Business the [Paperback]

 

 

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Iain Banks was born in Scotland in 1954 and published his first book  "The Wasp Factory"  in 1984. In the years since, he's won critical acclaim, topped best-seller lists and has even written Science Fiction books under the cunning nom-de-plume 'Iain M. Banks'. "The Business" was first published in 1999, and is his tenth non sci-fi book.

The origins of the Business predate Christianity, and it - technically - owned the Roman Empire for an exceptionally short spell. (It turned out to be something of a mistake, and is considered to be the Business' most public mistake). The world headquarters re at Chateau d'Oex, in Switzerland, where there are - allegedly - some rather interesting items in their vaults. (These are rumoured to include a book that might just have made it into the Bible and some rather erotic doodlings sketched by Michelangelo). Although the Business has 'understandings' with several states and regimes, it is now planning to 'buy' its own country - allowing for a seat on the United Nations and diplomatic immunity for its senior executives. Officially, the country being considered if Fenua Uans, a small island in the Pacific.

Kate Telman is senior executive officer, third level with the Business. She started with Security, though has been keeping an eye on technology trends in recent years - luckily, her suggestions on where to invest have been paying off significantly. (As a result, she reached Level Three a good deal more quickly than she had dared hope). Kate is thirty eight years old and was born in Scotland, but holds joint British - US citizenship. Although she is currently on sabbatical, she has been with the organisation since she left school. She had been effectively groomed for the Business by Elizabeth Telman since childhood, following a chance meeting on the roadside in 1968. Elizabeth adopted Kate after her natural mother died, four years later. Now, with Elizabeth also dead, Freddy Ferrindonald is the closest thing to family she has left. Freddy, a step-brother of Elizabeth's, is also a high-ranking Business employee, not to mention exceptionally rich and just a little odd. He lives at Blysecrag House, which might just qualify as a stately home. (It has three hundred rooms and its cellars extend for two miles). The pair certainly get on very well together, and Kate admits to being very fond of Freddy.

Blysecrag is soon to be playing host to a very high-level meeting and some general hedonism - Kate is rather excited (and relieved) to have been invited. Unfortunately, Prince Suvinder Dzung from Thulan will also be among the other guests. Suvinder is a noted admirer of Kate's, but the admiration is entirely one way. Kate prefers Stephen Buzetski, another Business executive - unfortunately, he is proving to be stubbornly loyal to his wife. Events at Blysecrag lead to Kate doing a little more travelling and attending a few more meetings - leading to an offer she never seriously expected and didn't necessarily want. However, as time goes by, she becomes increasingly suspicious that the more senior executives are not being entirely straight about things...

Generally, I've found if a book has the name "Iain Banks" on the cover it's well worth reading. "The Crow Road" and "Whit" would both safely be included in my "10 Favourite Books of All Time", while "Canal Dreams" and "The Wasp Factory" would probably be knocking loudly on the door. In all those books, Banks has developed a strong 'lead' character whose past has contributed as much to the book as the 'current' events of the story. In comparison, "The Business" is a little weak : Kate's past isn't developed in the way Prentice McHoan's or Frank Cauldhame's are developed, while the story's 'current' events - meetings, parties and sightseeing  aren't quite as absorbing as the events of "Whit" and "Canal Dreams". However, "The Business" is still an Iain Banks book : even on an off-day, he'll tell a story a good deal more readable and a great deal more enjoyable than your average writer is capable of producing.

This is by no means his best writing however it's a much better book than it lets on to be and unlike a previous reviewer I rather liked the fact that we get hardly any insight into the mechinations of ' The Business .'
Telman's character is believable and it's an interesting enough journey she takes us on albeit a little too superficial. Once again though Mr. Bank's can't quite capture the nuance and timber of North American dialogue in spite of his brilliant skills in so many other ways.

He is one of modern fiction's most original and inventive writers, but this time Iain Banks has gotten lazy with "The Business".

He creates the menacing, powerful and secretive organization known only as "The Business", then spends the entire novel not talking about it! Sure - we don't need to know EVERYTHING, but why make it the premise (and title) of the novel and then studiously avoid any details?

The main character, Kate, has some very interesting moral decisions to make, but the book is spent with her deciding to decide to decide on her decision. When she FINALLY makes her choices on her various interesting dilemmas the book is over!

I would have preferred to see Kate make her moral choices early (like say - in the first 100 pages), then see the CONSEQUENCES of her actions. Good drama is almost always about the decisions people make, right or wrong, and how people deal with the results.

Don't write Banks off though. I prefer: "The Use of Weapons", "The Player of Games" or "Whit".

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5.0 out of 5 stars This is a good book!
The story is entertaining. The commentary is alternately scathing and profound. There's a salient and relevant lesson in the end. You should read this.

Published on Dec 21 2001

2.0 out of 5 stars Lousy
I found this book to be far too predictable and, to be honest, quite boring. Though Mr. Banks is undoudtedly a fine writer, it seems as though he 'phoned it in' on this outing. Read more

Published on Dec 18 2001 by emarche

4.0 out of 5 stars Dark literary noodling
Other reviewers have criticized The Business for not having a strong plot. There's some validity to this, but at the same time this is somewhat beside the point: the book is all... Read more

Published on Nov 18 2001 by twentytwentyseven

3.0 out of 5 stars Plot? What plot?
Smooth writing, rapid pace, wonderful characters; all in all a really fun book--but it has a plot that wouldn't hold up a novella. Read more

Published on Sep 1 2001 by nwc18

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book as fast as you can!
This book was sooo good. Iain Banks has created a heroine for even the most accomplished woman. If only women got roles like this in the movies. Read more

Published on Aug 10 2001 by Layla Ferguson

5.0 out of 5 stars Get this book as fast as you can!
This book was sooo good. Iain Banks has created a heroine for even the most accomplished woman. If only women got roles like this in the movies. Read more

Published on Aug 10 2001 by Layla Ferguson

3.0 out of 5 stars Strong, but never breaks the shackles of pot-boiler status
Banks is strangely not known that well in America. After a long series of novels all over the map, he still doesn't get the kind of play that you might think he would. Read more

Published on Jun 20 2001 by David Myers

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and Feeble Plot
Having worked in a major corporation all my life, I agree that there is a great deal of jostling and maneuvering, back-stabbing and downright silliness in many strategic plans,... Read more

Published on Jun 6 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Grippiong Stuff
This is an excellent read that kept me rivetted to it and desperate to get an opportunity to carry on reading when I had to stop (I was reading it on the train, the bus, and even... Read more

Published on May 23 2001 by J. Kemp

4.0 out of 5 stars Not The Best Banks but Worth The Read
Iain Banks has proven himself a master of various genres including science fiction, fantasy and plain old fiction. Read more

Published on May 15 2001 by Chris MB

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