replacement of goods define everyday life. Hathaway, an old acquaintance known for his eccentric and conspiratorial ideas, tries to warn him about mysterious giant structures that, according to him, control people’s minds through subliminal messages. Initially skeptical, Franklin begins to suspect that Hathaway’s theories might not be so far-fetched after all.

J. G. Ballard: The Lost Leonardo

“The Lost Leonardo” is a suspense and intrigue story by J. G. Ballard, first published in 1964 in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Leonardo da Vinci’s priceless painting The Crucifixion mysteriously vanishes from the Louvre, shocking both the art world and the general public. The director of the prestigious Northeby auction house travels to Paris to join Georg de Stael in investigating the unusual theft. Together, they plunge into a labyrinth of clues and enigmas that defy logic and test their knowledge of art and history. As they uncover strange connections between masterpieces and ancient mysteries, they realize that this case is far more complex than it first appeared.