The news has just broken that JG Ballard, one of the most influential sci-fi (and otherwise) authors, died this morning after a long battle with illness. He was most widely known for his books Crash and Empire of the Sun, but his short stories are powerful and elegant.

I'm saddened immensly by the news. Almost all the artists I know were influenced heavily by his masterful, powerful, heavily cerebral works. BBC says:

"Despite being referred to as a science fiction writer, Ballard said his books were instead "picturing the psychology of the future".'

Link to the only news out so far.