Ballister has been a technical writer for most of his professional life. His short stories developed strong personal relationships. His science fiction, blends his love of fiction, and science with strong character development. He has followed the writing careers of Clark, Heinlein, Bradbury, and Niven and has also enjoyed the rise of reletive newcomers, Card and Bear. He believes that good science fiction should require only a few assumptions before the reader is asked to step off into another reality.