‘Matter’ reviewed by Mutable Matter blog
March 31, 2008Mutable Matter is "an interactive project about our relationship with matter – the stuff that surrounds us, that we are made of and that increasingly comes up in public debates around new technologies."
In a recent entry, the blogger, Angela, who is writing Mutable Matter as part of the research for her Open University Phd course, muses on the nature of matter in Matter, concluding:
"...in a way, Matter really is the parody of heroic fantasy/science fiction it appears to be at the beginning (only much darker and despite bouts of heroism from some of the characters) where the futility of war (especially upholding ‘noble aims’ in war), excessive monitoring and destruction with increasing levels of technologies, and the disturbingly purpose-giving, intoxicating effects of war are painfully rendered. Yet what happens in the novel is only painful, because the scenarios and wording ("appropriate level of interference") trigger parallels with past, but especially current, events: computerised warfare, monitoring of wars in 'less developed' countries (Rwanda is just one example), war-promoting regents with 'noble' intentions (e.g. George W. Bush) are just some examples.
It definitely makes for an interesting take on the book. Go, read, leave a comment if you feel so inclined. I'm sure Angela would appreciate the feedback.
Iain Banks interviewed for The Edinburgh Evening News
March 25, 2008Iain talks to Edinburgh Evening News interviewer Sandra Dick about his writing habits, his political views and his hankering for the Tesla Roadster...
‘Matter’ reviewed by RJ Barker for SFCrowsNest.com
March 23, 2008In a lengthy and detailed review for www.computercrowsnest.com, RJ Barker says:
"Dipping back into 'The Culture' felt like a joyous return to a long missed and familiar place. Banks has such a clever way with words that he makes it seem effortless and you don't realise how cleverly he constructs brilliantly clear images."
Iain Banks to appear as GoH at 2008 Oslo Science Fiction Festival
March 22, 2008Iain will be making an appearance as Guest of Honour at this year's Oslo Science Fiction Festival, which takes place from Thursday July 31st to Sunday August 3rd at Helga Eng's House, Blindern, University of Oslo.
More information on the Festival at www.oslosf.no.
[Thanks to DaveH of 'The Banksoniain' for the heads-up]
Cumbernauld Theatre Company touring ‘The Wasp Factory’, April - June 2008
March 21, 2008Doug Martin of Glasgow's Tron Theatre has been in touch with the details of a forthcoming tour of the Cumbernauld Theatre company's production of The Wasp Factory.
Here's the press release:
The Tron Theatre is thrilled to announce that Cumbernauld Theatre will premiere their new production of Iain Banks' celebrated cult novel, The Wasp Factory, at the Tron, from 17th – 26th April, before embarking upon a Scottish tour.
The Wasp Factory, the controversial debut novel which launched Iain Banks to literary acclaim, is told from the perspective of the sixteen year old protagonist Frank. A perfectly ordinary sixteen year old serial killer, whose mother has deserted him, whose father measures his own eccentricities on an imperial scale and whose brother, confined to a secure hospital for setting fire to dogs, has recently escaped.
A tale of childhood and growth towards maturity within the insular confines of a small island and a warped family, the novel caused storm and controversy as many readers found Frank's view of the world more than a little disturbing.
Brought to the stage for the first time in 1992 at Glasgow's Citizens' Theatre, Cumbernauld Theatre Director Ed Robson remounts Sutherland's adaptation with a cast that features Nicola Jo Cully as Frank, Robbie Jack as Frank's psychotic brother Eric and Ian Sexon as his emotionally detached and highly eccentric father.
Plus, join Director Ed Robson and the cast of The Wasp Factory after the performance on Wednesday 23rd April, as part of the Tron Theatre's on-going 'RE: PLAY' post-show discussions series, in association with The Herald.
And here are the tour dates:
Tron Theatre, Glasgow
Previews: Thu 17 – Sat 19 April
Tue 22 – Sat 26 April, 8.00 p.m.
Tickets: Previews: £7
Tue – Thu £10 (£6), Fri + Sat £14 (£10)
Box Office: 0141 552 4267
www.tron.co.uk
Audio Described and BSL interpreted performance Thu 24 April.
Full Scottish Tour:
- Tue 29 + Wed 30 April - Macrobert, Stirling
- Sat 3 May - An Lanntair, Stornoway
- Thu 8 May - Brewery Arts, Kendal
- Thu 15 May - Regal, Bathgate
- Fri 16 May - Ryan Centre, Stranraer
- Sat 17 May - Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock
- Mon 19 – Wed 21 April - Cumbernauld Theatre
- Thu 22 – Sat 24 May - Dundee Rep
- Tue 27 May - Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy
- Wed 28 + Thu 29 May - Eden Court, Inverness
- Fri 30 + Sat 31 May - Byre Theatre, St Andrews
- Tue 3 June - Falkirk Town Hall
- Wed 4 - Sat 7 June - Traverse, Edinburgh
- Thu 12 – Sat 14 June - Lemon Tree, Aberdeen
Please contact the individual venues listed above for ticketing information, and see the Wasp Factory Tour website for updates.
