"Escapement" New Worlds Magazine Signed by J.G. Ballard first edition 1956
CARNELL, John, [Ed.]; BALLARD, J.G. [Signed].
New Worlds Science Fiction No. 54. December 1956
London: Nova Publications Limited, 1956
The first UK appearance of a science fiction story by J.G. Ballard
8vo., publisher’s stapled wrappers, featuring fantastic artwork on the front cover by Gerard A Quinn; and an advertisement to the lower; pp. [cover], ii, 2-128, i, [cover]; as issued; colour fragile covers with black and white pages throughout; containing an additional 8 illustrations throughout by Quinn, Hutchings and Brian Lewis; some light creasing marks; A couple of small tears to the right hand edge of the front panel, lightly rubbed and browned, in accordance with age; rusted around the staples. Overall a well preserved very good copy of this fragile production. It is in collectible condition.
This is a scarce copy and is hard to find anywhere, let alone in such collectible condition, and particularly so because J.G. Ballard has signed the inside cover without dedication in blue ink next to his introduction and profile.
J.G. Ballard started his professional writing career in 1956, and decided to write two science fiction short stories: one for a US magazine Science Fantasy called 'Primadonna' and this short story 'Escapement' for his friend and editor of the magazine New Worlds, John Carnell. Escapement is a straight forward time loop story and it would re-appear in a few Ballard short story collections in later years. This though was the first time the public would read science fiction from Ballard, with both stories being published in December 1956. The US story most likely was released first, but at the very least this story and magazine is the first appearance in print of J.G. Ballard in the UK.
John Carnell made sure that Ballard would get a great write up in this edition. There is a profile of a young fresh faced 25 year old Ballard on the inside cover, with a potted history of his life experience at that time. He also had an excelllent illustration commissioned for his story by Hutchings, capturing the torture of the main protagonist stuck in his time loop, watching endless TV. It would start a long association for Ballard with New Worlds and would kick start his professional career as a writer.