Bug Sprayed

[dotinthesky]

Iain Banks, The Wasp Factory, 1984
This novel apparently caused controversy when first published in 1984. Either reviewers couldn't handle its sadism and gore (because they clearly were not aware of a genre called "horror" until this book landed on their desks) or they thought Banks was a brand new Scottish voice that needed to be heard.

A teenage boy lives on a deserted island with his father, disconnected from the Scottish mainland and civil society. The boy, Frank, has an older brother locked away in a mad house, and a history of mysterious deaths in his family's past. As a narrator, he's a typical teenage boy, with obsessions of all kinds: weapons, violence, punk music and sex (or the lack of it). But can he be believed? None of the reviews I've read seem to have picked up on the general absurdities in Frank's narrative, to the point where it makes it hard to separate what is real and what is exageration, bravado. It's a shame, too, that the main plot twist in the end (and the book's original selling point) is so obvious for any modern reader used to western life. It doesn't help that Frank feels the need to explain the plot twist either, taking away the surprise's intended punch and deflating what could have been a neat slice of horror.

Comments

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I read it for the first time when I was 14 and it absolutely blew my mind. I can appreciate that it has probably lost its impact a little after years of hype and all the things that have come in its wake, but I'd still rank it high amongst my favourites of all time. A big inspiration to my own stuff too.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

It's definitely an enjoyable read, a page turner. I was expecting some hint in the end that Frank's crimes (which were far too over the top, in my opinion, to represent what had really happened to his victims) should be taken with a pinch of salt, and I wanted more subtlety in the plot twist. The way Frank explains the truth to himself (and us) read too much like authorial intrusion, Frank's voice gone, and jolted me out of the narrative.

I don't think I've ever seen it sold in bookshops' horror sections, which is strange!

[naturalbornkaos.livejournal.com]

I think maybe the fact you knew there was a twist might've ruined your enjoyment of it. I didn't know there was.

It's never filed under horror because people don't like to admit that genre fiction can have literary merit. :(

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

Have you read Whit? That was my favourite Iain Banks I think.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've only read this one, and the one set in a boat (which I didn't really like). Is his sci-fi any better?

Also... thank you very much for the tapes! They arrived Friday; your note is already glued to my journal, saved for posterity. ;-)

Am now working on a mix cd for you, so watch out for the postman.

[millionreasons.livejournal.com]

Haven't read any Iain M. I prefer the novels set in reality, i.e. I really liked The Crow Road but hated Walking on Glass.

Glad the tapes have gone to a good home!