Iain Banks and Ken MacLeod AyeWrite! appearance - video available
March 20, 2008If you didn't manage to get to Glasgow for the AyeWrite! Book Festival earlier this month and therefore missed the on-stage appearance of Iain Banks and Ken MacLeod, then do not despair, you now have a chance to catch up...
A video excerpt of the reading and discussion session has now been posted over at the AyeWrite website. And you can download a full MP3 recording of the event if you prefer to listen at a later date, which has also been posted as a Podcast to iTunes.
[Thanks to DaveH of 'The Banksoniain' for the heads-up]
Iain (M) Banks confirmed as Guest of Honour for Satellite 2, July 25th-26th 2009
March 19, 2008Iain Banks will be the Guest of Honour at Satellite 2, a convention being be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Glasgow over the weekend of July 25th and 26th, 2009.
Early days yet, so more details will be forthcoming at a later date, but memberships are already available from www.satellite2.org.uk.
[Thanks to DaveH of 'The Banksoniain' for the heads-up]
‘Matter’ review posted on Slashdot
March 19, 2008Reviewer Simon DeDeo has posted a review of Matter up on Slashdot. Simon makes a very intriguing point about the underlying 'Britishness' of The Culture:
"Banks' prose is free-flowing and liberally dosed with a kind of cynical, post-colonial British humanism; as the Culture meddles and blunders Banks' narrators look on with a sad half-smile. The British charm appears also in his characterization of the artificially intelligent machines, who often play Jeeves to more fallible, biological, Bertie Woosters."
Read the full review over at books.slashdot.org. And check out the (long and mighty) comments threads that ensue for a wide-ranging discussion on Matter, The Culture, the best Culture books to read, other space opera authors to try, all sorts of good stuff...
[Thanks to Gary W for the heads-up]
Iain Banks to appear at Latitude Festival 2008
March 19, 2008Iain has been confirmed as one of the leading lights of the line-up for the Literary Arena at this year's Latitude Festival, which takes place at Henham Park, Southwold in Suffolk from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th July.
Iain will be appearing on the same bill as fellow literary heavyweights Hanif Kureishi, A L Kennedy and Irvine Welsh. Check out the Latitude 2008 website for the full line-up of bands, writers, comedians and poets.
[Thanks to DaveH of 'The Banksoniain' for the heads-up]
SFX Book Club: Tom Holt on ‘The Player of Games’
March 14, 2008SFX has posted an archive of Book Club articles from the print edition of the magazine, which includes author Tom Holt's notes on The Player of Games.
Mr Holt sums up the book: "By Banks's standards it’s a conventional book (because what’s a game except a set of
conventions?) but within its self-imposed limits it's perfect, a flawless exhibition by a master at the top of his game."
[Thanks to Gary W for the heads-up]
Iain Banks interviewed for The Independent
March 12, 2008Cole Moreton interviewed Iain for British daily The Independent back at the beginning of the month. The interviewer was very interested in Iain's politics and the fact that he's now renewed his UK passport, which he famously cut up and sent to Number 10, Downing Street in protest at the UK's involvement in the Iraq War.
Style-watchers will note that Iain is also very pleased indeed with his new leather jacket...
Out Now: Iain Banks’ ‘The Wasp Factory’, Audio CD, read by Peter Kenny
March 6, 2008A brand new audio adaptation of Iain Banks' career-launching debut novel, The Wasp Factory, is available now on CD Audiobook from Hachette Audio.
The narrator is Peter Kenny, an actor and singer who has worked widely in theatre and broadcasting, appearing with, amongst others, the Royal Shakespeare Company, A&BC, Coventry Belgrade, and the BBC Radio Repertory Company.
Click on the cover for more info on The Wasp Factory:
Iain Banks interviewed and ‘Matter’ reviewed for Time Magazine Online
March 4, 2008Lev Grossman has posted a review of Matter over at www.Time.com as well as an interview with Iain, which you can find over at his and Matt Selman's Time.com hosted Nerd World blog.
In the interview, Iain reveals the secret of his amazing ability to transcribe fluent technobabble almost as if he were making it all up:
"I suspect it's just the right balance of wide-eyed, totally fascinated enthusiasm for 'real' tech speak along with a healthy dose of cynicism regarding how easy it is to make up such stuff without really having any idea what in the hell you're talking about. I am happy to report I have both, in spades."
Read the full interview at time-blog.com/nerd_world and thanks again to Alex for the heads-up.
