Author J.G. Ballard Dies At 78 By Hortense Smith | April 19, 2009 | 7:15pm Copy to clipboard × Copy Link Facebook Reddit Bluesky 0 J.G. Ballard, perhaps best known for writing the novelsEmpire of the Sun and Crash (as well as several short story collections) has died at the age of 78 after a long battle with illness. [BBCNews] Join the discussion... Keep scrolling for more great stories.