Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Washington, D.C. : Counterpoint, 1998.
Description
'Snort up "Cocaine Nights". It's disorientating, deranging and knocks the work of other avant-garde writers into a hatted cock' Will Self Five people die in an unexplained house fire in the Spanish resort of Estrella de Mar, an exclusive enclave for the rich, retired British, centred on the thriving Club Nautico. The club manager, Frank Prentice, pleads guilty to charges of murder - yet not even the police believe him. When his Charles arrives to unravel the truth, he gradually discovers that behind the resort's civilized fa#65533;ade flourishes a secret world of crime, drugs and illicit sex. At once an engrossing mystery and a novel of ideas, 'Cocaine Nights' is a stunningly original work, a vision of a society coming to terms with a life of almost unlimited leisure. This edition is part of a new commemorative series of Ballard's works, featuring introductions from a number of his admirers (including Neil Gaiman, Zadie Smith, John Lanchester and Martin Amis) and brand-new cover designs.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member schwarzz
It started out like an ultramodern noir and then slips into something else... It was hypnotic as it morphed into a cultural critique and the ending was not only unexpected but also well thought out, this was not a crappy twist, but instead an (il)logical conclusion.
LibraryThing member mrtall
This is a strange but oddly powerful novel, which from what I gather pretty much sums up J G Ballard's work.
Cocaine Nights is set up as a murder mystery, but that's just a front. It's essentially a 'concept' book that has strong affinities with science fiction. Ballard is interested in what makes a
His test tube is a community of British expats living in gated 'communities' in Spain. They all stay home and take tranquilizers until something -- someone -- gets them stirred up. But then a tragedy occurs: a rich couple and their hangers-on are burned to death in deliberately-set fire, and our first-person narrator arrives in town to investigate because his younger brother's been arrested for the crime.
The 'whodunit' aspect of the book will disappoint murder mystery aficionados, but it's a very good read for anyone who wants to think about how the world really works. It's not clear how Ballard himself would answer the big questions he raises, but it's very enjoyable going along for the ride.
A couple of stylistic issues. First, even though he employs a first-person narrator, Ballard's tone is detached and almost hallucinatory at many points. This does not make for a 'sympathetic' reading experience. I also found that the first half of the book lagged quite a bit, but the second half takes off smartly. Finally, Ballard's a bit more didactic than he needs to be in hammering away at his socio-cultural musings.
A good and interesting read, none the less. Recommended.
Cocaine Nights is set up as a murder mystery, but that's just a front. It's essentially a 'concept' book that has strong affinities with science fiction. Ballard is interested in what makes a
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group of people form something greater than themselves; let's call it a 'culture'. His test tube is a community of British expats living in gated 'communities' in Spain. They all stay home and take tranquilizers until something -- someone -- gets them stirred up. But then a tragedy occurs: a rich couple and their hangers-on are burned to death in deliberately-set fire, and our first-person narrator arrives in town to investigate because his younger brother's been arrested for the crime.
The 'whodunit' aspect of the book will disappoint murder mystery aficionados, but it's a very good read for anyone who wants to think about how the world really works. It's not clear how Ballard himself would answer the big questions he raises, but it's very enjoyable going along for the ride.
A couple of stylistic issues. First, even though he employs a first-person narrator, Ballard's tone is detached and almost hallucinatory at many points. This does not make for a 'sympathetic' reading experience. I also found that the first half of the book lagged quite a bit, but the second half takes off smartly. Finally, Ballard's a bit more didactic than he needs to be in hammering away at his socio-cultural musings.
A good and interesting read, none the less. Recommended.
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LibraryThing member PrincessPaulina
* NO Spoilers were used in the writing of this review! *
An unconvincing but engrossing suspense story told in sharp, fast-paced writing.
Ballard's economical and precise language offers a creepy contrast to an outlandish plot: five people are murdered and crime is rampant at a resort community off
"The loose corners of too many carpets had begun to curl under my feet. The more I nailed down, the less likely was I to trip as I moved from one darkened room to the next," muses the main character as he investigates the murders, a reflection that describes this entire book.
Although the central premise is improbable, it still offers some interesting insights on the connections between society, leisure and crime. My advice is to read this as a parable, and not take the events too literally.
Those sensitive to graphic descriptions of sexuality or depravity: beware!
An unconvincing but engrossing suspense story told in sharp, fast-paced writing.
