In this erotic, funny, imaginative collection Maxim Jakubowski treats us to nine nostalgic romps through the fringes of a Ballardian universe populated with noir-inspired protagonists and a bevy of belle dames sans merci. Start with "Olympia Express," a hilarious (and sexy) recount of Maxim's adventures smuggling contraband Olympia Press novels from Paris to London for Mike Moorcock to give to JG Ballard. Or "The Ballardians," a doomed cruise of fans who relish social atrocities. "'The Hardoon Labyrinth' By J.G. Ballard" is a fascinating yarn based on a 1950s JGB short story long suppressed from publication, and the whole collection weaves together Maxim's love of Ballardian tropes, noir crime fiction, and his unquestioned ability to spice plots up with straightforward erotica. Complete with illustrations. Maxim Jakubowski met JG Ballard in the 1960s and they remained friends until Jim's passing, travelling together to events in France and Italy on various occasions. A British author and publisher active in crime, fantasy & SF, and erotica, Maxim won a handful of awards across these genres for his writing and editing. A winner of the Anthony award for non fiction, and the author of 23 novels, he lives in London where he is, amongst other things, past Chair of the Crime Writers' Association and chairs its Dagger awards. He has been the crime reviewer for The Guardian for 12 years, and prior to that at Time Out London, and Joint Director of Crime Scene, London's International Crime & Mystery Film and Literary Festival. His recent novels are Just a Girl with a Gun (2023), The Exopotomia Manuscript (2024) and Manhattan Death Ballad (2025). He published a new collection of his stories in 2022, Death Has a Thousand Faces. Together with editor/publisher Rick McGrath he has co-edited Reports from the Deep End, an anthology of all new stories inspired by JGB (2023).
