The Wasp Factory

Iain Banks
Published 16th February1984

I absolutely hate books like this.  It's not trash eg. Jodi Picoult, it's mock-modern classic.

Here is a man who is clearly incapable of writing anything with any meaning or depth.  If you don't believe me, look at the final page and the number at the bottom in the centre.  Banks attempts to create an exploration of warped psychology.  Instead of using more subtle (and often more effective) techniques, 'The Wasp Factory' has absolutely no structure or change of tone and just rubs vile visual illustrations into the reader's face.  Yes it will disgust you, but it won't disturb you because it is as shallow as a puddle of piss.  The only disturbing aspect of this "novel" is that it has been published and that Iain Banks was named in The Times' list of the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.  Such a rubbish twist as well. Too far.

1/5