Advantages: Dark, thought provoking page turner - exceedingly well written Disadvantages: Dark. Very dark. Disturbing. Scenes of animal and child cruelty
Seventeen year old Frank is a killer. He kills birds, mice and other small animals. Fortunately, he doesn't kill people any more - it was just a passing phase, when he killed Blythe, Paul and Esmeralda (not all at once, mind you). Frank's brother Eric is also deeply unhinged, with a penchant for burning dogs, and his father isn't entirely playing with a full deck either.
The WaspFactory is a strange book. The plot, such as it is, follows Frank on his isolated Scottish Island as he prepares for the imminent arrival of his half-brother Eric, who has escaped from a secure mental institution. However, that's not really the main point of this rather short novel (I read it in around a day). The book is narrated by Frank, who is a deeply unreliable narrator. Indeed, every 'fact' we learn should be treated with suspicion, since everyone has ...
Advantages: Great gothic horror Disadvantages: Bit short
It was released in 1984 - author - IainBanks
It is in first person perspective, it is a narrative told by seventeen-year-old Frank Cauldhame, describing his childhood and all that remains of it. Frank observes many religious rituals of his own invention. As the novel develops, his brother's escape from a mental hospital and impending return lead on to a violent ending and a twist that undermines all that Frank believed about himself.
The eponymous WaspFactory is a clock face salvaged from the local dump. Behind each numeral is a trap, which leads to a different ritual death (for example burning, crushing, or drowning in Frank's own urine) for the wasp that Frank puts into the hole at the centre. He uses the death "chosen" by the wasp to divine the future.
There are also the Sacrifice Poles, upon which hang the bodies and heads ...
Advantages: Very clever, lots of suspense, very vivid imagery from text Disadvantages: very thought provoking at times
WaspFactory
Weird but wonderful, and a lot of the time disturbing! Banks really exploits the power of words to create such vivid imagery of sadistic gothic horror. There is a very clever twist to the ending but all the way through it is seemingly full of clues and deceptions. If you're pretty sensitive to the torture of living things and damaged innocence, then, maybe you better not buy or attempt to read this book. From a literary perspective Banks is damn good, especially since this is his first novel. That is probably why it's one of the set books for 'A' level students. Aside from that, the story is told through the eyes of a young Scottish lad, his memories, his experiences and his seemingly innocent and evil deeds.
A lot of the times you'll be reading this and thinking, Why?? And most importantly How?? You'd probably think ...
Whit is no ordinary teenager. An innocent in the ways of the world, an ingenue when it comes to pop and fashion, she does however rejoice in the exalted status of Elect of God of the Luskentyrian Sect. A month before their four-yearly Festival of Love, the Luskentyrians are thrown into crisis when their Guest of Honour renouces her faith and refuses to attend. Isis' standing in the community, coupled with the fact that the apostate is her cousin Morag, swiftly marks her out as the person to venture out among the Unsaved and bring the fallen one back into the fold.
Compare The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks to other similar Audio Books »
Similar products and search queries by other users »
The Banks, The Wasp Banks, The Factory Banks, The Iain Banks, The Wasp Factory Banks, The Wasp Iain Banks, The Factory Iain Banks, The Wasp Factory Iain Banks
Are you the manufacturer / provider of The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks? Click here
