"Compulsively absorbing: the white heat of its images seems to burn off the page, and the surreal landscapes linger on in the mind." —Independent

On the arid, war-plagued terrain of central Africa, a manic doctor is consumed with visions of transforming the Sahara into a land of abundance. But Dr. Mallory's obsession quickly spirals dangerously out of control. First published in 1987, this classic Ballard thriller continues to resonate "with dark implications for the future of humanity" (Publishers Weekly).