COMPLICITY [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'. "Complicity" was first published in 1993, and is his seventh non sci-fi book.

Cameron Colley is a journalist based in Edinburgh. working for "The Caledonian". He has an eye for trouble, and enjoys using his articles to take pot-shots at the 'establishment' and big business. His past-times include alcohol, drugs and a computer game called "Despot" - one which sounds very similar to Civ II. Cameron's social circle seems quite small - there's William and Yvonne, a couple he met at university. The pair are married, though Cameron has no qualms about enjoying Yvonne (in as kinky a manner as possible) on a very regular basis. There's also Andy, who Cameron has known pretty much all his life. Andy has 'achievment' written all over his past - he was an officer in the Falklands War and was subsequently awarded the DSO. On leaving the army, he went into advertising - where he came up with the BIG campaigns for several global companies. After that, he then opened a chain of very successful shops, became obscenely rich...and then, strangely, dropped out. Andy is now living in a dilapidated old hotel (his own, naturally) in the Highlands - doing little other than drink and drugs, apparently..

Workwise, Cameron is quite possibly on the verge on something big : he has a mole feeding - "Mr Archer" - feeding him about five high-profile deaths within the nuclear and security services. All five victims died within two years of each other and, although all were officially written off as suicides, there have been rumours of something murky about the deaths. Cameron isn't the first to have looked into the story -however, he's hoping Archer's information will lead him somewhere. (If what's he's been told is true, it's quite possible it could lead to to Iraq).

Unfortunately, while Cameron's working on his mole-inspired story, another set of very high-profile individuals are finding themselves being assaulted and / or murdered. The problem, as it turns out, is that all the victims have been lambasted in one of Cameron's articles.

"Complicity" is definitely a book I'd recommend - which is hardly a surprise, given that it's been written by Iain Banks. Banks has a certain way of telling a story I enjoy - the occasional jump back and forward, and the hint of looking at something from a slightly different angle. Most of the book is told by Cameron ("I drive the car up the little single track road leading towards the low hills"), part of the book is also told about the killer. Although it does mean we know who's getting killed and how they're dying, practically nothing is given away about the killers identity. It's even (deliberately) vague about the killer's gender - for example, "you get to the bedside and raise the log over your head". Excellent stuff.

i have recently finished reading Complicity for the second time and have, once again, very much enjoyed it. The book itself is filled with sexual deviation, drug abuse and deception - so is obviously going to be superb read! I was asked to write a report on it, and in my report i chose to focus on the extraordinary relationship between Andy, and the main charater Cameron Colle. Indeed, this relationship was frought, and in the end it is still to be decided weathe ror not it stood the test of time and prooved to be a good relationship or not. Without giving the ending or plot away too much, it is clear that the relationship was percieved to be something way short of indespensible by one party in the book, but it remains to be seen weather or not the other person felt the same.
all in all, an odd, but superb read. plenty of food for thought, that is for certain!

This is possibly my favourite Banks book. Some people may think the violence gratuitous and if that sort of thing offends you then avoid this book! But I don't think most people would find anything offensive here and personally I found the violence quite entertaining. The plotline to this book is criticised by some here for being too obvious. This may or may not be the case, but there is always more that plot to enjoy in a Banks novel. For instance, The Crow Road's plot is drawn out across the whole, long book and at times it appears there isn't one at all, but the book is still totally absorbing. Banks's writing is engaging, witty and young and it is a breath of fresh air to read.

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1.0 out of 5 stars Awful
Surely there is a law against prose like:

'It's a Finnish hunting knife, which you think is pretty appropriate since you've used it to finish him off. Read more

Published on Feb 9 2001 by Gary Malone

5.0 out of 5 stars The complex world in Complicity.
The book complicity is one of Iain Banks finest and most enjoyable book in his life as a writer. It pivots around a some what mysterious beginning when a journalist called Cameron... Read more

Published on Mar 17 2000 by Spike

5.0 out of 5 stars too good for words!`
hey there, all i want to say is well done, Iain! I can't wait until it comes out at the cinema! XXX

Published on Jan 27 2000 by Natalie

5.0 out of 5 stars Complicity
Fantastic book, almost as good as The Crow Road. Where's the screenplay, Iain?

Published on Jan 26 2000 by ashley slater

4.0 out of 5 stars Wasp Factory Eclipsed by Tense and Dangerous Thriller
Iain Banks - you've done it again. Take this book home and if you are a person willing to ride the wave of conspiracy, murder and exacting revenge - this is the story for you. Read more

Published on Nov 24 1999 by Jason Wood

5.0 out of 5 stars I Declare The Kite is Flying
This is a modern masterpiece and not just because Banks talks about the "highly controversial" topic of masturbation and graphic sex, but because it's so blinkin' good;... Read more

Published on Nov 13 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping, Exciting, Complex - Masterpiece!
I am also reading this book for my Higher Review of Personal Reading and it is undoubtably the best book I have read to date. Read more

Published on Oct 26 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars A tight, disturbing read
Iain Banks has lost the plot recently - buy this to see him at his best. This was far and away the most coherent of his books (having said that, some of the wilder ones were... Read more

Published on Oct 26 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars The best book I have ever read (possibly)
I have read this book for my Review of Personal reading for my English higher, and although this is my second go at this, I wish that this was the book I used the first time... Read more

Published on Oct 22 1999 by Chris Herd

4.0 out of 5 stars Compelling reading
A mystery and suspense novel that is remarkable in its narrative. Loved it. Banks' humour is superb and the politics right on!

Published on Sep 25 1999

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