Simon Sellars is a writer and editor based in Melbourne, Australia.
In 2018, his ‘theory-fiction’ novel, Applied Ballardianism: Memoir from a Parallel Universe, was published by Urbanomic. The Guardian called it ‘a brilliantly written genre mashup, a wonderfully original mix of cultural theory, literary exegesis, travelogue and psychopathological memoir’. Applied Ballardianism was translated into Italian as Ballardismo Applicato.
Simon also writes for websites, magazines, newspapers and journals. Recurring themes include digital culture, architecture, travel, urbanism, film, animation, music, sound design and literature.
In a past life, he worked as an academic, specialising in literary representations of dystopia, particularly the work of J.G. Ballard. In 2005, he founded the website, Ballardian, which tracks the influence of Ballard on popular culture. In 2009, he graduated with a PhD that formalised the website’s focus. In 2012, he conceived and co-edited Extreme Metaphors: Interviews with J.G. Ballard (Fourth Estate). It was named a Guardian Book of the Year.
Simon once worked as a travel writer. His main beats were the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and the North Pacific, and he co-wrote a cult book on micronations.
He is also a former editor of Architectural Review Asia Pacific, a well-respected Australian architecture magazine. Originally known as Architectural Review Australia, Simon rebranded the magazine, ushering in a wide-screen focus on architecture in the Asia Pacific region.
Simon is the founder of Liquid Architecture, an internationally renowned Australian festival of sound art.