gregs 3071

I first read this book so long ago that the only thing I could remember about it was how much I loved it. I've read several other books in The Culture series since, and because of, this one. And others by the same author. I am a fan. The second reading was every bit as good as the first. The story sets a cracking pace - full of tension and imminent threat. Banks describes an array of exotic and fascinating beings, places, technologies and events. Sometimes I paused the reading to just picture in my mind the scenes described. This is a great book, and a fine introduction to the series.

The Wasp Factory is a great read, if you are not too sensitive. The style is engaging, and the narrative flows beautifully. Banks trademark dark humour balances his impulse to the grotesque. His inventiveness shines through. And, of course, it ends with a twist.

Wow. What a marvelous book. I had read some of Banks works before, with and without the middle initial (sci-fi and not). I struggled initially, the first 100 pages or so did not really grab me. Familiarity with the author, the quality of the writing, and the praise that others had bestowed on the book encouraged me to plough on. At some point in the second hundred pages I became hooked, maybe page 105, maybe page 117. I had taken the bait, but the author didn't reel me in. He played out the line for another hundred pages, and then a hundred more. At the halfway point in the novel, I still wasn't really sure what it was about - it had just been expanding and expanding and expanding. But I couldn't stop at that point, I had to keep reading. Eventually he stopped playing out the line and started gently reeling me in. Oh, there it was, I had finally uncovered the plot. Over the final 200 pages he slowly turned the handle and drew me towards the conclusion, helpless, by this time, to resist. There came a point, when I read a line, so beautiful, so perfect, that I closed the book and swore audibly at the author. I could barely believe that he had arranged all of those pieces, in all of those pages, all of those vectors, to lead to that point. It was masterful. I can't remember if the basic plot had been resolved before or after that point. It didn't matter. Over the remaining few pages Banks crossed "t"s, and dotted "i"s, resolving threads major and minor. I was left in awe and envy. He had me - hook, line, and sinker.