Ballard's economical and precise language offers a creepy contrast to an outlandish plot: five people are murdered and crime is rampant at a resort community off
Show More
the Spanish coast, yet the close-knit residents aren't talking and local police seem satisfied with charging an innocent man."The loose corners of too many carpets had begun to curl under my feet. The more I nailed down, the less likely was I to trip as I moved from one darkened room to the next," muses the main character as he investigates the murders, a reflection that describes this entire book.
Although the central premise is improbable, it still offers some interesting insights on the connections between society, leisure and crime. My advice is to read this as a parable, and not take the events too literally.
Those sensitive to graphic descriptions of sexuality or depravity: beware!
Show Less
LibraryThing member isabelx
He seized me from behind. There was a strange smell on his hands, perhaps some sort of special oil that professional stranglers use.
When travel-writer Charles Prentice is summoned to Spain after his brother Frank is arrested, he assumes that he has been fitted up by the Spanish police, but on
Charles Prentice is not so much an unreliable narrator, as an unobservant, easily led and obtuse narrator. He veers from wildly over-imaginative (see above) to willfully blind:
'I've watched him at work, Paula. He genuinely wants to help everyone. He's stumbled on this strange way of getting people to make the most of themselves. It's touching to see such simple faith. He's really some kind of saint.'
'He's a psychotic.'
'Not fair. He gets carried away sometimes, but there's no viciousness in the man.'
'Pure psycho.' She turned her back on the mirror and stared critically at me. 'You can't see it.'.
I first read this book when it came out in paperback and I think I preferred it then, when the dark underbelly of Estrella de Mar came as a surprise, as it was the first of J.G. Ballard's books on that theme that I had read.
When travel-writer Charles Prentice is summoned to Spain after his brother Frank is arrested, he assumes that he has been fitted up by the Spanish police, but on
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arrival he is stunned to discover to find that Frank has been charged with murdering five people, and has pleaded guilty. Frank is the manager of a sports club in Estrella de Mar, a community of northern European ex-pats near Marbella and Charles decides to stay there and try to find out what really happened, since no-one, not even the Spanish police, seems to believe he is guilty. Charles Prentice is not so much an unreliable narrator, as an unobservant, easily led and obtuse narrator. He veers from wildly over-imaginative (see above) to willfully blind:
'I've watched him at work, Paula. He genuinely wants to help everyone. He's stumbled on this strange way of getting people to make the most of themselves. It's touching to see such simple faith. He's really some kind of saint.'
'He's a psychotic.'
'Not fair. He gets carried away sometimes, but there's no viciousness in the man.'
'Pure psycho.' She turned her back on the mirror and stared critically at me. 'You can't see it.'.
I first read this book when it came out in paperback and I think I preferred it then, when the dark underbelly of Estrella de Mar came as a surprise, as it was the first of J.G. Ballard's books on that theme that I had read.
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LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
Charlie Prentice flies in to Gibraltar en route to the Spanish resort of Estrella de Mar where, catering to the various demands of a large ex-pat British community, his brother Frank has until recently been running a lively country club. However, Charlie learns that Frank is now in prison accused
Priding itself on being very different from some of the down-market Costa Brava or Costa del Sol resorts, Estrella de Mar is actually rather a sinister place for all its self-consciously arty pretensions. most strikingly, there doesn't seem to be even one person for whom the reader might feel any empathy.
Ballard takes us under the veneer of respectability covering the ex-pat community and we encounter drug dealings, infidelity and pornography, as well as dubious psychiatrists and ruthless property developers.
The novel is not without its faults - it is occasionally disjointed, and it does sometimes stretch the reader's credibility. However, Ballard maintains the tension excellently - throughout the novel the reader has no idea where the resolution might lie.
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of having started a fire in which five people were killed. Worse, while Charlie is anxious to protest his brother's innocence he is appalled to hear that his brother has confessed to the crime, even though most of the evidence against his is largely circumstantial. Charlie starts to look around the resort in a bid to try to understand how Frank might have come to be in this position.Priding itself on being very different from some of the down-market Costa Brava or Costa del Sol resorts, Estrella de Mar is actually rather a sinister place for all its self-consciously arty pretensions. most strikingly, there doesn't seem to be even one person for whom the reader might feel any empathy.
Ballard takes us under the veneer of respectability covering the ex-pat community and we encounter drug dealings, infidelity and pornography, as well as dubious psychiatrists and ruthless property developers.
The novel is not without its faults - it is occasionally disjointed, and it does sometimes stretch the reader's credibility. However, Ballard maintains the tension excellently - throughout the novel the reader has no idea where the resolution might lie.
