High-Rise

By: J. G. Ballard

Narrated by: Tom Hiddleston

British actor Tom Hiddleston, well-known for portraying the supervillain Loki (The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World) and the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (Midnight in Paris), brings his acting versatility and smooth voice to this visionary tale by acclaimed author J.G. Ballard (Empire of the Sun). When a class war erupts inside a luxurious apartment block, modern elevators become violent battlegrounds, and cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on "enemy" floors. Human society slips into violent reverse as once-peaceful residents, driven by primal urges, re-create a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.

©1975 J. G. Ballard (P)2015 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

"Harsh and ingenious! High Rise is an intense and vivid bestiary, which lingers unsettlingly in the mind." (Martin Amis, New Statesman)

Heart of Darkness / Lord of the Flies skyscraper

J G Ballard's High-Rise is a fanciful of tale of life in a "high-rise," somewhat novel lifestyle for the 70's when the story is set. Built as a nearly fully self-contained living environment, the tower quickly degenerates into segregated groups with working class on the lower floors, professionals in the middle, and wealthy elites occupying the upper floors. The groups become territorial and begin restricting passage throughout the high-rise for services such as shops, groceries, and swimming pools by commandeering the elevators. At the same time, people avoid the outside world and even refrain from reporting crimes to the police. In the penthouse, sits the architect of the building and one individual from the lower floors attempts to confront him about the building.

This tale is a psychological fantasy where a single building becomes a microcosm for the larger collection of humans into densely packed cities. While much of the action appears unrealistic, it is simply mirroring behaviors happening all the time in most large metropolitan cities,

The narration is exceptional. Tom Hiddleston renders an excellent performance. It should be noted that Tom was sufficiently impressed with the writing to go on to produce and star in a cinematic adaptation of the work.

Bonkers Dystopia

If you are a real stickler for dystopian fiction that follows a logical path to dystopia, this might not be for you. I didn't totally buy the path that we traveled down with our high rise neighbors. But, if you can suspend your disbelief just a little bit, this is a bananas story about a true urban jungle. Hiddleston's narration provides just the right sort of blase indifference that suits the novel's tone and balances the novel's insanity.

I found it a little disappointing that no women's perspectives were explored and we mostly had three men's perspective, but it was the '70s and I guess J.G. Ballard wasn't all that woke. On the other hand, it was the '70s but things felt very modern. Every now and again there would be a mention of a pay phone or a film camera but generally speaking, this felt like it could be set in 2018 as easily as any other late 20th/early 21st century era.

Society in Micro

I was doubtful at first of purchasing this, but the name Hiddleston brought me in and I was not disappointed.
The story starts in a rather mundane manner and slowly draws you in for later contrast. O found this whole story unsettling. If you are squeamish be prepared for discomfort, after all discomfort makes for a good look inward and challenges your point of view.
My reactions at times were a desire to strangle some of the characters.
I am recommending this story to anyone I can. Finishing it was a sweet release.

Fairly one beat storytelling

I enjoyed the story and the examination of our base instincts and nature and how we could potentially recent back to a less evolved way of life, so very quickly.

While Tom Hiddleston is a great actor and wonderful in films....his narration is fairly pedantic and unenthusiastic.

Hard To Swallow

The story is an interesting one that left me feeling a little uneasy, I enjoyed it very much however and would recommend it.

A dream voice for a nightmare story

loved this book, and Hiddleston's smooth, modulated voice made this the first audiobook I have actuall ever finished. Cannot wait for the movie.

Interesting book

Good narration. Interesting concept of fighting for survival in a high rise building. I wish it went a little more in depth to some of the crazies that went loose and how leadership among the floors collapsed.

Captivating story

Very interesting update to the lord of the flies, not a zombie tale like I thought it might have been, it gives a very credible breakdown of society in a microcosm.

It ends abruptly

This story is a little depressing. It's a display of the rapid decline in civilization within this building. These "supposed" wealthy and professional people just flat out turn into psycho animals. I would like to see a part 2 or better ending. Would police ever show up to the building? Would the bldg investors ever let their investment turn into trash? Security is nowhere to be found inside the bldg, etc

Dry narrative, odd structure, great performance

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Probably not. I liked the story, the manner in which it explored the basest impulses of human nature, how people can descend into animalism. But, the narrative was full of "info dumps," and was structured more as a rather repetitive lecture rather than a story arc. The story arc was there, but the rising action was too quick, there was no real turning point, no real climax, and the falling action fell with a thump. The ending was done well, though, giving the story a cyclical feeling with the idea that the whole thing could happen all over again. The writing was stilted, and there was very little dialogue at all. Characterization was more tell than show. Lots of telling in this story, in fact. Yet, if this book was meant to break the molds of typical writing and was meant in itself to be a breakdown of the societal norms then it did the job.

What other book might you compare High-Rise to and why?

High Rise is like no other book that I've read, other than perhaps Lord of the Flies.

What does Tom Hiddleston bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Tom Hiddleston's reading kept me interested in the story. He took the dry, rambling narrative and gave it life and character. He made the parts that were repetitive of each other and gave them different tones and emphases. He brought the "feeling" out of a rather unfeeling style of writing.

Do you think High-Rise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. Not at all.