The dream within a dream structure was truly an experience that was both nausea-inducing and captivating.

It had a certain allure that drew me in, making me unable to look away.

The way it unfolded, with one dream layer within another, was both confusing and fascinating.

I found myself completely immersed in this complex web of dreams, trying to make sense of it all.

And predictably, it was also disturbing.

There were elements within the dreams that made my skin crawl and my heart race.

But despite the discomfort, I couldn't help but be intrigued.

It was like a puzzle that I had to solve, a mystery that I had to uncover.

Overall, I absolutely loved this dream within a dream structure.

It was a unique and unforgettable experience that will stay with me for a long time.

This is perhaps not quite as good as The Wasp Factory. However, it is still an extremely great read.

Iain Banks masterfully pulls together the various threads of the man-in-a-coma's life. He does this not only through direct historical narrative but also through the man's visions while in a coma.

The way the story is told is truly compelling. It weaves a rich tapestry that allows the reader to develop a deep understanding of the person, his hopes, and his fears.

The book takes the reader on a journey through the man's life, revealing the hidden aspects and emotions that shape him.

Despite not being on par with The Wasp Factory, it still has its own charm and吸引力.

It is a book that will keep the reader engaged from start to finish, and leave them with a sense of satisfaction and a new perspective on life.

Right at the outset, get it out of the way. Yes, it is all a dream.

Now we can leave that aside. This is an utterly spectacular window into the brilliant mind of a sadly missed writer. Do not open this book looking for plot. I had read most of the reviews, so I knew the whole dream aspect of it, which was great. It meant that I could engage with the book for what it was, not for what it might become. Each and every chapter is a brilliantly written little story. The jump between dream, reality (or what seems to be reality) and story is so intricate. But the sheer imagination of this book is breathtaking.

The narrator has found himself living on a steampunk version of a bridge which seems to stretch either way into nothingness. He has amnesia and he is being treated by a doctor who tries to cure his amnesia through examining his dreams. But the narrator, as well as wanting to know who he is, also wants to understand the bridge. Eventually, he gets his chance to move beyond the bridge, into the bizarre, war torn world beyond. This element of the story is interspersed with the narrators dreams told in vivid detail, as well as a story of a couple living an ordinary life.

I absolutely loved the world, the writing and the imagery of this book. I found myself not wanting to put it down, not because I wanted to know what happened (I knew what happened from the beginning) but just to remain immersed in Iain Banks' incredible mind. The way he weaves together different elements, the dreamscapes, the strange world on the bridge and the ordinary life story, creates a truly unique reading experience. It's like being taken on a journey through a mind that is both creative and profound. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to explore the boundaries of imagination.

Overall, I found this book to be rather confusing and difficult to understand at times.

The use of Scottish dialect in some of the chapters added an extra layer of complexity, making it a bit of a struggle to follow the story.

However, as I reached the last 50 pages of the book, everything started to become clear.

The plot twists and revelations tied up the loose ends and made the overall narrative more coherent.

That being said, I wouldn't necessarily rush to read another book by Iain Banks.

Perhaps I would give Iain M. Banks a try, especially for his science fiction collection.

I have heard good things about his work in that genre and it might be more to my taste.

Overall, while this particular book had its challenges, it did manage to redeem itself in the end.

My review of this truly brilliant Iain Banks novel, specifically focuses on the Audiobook edition read by the downright astonishing Peter Kenny.

I had read the actual book a long time ago and simply couldn't get on with it. I don't think I truly understood it and found it extremely difficult to switch between the various streams of consciousness that constitute The Bridge. For many years, it remained one of the few Iain Banks' books that I hadn't really enjoyed or had somehow completely missed out on.

Discovering the Audiobook editions, all read by Peter Kenny, has been a revelation. I have listened to quite a few of them now, but The Bridge has definitely been my favorite so far. Kenny's performance is simply brilliant. He not only gives the characters different voices but also gives them the right voices - their own unique, distinctive, and recognizable voices. On one hand, he solved all my difficulties in keeping track of the people and plotlines. On the other hand, he really enhanced my understanding of the meaning of the interwoven narratives. It is one of my all-time favorite Audiobooks, and I know I'll be listening to it again and again.

At its best, the book shows tinges of creative genius. The author seems to have a remarkable imagination that can create a fantasy world full of wonder and grandeur. However, at its worst, the book seems to be completely disorganized. The plot in the actual world is dull and uninteresting, which completely overwhelms the imaginative grandeur of the fantasy world. And the parts with the "barbarian" are God-awful, lacking in any real depth or character development.

Yet despite its unevenness, the book is still worth reading. There are rare glimpses of creative inspiration that make it all worthwhile. These moments of brilliance shine through the flaws and make the reader want to keep turning the pages. Overall, while the book may not be perfect, it has enough redeeming qualities to make it a worthwhile read for fans of fantasy and creative writing.

In a dystopic world, a man finds himself stuck on a bridge, with no memory of who he is or how he got there.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is ultimately a tale of a sad rich man. However, what makes this story stand out is the inventive movement and world building. The different parts of the bridge are described in vivid detail, adding depth and complexity to the setting.

The blending of narratives is also well done, keeping the reader engaged and interested. For the most part, it is an enjoyable read. However, there is a certain dryness to the story, and the prose at times feels a bit too sincere, which can be a bit off-putting.

