The Voices of Time was originally entitled The Four Dimensional Nightmare. I have no idea why the publishers chose to change the title, as I think the original is more evocative. This is Ballard's first collection of short stories, published in 1963, and as you may have surmised there is an underlying theme of time in many of the pieces. However, these are not stories that deal with paradoxes, time travel or future fate as are many of the "traditional" time-themed works.
Those who have read Ballard before will know that he is a highly idiosynchratic author, fond of concise, expressive prose and pregnant atmospheres. Some might say (unkindly) that this is at the expense of plot, and that few of his novels feature any real progression of events. I prefer to think of his works as static evaluation of the "now" which leave a tantalising question mark over the future. This is true of many of the stories in this collection, which deal with very personal issues in the face of disaster or isolation, a theme which Ballard explores repeatedly in many of his novels such as The Drowned World, The Drought and Crash. The story The Voices Of Time deals with one man's anticipation of his own demise from terminal illness against the backdrop of mutation experiments and the enormity of Time itself. Another standout title, the Garden of Time, relates the final days of a garden in stasis with an invading army just outside the walls. The Watch-Towers explores fear of authority and paranoia beautifully. In all, the humanity and the air of resignation, loneliness and frustration are deeply moving.
Ballard is not only a fine prose writer whose works show depth in their portrayal of human behaviour, he is also a true surrealist, posessed of a vibrant imagination that can at times be compared with the great Cordwainer Smith. I'd recommend this collection to Ballard fans without hesitation, but it's also a good starting point for those who are intrigued by this unique writer.
