David's World

March 28, 2005

Iain Banks: The Wasp Factory

Sand, the sea, wind and Scottish rain. Bombs, a rogue monster rabbit, children being murdered - that's what Frank Couldhame's life is about, as he grows up on an island off Scotland's coast. A rare thing to see in a novel, Iain Banks' classic The Wasp Factory portrays a psycho kid in an intriguing way. I met Frank's intolerable cruelty to people and animals with some bisbelief, and it isn't until the final few moments that I understood what train Frank is riding on. The 16-year old turns his island into warground. He patrols the dunes, plays a little God with his Factory and a little combat soldier with the rabbits on the island. With three murders to his name, Frank is serious about his missions, the first one he committed at the age of five (noone knows). It's not surprising that the Wasp Factory he has built in a shed does not produce insects, but implements the mechanized and ritual killing of them.

Frank prepares to defend the island with his homemade bombs, tripwires, even a slingshot, waiting for a big bang that is yet to come. Frank and his dad are expecting Frank's brother, who sure fits in well with the family: just broken out of a closed institution, he's heading home now. I'll say so much: Frank will win his war game. He won't make his confession, and he'll finally find out about the dirty little secret of his life.

PS: thanks to the Woolamaloo Gazette, written by a Edinburgh-based book expert, whose somewhat random entry about a dinner with Banks prompted me to check out this author. Chaos theory at work, I guess.

Dear David
As a fan of Iain Banks, I thought you might be interested to know that the BBC World Service is recording a radio programme on Thurs 1st March with Iain talking about The Wasp Factory to a studio audience. We would welcome questions from Iain's fans to put to him about this book. Please email back if you have a question for him to: worldbookclub@bbc.co.uk
Let us know your full name and where you are from so we can credit you in the programme. And do pass this request on to other Iain Banks fans.
Many thanks
Ursula Smyth
Researcher
BBC World Service Arts
Room 110
Centre Block
Bush House
London
WC2B 4PH
Tel: 00 (44) 207 557 1619