Show Less
LibraryThing member john257hopper
Quite a tense thriller, though I thought it was obvious from early on that the solution to the whodunnit element was some kind of collective guilt. The underlying psychology behind Crawford's actions was I thought a bit implausible, especially the rapid change in the community in chapter 22, and I
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just don't think most people would react this way. This is a pacier read than some of his others that I have tried, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member J.v.d.A.
I finally got around to buying a book by Ballard and reading it. I hope I bought the wrong one and this silly book isn't a measure of the rest he has written. Wildly drawn and completely absurd premise written in a completely pedestrian manner. Reading this book was a waste of my time.
LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
"the arts and criminality have always flourished side by side."
'Cocaine Nights' is set in the fictional private resort town of Estrella de Mar on the Costa del Sol. Five people have been killed in an arson attack and the local sports club manager Frank Prentice immediately pleads guilty to it. His
Globetrotting Charles has never visited the Costa del Sol before and the first thing he notices when he arrives there is the feeling of paralyzing stillness amongst its
ex-pat residents, their sun-soaked boredom has become their most prized possession. However, Estrella de Mar is anything but boring. The residents are active and joyous all seemingly inspired by random surges of violence orchestrated by their own charismatic resident tennis pro, Bobby Crawford.
In truth there isn't really any sense of mystery about this book, its pretty obvious from early on who the villain is, and even the ending is relatively predictable. Charles is a likeable character but what makes this novel interesting is Ballard's portrayal of the sense of boredom and impunity felt amongst the rich and privileged. Who seemingly have no ambitions in life left and would spend their remaining days in self-contained, hermetically sealed housing developments in a cloud of vodka or Valium if it wasn't for random moments of criminal instability.
“We're building prisons all over the world and calling them luxury condos.”
In a world where more and more people seem to desire early retirement but find that they have nothing to fill their days except satellite television despite their initial plans for an more adventurous life makes this an interesting idea. However, the limited action throughout meant that I felt that the Ballard hadn't really followed through with it as much as he might have done. Ultimately I felt that this novel was just too similar to another novel of Ballard, 'Super-Cannes', with many of the same ideas, to make it really stand out.
'Cocaine Nights' is set in the fictional private resort town of Estrella de Mar on the Costa del Sol. Five people have been killed in an arson attack and the local sports club manager Frank Prentice immediately pleads guilty to it. His
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brother, travel writer Charles Prentice, travels to Estrella de Mar, hoping clear Frank. Instead Charles finds himself inveigled in a strange world of unexplained criminality. Globetrotting Charles has never visited the Costa del Sol before and the first thing he notices when he arrives there is the feeling of paralyzing stillness amongst its
ex-pat residents, their sun-soaked boredom has become their most prized possession. However, Estrella de Mar is anything but boring. The residents are active and joyous all seemingly inspired by random surges of violence orchestrated by their own charismatic resident tennis pro, Bobby Crawford.
In truth there isn't really any sense of mystery about this book, its pretty obvious from early on who the villain is, and even the ending is relatively predictable. Charles is a likeable character but what makes this novel interesting is Ballard's portrayal of the sense of boredom and impunity felt amongst the rich and privileged. Who seemingly have no ambitions in life left and would spend their remaining days in self-contained, hermetically sealed housing developments in a cloud of vodka or Valium if it wasn't for random moments of criminal instability.
“We're building prisons all over the world and calling them luxury condos.”
In a world where more and more people seem to desire early retirement but find that they have nothing to fill their days except satellite television despite their initial plans for an more adventurous life makes this an interesting idea. However, the limited action throughout meant that I felt that the Ballard hadn't really followed through with it as much as he might have done. Ultimately I felt that this novel was just too similar to another novel of Ballard, 'Super-Cannes', with many of the same ideas, to make it really stand out.
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LibraryThing member JBarringer
This book is almost an earlier version of Super-Cannes, set in a very similar resort community, in which a psychotic psychologist/psychiatrist character believes that the people in his community require crime to avoid becoming complacent and faded. This idea, a sort of redemptive side of violence
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and taboo, which to be fair does indeed turn up in cultures all over the world, tends to by misogynist and ableist, glorifying in racism and exultant 'othering' of anyone at all different in order to have enough appropriate victims to satisfy the elites' need for a criminal fix. In this novel it is particularly unconvincing, and the story relies on the idea that the psycho promoting crime is very charismatic. Whether the plus-side of crime has any merit or not, this book does bring up good questions about the nature of complacency in the modern world. But, I think Super-Cannes did a better job overall. Show Less
Awards
Costa Book Awards (Shortlist — Novel — 1996)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1996
Physical description
328 p.; 23 cm
ISBN
188717866X / 9781887178662