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Has anyone read The Wasp Factory by Iain M. Banks?
I started by reading Banks' scifi, the Culture novels. I fell in love with them, and since I've read every one of those books multiple times, I decided to make the jump into reading his mainstream fiction. I started with The Wasp Factory, and I'd be interested in what you think about that book, if you've read it. If not, go read it! It's good!
I read it a long time ago, so details are very scant in my memory. I do remember enjoying reading it though.
I think I've read all of Ian Banks writing, and definitely all of Ian M Banks' stuff, except The Hydrogen Sonata, which I've been putting off for a long time, seeing as I know I'll never get a "new" story from him. It's like saving the last slice of cake from a banquet.
I'm like that with The Shepherd's Crown by Terry Pratchett. I bought it on the day it came out but I can't face reading it because then there's no more unread Pratchett in my life and I'm not ready for that. I read The Hydrogen Sonata within a week of release so Banks was still around at that point, but if I were in your position it might still be unread.
I'd recommend Whit, Complicity and The Crow Road as well. Ah, fuck it, read them all. They're much harder edged than his sci-fi which is firmly utopianist but his non-genre stuff is no less good for that. I love M Banks, but his non-M stuff is great too.
If you had to pick just one from these three which would it be?
Just one? Probably Whit. It's been a long time since I read it, but it's a great book.
Awesome thanks, I'll read it next, been looking for good book to read.
Yeah, I have to say that Iain Banks, M or no M, is one of my very favorite writers. His sense of humor is so sharp that he seems capable of injecting it into even his darkest novels. When I found the Culture, I knew that I would be reading every one of his novels. I won't be in a hurry though; I want to digest these novels slowly. It is such a shame that he died when he did. Such an amazing writer, who knows what other lessons we could have learned about humanity through him. Who knows what other brilliant ideas he could have shared with us.
Completely agree. He was an incredible skilled writer and he always had interesting, thoughtful things to say using that skill, and that's a rare combination. Many writers are good at one or the other but Banks was the total package. Such a loss. I've met two famous authors in my life - Banks and Pratchett - and they were both charming, delightful, smart people who then died tragically young. I need to stop meeting authors.
If you haven't read Ann Leckie, I'd recommend her stuff. She's the closest to Banks in style that I've found, she shares his lightness of touch and obvious joy in using language, combined with a fairly epic scope in world-building, although the Radch are hardly the Culture but maybe they'll get there..
If you like Pratchett, do you also enjoy Robert Rankin's books?
Oddly, I don't really. I always feel a bit like Rankin is trying too hard. Haven't read any of his stuff for years though, maybe it's time to try again.
I've avoided that book because every description calls it disturbing. I'll just ask you straight out, does it involve the screaming and torture of small children? If it does I don't care to go there. Just the mention of that put me off of one of Brett Easton Ellis's books.
As far as I can remember there is one scene that could fit that, apart from the whole book in general being a little off. This scene is gruesome but no screaming or torture. I can elaborate if you need that to make a decision.
The whole book is filled with
kind ofno it's very much psychotic stuff the main character does. It's not that bad though, nothing really tense, more descriptions and generally messed up.I never watch horror movies and stay away from disturbing stuff, just doesn't interest me - that said I liked the book and though it was worth the read.
When I first read the scene I think you're talking about ('What Happened To Eric') I was eating. Eating rice. Non-ideal.
Sort of sticks with you, that bit.
Yep, that's the one. Definitely loose your apatite after that.
Yes, please. Even a short passage would be appreciated, just so I know what I'm getting into. As long as it's not spoiling a major plot point. I read some of the first pages and already gathered that the guy is off.
This is the one scene that stuck with me and in my opinion the worst. The main character is describing what happened that changed his brother for the worst. The scene is in a hospital and the brother is working as a nurse or doctor. He feeding a baby that is not really moving or responding, There is a metal plate covering a part of the skull. It gets super gorse, he describes a fly walking from behind the plate, the brother peels it away and there are maggots etc.
While it's disturbing and kind of shocking it served a purpose I don't think it was added to be gratuitous in a sick kind of way, Banks is pretty deliberate.
Thanks, that is pretty gross I might give the book a try.
The book does describe the murder of several children, but the murders are not extremely violent in nature like in a horror-gore movie. I was a bit hesitant at first as well, but the book is very readable.
Thanks. I suppose I can pick it up and just go as far as I can.
For sure. There are some funny moments in the book, and nods to upcoming science fiction novels, which, in context is pretty great, considering his massive success with the Culture novels. Keep an eye out for those moments.
Thanks
Yes I though it was pretty good, if a little fucked up.
Without spoiling too much of the book;
I think it's very much relevant to today when you consider the kind of debates happening throughout society about the roles of men and women and what separates them.