See https://archive.is/kC55l

Ballards take on "earth abides" by George R. Stewart from 1949. I had no idea he'd written this. It also has elements of John Wyndham (1951)

But more brief, more peaceful and more Borges-like open ended.

What was his lifes work?

Ballards real Biography "Miracles of Life" is amazing. It explains aspects of a lot of his writing from before "empire of the sun" as peak british new-wave SF and unifies what he wrote semi-autobiographically in "empire", with reality. (assuming he is a reliable narrator)