The story of a DJ at British (London) radio who fell in love with the wife of a criminal boss and how he (almost) got out of this situation. It left only positive impressions. There are many philosophical thoughts about the modern world. A lot of references to musical groups.

This captivating tale unfolds in the vibrant city of London. The DJ, whose name remains unknown, found himself in a rather precarious situation when he developed feelings for the wife of a powerful criminal boss. The allure of her beauty and charm was simply irresistible to him. However, he soon realized the danger he was in.

As the story progresses, we see the DJ trying to navigate his way out of this mess. He has to use all his wits and cunning to avoid the wrath of the criminal boss. Along the way, he has many philosophical musings about the modern world and how love and desire can lead us astray.

The author also includes numerous references to musical groups, adding a unique and interesting dimension to the story. It gives the reader a sense of the cultural backdrop against which this drama is playing out. Overall, it is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a lot to think about.

DNF

I'm truly exhausted by books where the entire plot revolves around the protagonist engaging in an affair. Seriously, can we please stop normalizing this kind of thing once and for all? It's just not something that should be glorified or made to seem acceptable. And let's talk about this character named Ken. With that attitude of his, I'm amazed that he can manage to attract not just one, but two girls. This is supposed to be science fiction, perhaps even utopian. But in my opinion, it falls short. What happened to loyalty, which is basically just basic human decency? I really hope that in 2024 and beyond, we can see more stories that promote and value loyalty instead of these tired old tropes of infidelity. It's time for a change in the literary landscape.

Thought was going to be about 9/11 and was pleasantly surprised this wasn't the case.

It was very funny indeed.

The story took an unexpected turn, and instead of dealing with the solemn and tragic events of 9/11, it delved into a world of humor and entertainment.

Chapter 11, in particular, was genuinely gripping.

The author managed to create a sense of anticipation and excitement that kept the reader engaged from start to finish.

The characters were well-developed, and the plot was full of twists and turns that kept you guessing.

Overall, it was a great read that exceeded my expectations and left me looking forward to the next chapter.

Alan, the neighbour, let it to me.

It was a really nice gesture from him. I was quite pleased when he did that.

The item or thing that he let me have seemed to be of good quality.

I was impressed by his kindness and willingness to share.

It made me feel a sense of community and neighbourliness.

I thought about how wonderful it is to have such a neighbour who is so helpful.

I decided to show my appreciation to him in some way.

Maybe I could bake him a cake or offer to help him with something in return.

Overall, I was very grateful to Alan for letting it to me and it made my day a little bit brighter.

I hope that our neighbourly relationship will continue to grow and strengthen.

I couldn't finish it.

It's not that the writing was bad. In fact, I just had no desire to carry on reading.

I was completely disinterested in the lead character, and I couldn't establish any particular plot or driving narrative.

It was mostly just a bunch of shock jock rants.

The excitement that I usually feel at the prospect of picking up my book to read the next installment was completely absent for this book.

I'm quite surprised because I have enjoyed a good few Iain Banks books in the past.

I used to force myself to read on and finish books, but I've decided that life is too short to plug away at a book I'm not enjoying when there are so many other great books out there waiting for me to discover.

There are countless other stories and characters that could potentially capture my imagination and keep me engaged from start to finish.

So, I've made the decision to move on and explore other literary treasures.

Maybe I'll come across another Iain Banks book in the future that will reignite my love for his writing, but for now, I'm content to leave this one unfinished.

Confoundingly difficult to peg down genre-wise, this book presents a unique challenge. The 9/11 angle mentioned in the blurb is oddly tangential. It is significant generally to the mood of London and its populace, but really immaterial to the plot. However, despite this, fabulous episodes of nail-bitingness arise out of what is otherwise a slice-of-life book. The story is centred around a man about whom one takes delight in hating but hates to admire. It's a complex character study that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

This is my first Iain Banks book, and I'm certain it won't be my last. His writing style is engaging, and the way he weaves the story together is truly masterful. I can't wait to explore more of his works and see what other literary treasures he has in store.

Love Ian Banks.

However, I didn't love Dead Air.

There were the odd chuckle and some keen insights in amongst a large amount of guff.

It was a form of satire, to some extent (ish).

It was also quite ridiculous, very much so.

But when it comes to whether it was worth reading, the answer is perhaps not, again to some extent (ish).

The story had its moments, but overall, it didn't quite live up to my expectations of an Ian Banks novel.

Maybe it was the subject matter or the way it was presented, but something just didn't click for me.

Despite this, I still have a great deal of respect for Ian Banks as an author and will continue to read his other works in the hope of finding that magic again.

This is a really fun, thriller comedy that is filled with a plethora of classic and top-notch, Banks-esque rants by the main character.

While it may not be his absolute best work, it is still a great read. Even though it can be a bit predictable at times, it doesn't take away from the overall enjoyment.

