My first encounter with Iain Banks was this particular book, and it seems that it wasn't much favored by the critics.

It's a first-person narrated story about a British shock jock named Ken Knott, beginning at a loft party on the night of 9-11. The globally traumatic and shocking incident enables Banks to highlight who and what Knott is. 'Playa' Knott's life potentially undergoes a forever change when he has an affair with a real gangster's wife, and the outcomes and consequences of that relationship are the true subjects of this book.

It is indeed! When I read this, I was completely unaware that the critics didn't really like it. If only I had known. I thought the book was okay, although it had a 'laddish' feel, which I really loathe. Based on this single reading, I felt that Banks was overrated as a writer and gave the book a 6 out of 12. But now that I know this wasn't one of his better works, I'll be on the lookout for other works by him.

2005 read

I have a genuine fondness for Banks.

Although "The Wasp Factory" can be rather disturbing, it still holds a certain allure.

The protagonist of this novel, in some ways, neatly slots into the category of a "screw up middle-aged man who is surprisingly attractive to women."

This aspect adds an interesting layer to the story.

Despite his flaws and the chaos he seems to bring, there is something about him that draws the female characters.

Perhaps it is his charisma, or maybe it is the mystery that surrounds him.

Whatever the reason, it makes for a captivating read.

Banks has a talent for creating complex and engaging characters, and this novel is no exception.

The disturbing elements only serve to heighten the overall impact and make it a memorable piece of literature.

I look forward to exploring more of his works and seeing what other unique characters and stories he has to offer.

The Wasp Factory was truly one of the most remarkable books I had the pleasure of reading back in the early 1990s. At that time, it completely captivated me, and I became an avid follower of Iain Banks. I eagerly read all of his books as they were released for a certain period. However, somewhere along the line, I gradually drifted away from his works.

Dead Air, written in 2002, is one of his later books. I must admit that I was completely unaware of his passing back in 2013. While I could appreciate the fact that it was well-written and could be described as a fast-paced thriller, I found myself struggling with it at times. The main reason for this was my lack of empathy for the lead character. He was a cocky, outspoken Scottish DJ working in London, whose life seemingly revolved around drink, drugs, and women. These traits, in and of themselves, might not necessarily put me off a character. But in this case, I found him to be an arrogant, thoughtless, and pig-headed fool. He showed no concern whatsoever for the consequences that his actions, deeds, and words might have on those around him.

Moreover, the character spouted a whole load of political views, often contrary and ill-formed, which did nothing to endear him to me.

Spoiler alert: In the course of the novel, his actions did indeed land him in serious life-threatening trouble. However, I spent the latter part of the book hoping that he would finally get his comeuppance. Sadly, this did not happen.

I invested a significant amount of time in reading this book, but the reward was minimal. Despite the great deal of pleasure that Iain Banks had given me in the past, this particular book was not one that I enjoyed. I now wonder what revisiting his earlier works will bring. Will they reignite my love for his writing, or will I find that my tastes have changed? Only time will tell.

At first, I thought this was going to be a good read. I had high hopes as I started turning the pages.

However, as I delved deeper, it began to feel repetitive for me. The same themes and storylines seemed to be rehashed over and over again.

I didn't like any of the characters. They all seemed rather unappealing and one-dimensional to me. I think that's partly why I'm not so keen on this read.

Though Iain Banks amused me sometimes with his sardonic writing. His sharp wit and sarcasm could be quite entertaining. But at the same time, it felt very aggressive and caustic. It was almost too much for me to handle.

The premise of the book was good. The idea behind the story was interesting and had a lot of potential. And I'm sure others liked it a lot more than I did.

This read was just not for me. It didn't capture my attention or engage me in the way that I had hoped. It made me sad that I didn't find it as good as "The Crow Road" which I loved so much. That book had truly touched my heart and left a lasting impression on me. But this one, unfortunately, fell short.

Kicking off as a 9/11 response novel, ‘Dead Air’ quickly undergoes a transformation. It transmogrifies into a study in paranoia as an outspoken DJ becomes the target of an unknown antagonist. This DJ, no stranger to creating difficulties for himself, decides during this challenging period to engage in an affair with a gang boss’s wife and also engineer a satirical take-down of a Holocaust denier live on air. The story is often digressive, which makes it frequently funny. ‘Dead Air’ makes yet another transition in its final stretch, moving from a shaggy dog story to a tense thriller. Interestingly, the fact that it’s a little more uneven than what is typical for Banks actually adds to its spiky charm. It keeps the readers on their toes, never quite sure what to expect next. The various twists and turns in the plot, along with the complex characters, make ‘Dead Air’ a captivating read that delves into themes of paranoia, morality, and the consequences of one’s actions.

The main character in this story is a highly articulate talk radio host in London. He is somewhat monomaniacal and provocative, which sometimes gives the impression that it is a device for the author to express his political views through lengthy monologues. However, it is also extremely funny and engaging.

