A Song of Stone by Iain Banks is a captivating yet disturbing tale. It tells the story of a nobleman, Abel, who is compelled by war to abandon his family castle. The novel is narrated in the first person by Abel, and it also features a woman, Morgan, who remains silent throughout and appears to be his sister, as well as a lieutenant and her marauding band of soldiers. The lieutenant captures Abel and Morgan and takes them back to the castle that her troops have occupied. Abel and Morgan share an incestuous and promiscuous relationship. The lieutenant then proceeds to destroy everything that Abel holds dear, humiliating him, having her troops ransack the castle, and bedding Morgan.

We learn very little about the causes of the war or the protagonists involved, and hardly anything about the history of Abel's family or the castle. The time and place are unspecified, although the weapons used are modern. The conflict in the novel, personified by Abel and the lieutenant, seems to be a battle between the past and the future, a class war between aristocracy and anarchy in the worst sense.

A Song of Stone is highly readable, with a constant sense of foreboding that keeps the reader engaged. There is plenty of action, tension, and menace. However, both Abel and what he represents, as well as the alternative values of the lieutenant, are despicable. There is no character to sympathize with or right side to take. Abel doesn't even know the surname of the servant who has served him all his life. The lieutenant's character is underdeveloped, as her cause seems to be nothing more than perpetual pillage. This is a bleak portrayal of humanity, its history, present, and future.

I first read Iain Banks' The Wasp Factory as a young man and it had a profound impact on me. Dark, offbeat, and gripping, it was largely what I aspired to write. Although I've read several of his other literary novels and his Sci-fi works under the name Iain M Banks, nothing has gripped me like The Wasp Factory. If anyone reads A Song of Stone, I would be very interested to know if I missed something in understanding "the timeless questions of truth, betrayal, duty, and loyalty" that the flyleaf claims it addresses.

I read this article at least ten years ago.

To be honest, I remember that I did not like it as much as "Wasp Factory".

The reasons might be various. Perhaps the writing style of this article didn't resonate with me as strongly as that of "Wasp Factory". Maybe the themes and ideas presented in it failed to capture my interest to the same extent.

However, it's important to note that my perception could have changed over the years.

As I have grown and gained more life experiences, my literary tastes might have evolved.

It could be that if I were to read this article again today, I might have a different perspective and find more value in it.

Nonetheless, based on my memory from ten years ago, "Wasp Factory" left a much deeper impression on me, and this article paled in comparison.

But who knows, the passage of time might bring new insights and a reevaluation of this piece.

Only time will tell if my initial assessment still holds true.

One of my least favorite Iain Banks books, yet it's not terrible.

It gives the impression of being one of his Sci-Fi works that I truly love. In particular, it seems like a combination of certain aspects from Use of Weapons and Inversions, the latter being the medieval barely-culture book. The story has a non-specific time and location, lacking any Sci-Fi or fantasy elements.

It is extremely dark and grim. While it was fairly gripping, I was left pondering what the real point of it was.

Perhaps it is a rather gritty and realistic portrayal of what can occur during and in the aftermath of war. It shows the harsh realities and the toll that war takes on people and society. The lack of a specific time and place makes it more universal, applicable to different historical periods and conflicts. However, the darkness and grimness might be overwhelming for some readers. Overall, it's an interesting but somewhat flawed work.

The book presented a physical challenge when it came to reading. This was due to what I believe were deliberately verbose sentence constructions. The narrator, who was pompous, entitled, and altogether weird, added to the difficulty with his first-person account.

However, once I managed to get into the rhythm and flow of the language, I was truly impressed. Mr. Banks seemed to make not a single misstep. The writing was sparse, yet haunting. In some places, it was even sickening, but he was so incredibly good at creating that kind of atmosphere.

After finishing the book, I placed it back on my shelf with a sense of appreciation and enjoyment. It was like a macabre fable, almost in the vein of Gormenghast. The unique style and the engaging story made it a memorable read, despite the initial hurdles I had to overcome.

Not my cup of tea.

The story seemed to drift all over the place, lacking a clear direction or focus.

It was as if the author couldn't decide on a central theme or narrative arc, and as a result, the plot meandered aimlessly.

This made it difficult for me to become engaged or invested in the story.

I quickly became too distanced from the characters and events to care what happened to any of them.

It was a frustrating reading experience, as I had hoped for something more engaging and thought-provoking.

Instead, I was left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed.

Maybe this type of story just isn't for me, but I can't help but wonder what could have been if the author had taken a more focused and intentional approach.

"Unenjoyable" is a rather simple and straightforward word that describes an experience or situation that fails to bring pleasure or satisfaction.

It implies a lack of enjoyment, perhaps due to boredom, discomfort, or disappointment.

An unenjoyable activity might feel like a chore, something that one has to do but doesn't really want to.

It could be a task at work that is repetitive and uninteresting, or a social event where one doesn't connect with the people or the atmosphere.

However, it's important to note that what is unenjoyable for one person may not be the same for another.