The characters are all very well-rounded. They have just the right amount of oddness to make them truly interesting. Each one has their own unique personality traits that add depth and charm to the story.

Overall, it's a great book that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Whether you're a fan of thrillers, comedies, or just good storytelling, this one is definitely worth checking out.

A poor 3.

To be honest, it would have been much better had I read this when it was first published.

At that time, it might have seemed quite relevant and interesting, perhaps capturing the essence of the early 2000's quite well.

However, as time has passed, it unfortunately didn't seem to stand the test of time.

Although it was pretty true to the era it was written about, something about it just didn't hold up.

Maybe the ideas or the way it was presented became outdated as the world changed and evolved.

Still, it's interesting to look back and see how things were and how our perspectives have shifted over the years.

Despite its shortcomings, it does serve as a bit of a snapshot of that particular time period.

Overall, it's a bit of a disappointment, but it also provides some food for thought about the nature of literature and its relationship to time.

Iain Banks is indeed a remarkable writer, renowned for his modern and highly engaging prose style. His works often draw readers in with their unique charm. However, it must be noted that while his writing is captivating, the editing of his books sometimes appears a bit lackadaisical.

I am a huge enthusiast of 'The Wasp Factory' and 'The Crow Road', but unfortunately, his success rate is not as high as one might expect.

This particular book presents several issues. Firstly, the lead character is an extremely self-centered, selfish, and rather unlikable individual. At times, he even comes across as a complete fool, making it challenging for the reader to cheer for him. Secondly, the protagonist is a radio shock-jock. Although he is of the left-wing variety, which gives him a certain appeal, in my opinion, reading about someone ranting on the radio is no more enjoyable than actually listening to it. Banks, on the other hand, seems to take great pleasure in this aspect, resulting in numerous passages that I found frustratingly irritating. Thirdly, the plot is rather disjointed. There are many disparate elements that fail to come together cohesively to form a convincing whole. Moreover, the fact that the protagonist is so difficult to empathize with makes it hard to care about his fate.

In conclusion, if I were to recommend a Banks book to someone, this would not be the one.

(I obtained this edition from the library. Interestingly, Banks uses metric measurements throughout, and yet someone has gone through with a pencil and altered them all to Imperial. Has anyone else ever come across such a strange occurrence?)

Dead Air. It should actually be called Hot Air.

Never in my entire life have I come across a book filled with such an abundance of unlikeable characters. These are nothing but pseudo-celebs and media whores, delving into the seedy underbelly of the tarnished glitterati, lacking any redeeming qualities or anything at all to make them endearing.

Ken Nott, a so-called "shock jock", does make a few valid points. However, there is nothing new or groundbreaking about them. The combination of typescripts from a James Whale show and a George Galloway Talk Sport-esque rant-a-thon does not amount to a novel. He also comes across as extremely self-obsessed, or rather, sex-obsessed and amoral. He has the most beautiful women fawning over him. But why? For goodness sake! Maybe this is a novel written for men, at least for those vapid, shallow, metrosexuals with the personality of a retarded amoeba. But I had expected a lot more than this.

The setting against the backdrop of 9/11, which appears nearly 300 pages in, seems thus far to be completely irrelevant and just a cheap ploy to attract readers, cynically used on the back cover. (Maybe I should hold off on this judgment until I have finished, but really...) The plot, such as it is, could easily stand alone without it thus far.

And now that I have completed this nonsensical book, the above still holds true. There was a brief flurry of about 50 pages towards the end where the thought processes related to tenseness and panic were very well written, which clearly shows that the author has potential. This earns the book a second star. But the tragic downfall of the protagonist, who brings it upon himself due to overindulgence in alcohol and his inability to control his urges for more than 5 pages, is hardly on the level of Homer. I kind of finished the book with a sense of relief, wishing the ending could have been a little different as now there is always the threat that he could re-surface.

The last novel in my current substantial stack of Iain Banks novels - now I can progress to something different!

This particular one delves into the life of a somewhat controversial radio DJ and his chaotic private life in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. He is Scottish, yet unlike the other Banks novels I have perused, the action occurs almost entirely in London. There are only occasional allusions to the character's youth in Scotland and a final fleeting mention of Glasgow on the last page.

I shall not disclose too much, but the lead character ultimately finds himself in an extremely intricate mess with some very perilous individuals. This is partly due to bad fortune and partly because of doing something极其stupid while intoxicated. It culminates in a rather tense finale, where one can truly sense the tension. Right up until the last few pages, it is exceedingly difficult to envision where it will lead.

It is an excellent portrayal of a tense era in the world and how people endeavored to cope with it, along with the stresses and strains it imposed on their relationships and behavior. There is a diverse assortment of people in here, some decent, some dreadful, some who could swing either way. It serves as a good illustration of how nothing is straightforward and that many of our actions can have highly unintended consequences. It is very enjoyable.