Overall, while there are some flaws, the unique world and engaging narrative make this a story worth reading.

Having read The Wasp Factory and Against a Dark Background, I had high expectations for this book that had been sitting on my shelf for approximately 10 years. In some respects, I was let down, yet it was still a relatively enjoyable read.

The sections on the bridge strongly reminded me of Kafka's The Castle, but in a better way. The modern sections, however, bored me, as most non-fantastic fiction does, with the exception of Philip Roth. The dreams in the book were extremely cool, especially the trip to hell. Without the dreams, the book would have been a waste of time.

Still, I felt that the author could have trimmed 40-50 pages to make it the perfect length. I didn't really enjoy the \\"off the bridge\\" part of the bridge sections. Overall, I liked the book but wouldn't really recommend it to anyone, especially since Banks has a number of other books that are superior.

The phonetic Scottish chapters are both challenging and uproariously funny to read. It's an intriguing book. I was told that in the same way Murakami's writing is quintessentially Japanese, Banks' writing is distinctively Scottish in a cultural sense. However, I'm not entirely sure if I fully understand that comparison. Banks can indeed craft some excellent passages with surreal elements, but he doesn't have the same mind-blowing and elegant touch as Murakami. Also, it's difficult to define exactly what being "so Scottish" would look like.

There were moments when the protagonist described some internal reasoning that really resonated with me. For example, the dark hole of assumption he fell into when one of the female characters didn't respond to him on the phone for about 5 seconds. I can't recall exactly where else, but there were a few other such instances.

The arc of the story didn't have me eagerly wanting to read chapter after chapter. Especially with the discontinuity of the setting, which didn't start to make sense until later. The dreams were a bit strange and not overly interesting. But the underworld sequence was extremely hilarious.

Like Feersum Endjinn, I would highly recommend an audiobook for this one.

Part of the book is written in a thick Scottish accent, and it truly helps to have someone read those parts aloud.

The Bridge was an interesting read. It offers a competent take on the rather overused trope of the “Coma Story”.

However, I found myself a little lost in the middle. Perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention, but I was confused about what was happening.

There are three different stories being told.

The first is our main character, John Orr, living on a seemingly infinite Bridge. I would call it the “Coma World”.

The second is the “Dream World”, which is the dream that John Orr experiences while he is in a coma (and this is where our Scottish-accented swordsman barbarian comes in).

The third is the “Real World”, a series of flashbacks that show us this man's life and how he came to be in this situation.

When I think about it now and lay it out like that, it makes more sense. But I don't think I paid enough attention to notice how all these worlds interacted with each other. For example, I didn't see any real value in the “Dream World” story with the Barbarian. I still can't tell you what that was all about.

(There's an example of how those chapters are written... Audiobook recommended.)

I heard that The Bridge was Iain Banks rewriting an earlier novel called Walking On Glass. There are similarities, but they are both distinct from one another.

Although I heard that The Bridge was the better novel, I feel that I liked Walking On Glass more.

Still, it's a good Banks novel. Kind of weird, but that's what I enjoy about his writing.

3/5

I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who anticipates uncovering profound meaning, a strong connection, or even a straightforward plot. Beyond the obvious, in terms of the plot, there isn't a great deal to recommend the book. A man enters a coma and must find a way out. Everything that occurs in between is engaging, yet ultimately lacks true significance. Those who desire to analyze and interpret the world of dreams might indeed have a great time with this book. However, someone more attuned to practical reasoning might not be as impressed. I don't believe there is anything deeply psychological about this book. There is a dream world in which the protagonist is trapped, and he only suspects to a certain extent that it is a dream. Then there are dreams within the dream, filled with imagination, inspiration, and certain elements that one wouldn't think possible in a dream. In that regard, I found the book to be deeply satisfying. The complex meaninglessness of the dream world is, for me, captivating. We all go through life half-suspecting that it is a dream, and we continue with our dreams, half-suspecting that they are real life. Only when the luxury of transitioning effortlessly from one state to another, day in and day out, is taken away from us, as is the case with the man in the coma, do we begin to truly examine reality or even strive for it.

Funny in unexpected ways, deeply imaginative in some of the dream within dream subplots, and quite satisfactory in the way the real life of our protagonist is depicted, Ian Bank's The Bridge is, if I may be so bold as to say, quite avant garde. It challenges our perceptions of reality and dreams, and forces us to question what is truly meaningful in our lives.

Terrific!

This simple word holds a world of meaning. It can describe something truly outstanding, remarkable, or excellent. When we say something is terrific, we are expressing our admiration and approval.

A terrific movie can transport us to different worlds, making us laugh, cry, and feel a whole range of emotions. A terrific meal can tantalize our taste buds and leave us satisfied and craving more. A terrific performance by an athlete can inspire us and make us believe in the power of hard work and dedication.

Terrific can also describe a person. A terrific friend is someone who is always there for us, through thick and thin. A terrific teacher can ignite a passion for learning in their students and help them reach their full potential. A terrific leader can inspire and guide a team to achieve great things.

In conclusion, terrific is a word that represents the very best. It is a word that makes us feel good and fills us with a sense of excitement and enthusiasm. So, the next time you experience something truly outstanding, don't hesitate to say, "That's terrific!"