Our individual preferences, interests, and circumstances all play a role in determining whether we find something enjoyable or not.

Sometimes, an unenjoyable experience can even lead to growth and learning.

It can push us out of our comfort zones and help us discover new things about ourselves and the world around us.

So, while an unenjoyable moment may not be pleasant at the time, it can have value in the long run.

We should try to approach such experiences with an open mind and look for the silver lining.

Maybe there's a lesson to be learned or a new perspective to gain.

By doing so, we can turn an unenjoyable situation into a positive and meaningful one.

A story about a war that has been dragging on for far too long, executed extremely well. From the very beginning, it managed to draw me in with its vivid descriptions and engaging plot. The author did an excellent job of portraying the chaos and destruction that comes with war, as well as the emotions and experiences of the soldiers and civilians involved.

However, as the story progressed, I found myself hoping for more. I wanted to see more character development, more exploration of the themes underlying the war, and perhaps a more unexpected or satisfying conclusion. Despite this, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and would recommend it to others who are interested in war literature.

Overall, it was a well-written and thought-provoking piece that left me with a lot to think about. I look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for us in the future.

This is just pure nonsense.

It starts as a story about the fate of a family in the difficult war times, the encounter with marauding soldiers, and then eroticism, philosophy, and dark bloodthirstiness are intertwined... Half of the book is a waste of time, because the second half completely spoils the mood.

Ah, pity for oneself; I think we are most honest and sincere when we feel pity for ourselves. (c)

This kind of writing seems to lack a clear主线 and jumps around randomly, making it hard for the reader to follow and engage. The combination of different elements feels forced and不协调.

Perhaps the author intended to create a complex and multi-faceted narrative, but in the end, it fails to achieve the desired effect.

It's a shame, really, as there might have been some interesting ideas buried within, but they are lost in the chaos and confusion of the story.

Overall, this book is a disappointment and not worth the time and effort to read.

This book is not among his very best, yet it is definitely distinct.

There is some truly fantastic descriptive prose within its pages, painting vivid pictures in the reader's mind. However, the overall story is overwhelmingly sad.

It presents an unforgiving assault of violent barbarism upon erudite civilisation, which is brought about by the extremists in what appears to be a civil war.

We are not informed about which specific war it is or where it takes place. Instead, it offers a generic depiction of strife and struggle, serving as a powerful reminder of the atrocities that mankind is capable of inflicting upon one another when, and if, society breaks down beyond all possible repair.

This book forces us to confront the darker side of human nature and makes us reflect on the importance of maintaining the fabric of civilisation.

A Song of Stone is one of the final novels that remained for me to read from the extensive library of Iain Banks. It was initially published in 1997, yet it possesses an old or perhaps timeless quality. I had the impression that it was published earlier because, aside from vehicles, guns, and radios, there is an almost complete absence of technology. In my mind's eye, it is set in England after some unnamed apocalyptic event, although it could potentially be in an eastern European state as nothing is made clear.

It is a melancholy and somber story narrated in the first person by the owner of a stone castle, an entitled upper-class individual who still has servants. Maybe this is why I felt it takes place in the post-WWII fifties or sixties. There is plenty happening to our lead character, with the daring fighting from the ragtag army that seizes the castle and the past histories of the storyteller keeping the reader engaged. However, and here lies the problem, I never developed much warmth towards our lead character or the situation he found himself in, and so it becomes a rather cold and distant account. It is all very readable, but nevertheless lacking. Iain Banks writes extremely well, and this novel is no exception. It certainly creates a vivid story, but it's just a pity that it left me so unmoved. This is far from what I have typically experienced with IB's works. Although this is very readable, it is only truly worthwhile from a completist's perspective. I only have one IB novel left to read, and then I will gradually restart with my chosen favorites. It's so sad that he passed away too soon.

Lots of people have lavished praise on the prose-like monologues that give shape to this book. Its philosophical ponderings and profound reflections on the state of humanity in this war-torn world have earned it a reputation as one of Banks's most poignant works. While at times I managed to find moments of clarity within them, and a deeper meaning intricately woven into the narrative, a significant portion of it struck me as verbose, dense, and at times, simply impenetrable.

I thought the plot was very good indeed. The balance of Abel's narrative added an extra layer of compellingness and curiosity. By the end, I too had the sense that I had overcome something challenging and reaped the rewards. However, it was not an enjoyable read. It felt like there was just too much.

Put a que pariu e a review podia terminar aqui.

This book is the most beautifully written thing that I have ever held in my hands.

It is one of those books that could have any story, and you would simply appreciate the narrative no matter what.

It is not only brilliant for what it says, but also for what it doesn't say.

This is one of those books that deserves to go on the shelf of the special ones in any home. It has a certain charm and elegance in its writing that makes it stand out from the rest. The author has a unique way of telling the story, leaving just enough room for the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps. It's a truly captivating read that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. Whether you're a fan of fiction or non-fiction, this book is definitely worth a read.