He discusses various topics on his show, and depending on your political stance, you may find yourself deeply sympathizing with his frustrated attempts to debate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with his fiercely Zionist ex-girlfriend. In the end, he gets a drink thrown in his face for his efforts.

The September 11, 2001 attacks in New York serve as a persistent but low-level background theme, which leads to a lot of discussions about US foreign policy. Nevertheless, at its core, this is more or less a love story with a few bizarrely violent twists that are characteristic of Banks's writing style.

Overall, the combination of the main character's unique personality, the engaging political discussions, and the unexpected turns in the love story make this a truly captivating read.

I am a huge enthusiast of Banks' writing, whether it is with or without his "M." However, I was left feeling disappointed by Dead Air.

The most exciting part was Ken's scheme to bring down a holocaust denier. But unfortunately, this story failed to maintain its momentum and simply fizzled out.

Instead, we were left with the less captivating narrative about Ken, his mistress, and her gangster husband. I never really found this aspect of the story to be particularly believable.

It seemed as if the author had lost focus and strayed away from the more engaging plotline. The characters and their relationships in this secondary story felt rather contrived and lacking in depth.

Overall, Dead Air did not live up to my expectations based on Banks' previous works. I had hoped for a more thrilling and thought-provoking read, but instead, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction.

Perhaps Banks will return to form with his next book and once again capture my attention and imagination.

Weird one.

This is a rather strange and somewhat mysterious description. It makes you wonder what exactly is being referred to as "weird."

Could it be a person with unusual habits or characteristics? Maybe an object that has an odd appearance or function.

Or perhaps it's a situation or event that defies explanation and leaves people scratching their heads.

The term "weird" is so broad and subjective that it can mean different things to different people.

It could evoke feelings of curiosity, confusion, or even a bit of unease.

Whatever it is, this "weird one" has piqued our interest and left us wanting to know more.

Maybe further exploration will reveal the true nature of this strange entity or phenomenon.

Until then, it remains an enigma, waiting to be解开.

I really enjoyed this. I have always loved reading every single one of Banks' books right from the very beginning. However, this particular one was slightly marred when he wrote about sex. I think he might have overdone it in an attempt to show that he wasn't holding back.

Despite that small flaw, all of the magic of his storytelling is still there in full force. His ability to create vivid worlds and engaging characters is truly remarkable.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, eager to see what would happen next. Even with the bit about sex that I wasn't too keen on, the overall quality of the book shone through.

I would still highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great storytelling and engaging literature. Banks is a master of his craft, and this book is a testament to that.

What did I think? Besides the fact that Iain Banks is one of the best writers of dialogue who ever existed?

Well, this one here's a strange book. It's set in the days immediately following 9/11. London left-wing radio shock jock Ken Nott is a contrarian mess. His morning radio show is a huge success. However, his relationship with his girlfriend is on the verge of collapse, as he just can't resist the advances of the pretty ladies who throw themselves at him. His best mates think he's a know-it-all because he really loves to pontificate his thoughts on various topics such as the environment, stupid politicians, atheism, fascism, Britain's strained relationship with Europe (foreseeing Brexit by about 14 years), and a whole host of other things.

Lately, he's been receiving death threats. And to make matters worse, he's fallen into a romantic tryst with the wife of one of London's most notorious gangsters. Dead Air is almost a stream-of-consciousness novel, as we experience life through the eyes of Nott, a character who is heavily flawed, deeply intelligent, and extremely loquacious. The novel sometimes meanders into a quagmire of opinionated monologues, but the language - and yes, the dialogue - is simply soaring. There is a whole host of great characters surrounding Ken Nott, each with their own history, their own thoughts, and their own voices. And goddamn it, Iain Banks描绘 them all so vividly. It's a joy of a book, even if the story sometimes gets a bit lost in all that fine writing. But I didn't really mind. It's a solid 4 out of 5.

As always, Banks demonstrates his remarkable talent by penning a clever and compelling character-driven thriller.

The story is so engaging that I found myself on the verge of a heart attack at numerous twists and turns.

I was completely enveloped by the vivid and immersive world of the story, unable to tear myself away.

It is truly a great read, although it still doesn't manage to overtake my deep love for Crow Road.

Compared to Wasp Factory, it is less vomit-inducing, but only by a small margin.

Overall, Banks has once again delivered a thrilling and captivating novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

I really enjoyed this book.

It is quite a clever piece of work. The story revolves around a radio DJ named Ken Knott, who has left-leaning views.

It provides a nice and interesting insight into the narrator's Scottish mindset while he is in London.

The book is set in the period after 2001 and the events that took place during that time.

These events give a solid basis for Knott's rants and political arguments.

The writing is very well done, and it makes the book highly entertaining to read.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a good story with a touch of politics and a unique perspective.