Aging fans of 80s and 90s alt.culture may get a little jolt from the surprisingly hip—if slightly dated—trifecta hit by Books of the Times today.

Former NY Press editor John Strausbaugh reviews the latest from RE/Search books: J.G. Ballard: Quotes. Somewhere a former Burroughs-reading, body-modifying prankster is seeing the last piece of his dissent commodified. Freak flags will be hung at half-mast outside Tower Records across the country.