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A Song of Stone
 
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A Song of Stone (Paperback)

by Iain Banks (Author)
2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
Price: CDN$ 31.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over CDN$ 39. Details
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A Song of Stone + Whit + Canal Dreams
Total List Price: CDN$ 67.94
Price For All Three: CDN$ 58.22

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Product Description

From Amazon.com

This brutal tale starts in a bleak, brutal European any-war. Abel and Morgan live in a forboding castle, alone and isolated, until the conflict intrudes on their numb lives in the form of a cruel mercenary lieutenant and her violent, ravaging men who take up residence. From there, the tale disintegrates into darkness and atrocity, punctuated by Abel's memories of earlier joy and pain. Iain Banks pushes the story steadily downward, dragging the morbidly fascinated reader into the depths of human despair. Gang rape, torture, and incest are seen through Abel's uncaring eyes--this book is not for the squeamish. And although Banks strives for a Passion play in the end, what's missing is even the tiniest kernel of real redemption. Fans of The Wasp Factory and Banks's other non-science fiction works will find familiar details here, but A Song of Stone stands alone as a fable of hopelessness. --Therese Littleton --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.


From Publishers Weekly

"This could be any place or time," observes the narrator of this near-future fable, summing up the universality of its antiwar sentiments. Although vague in the details of geography and history, Banks's latest U.S. release (after Excession) is sharp and perceptive in its philosophical exploration of the dehumanizing potential of armed conflict. Set in a Brechtian landscape of revolution and depleted resources, it follows the tribulations of Abel, an aristocrat forced to billet Lieutenant Lute and her guerrilla army in his castle. Initially, the two treat each other with a strained civility that allows Abel to gloat secretly at the profane hordes who "commonise... what should be free from vulgar threat." As the battle draws threateningly nearer, the pretense of mutual respect dissolves and Abel finds the increasingly barbaric behavior of his captors resonating with a savagery in his own soul. Like J.G. Ballard and Anthony Burgess, Banks is a visionary whose depictions of the strange forms morality, politics and social relationships assume under the pressure of extreme circumstances fall almost by default into the realm of science fiction and horror. His impeccable prose undulates with a poetry and sensuality that transform the most ordinary movements of his tale into resonant images of beauty and terror. In less skilled hands, Abel's reluctant acknowledgment of his class's complicity in the despoliation of the country might have been just another war-is-hell story. Banks makes it the fulcrum of an emotionally intense odyssey of self-revelation. (Sept.) FYI: Simon & Schuster will simultaneously reissue Banks's first novel, The Wasp Factory (1984), in trade paper.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews

25 Reviews
5 star:
 (1)
4 star:
 (7)
3 star:
 (7)
2 star:
 (5)
1 star:
 (5)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.8 out of 5 stars (25 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most helpful customer reviews

 
4.0 out of 5 stars Ready, Willing and Abel, Jan 23 2007
By Craobh Rua "Craobh Rua" (N. Ireland) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Song Of Stone (Paperback)
Iain Banks first novel, "The Wasp Factory", was published 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'. He's also seen this book, "The Crow Road", adapted for television by the BBC in 1996. "A Song of Stone" was first published in 1997.

The book is set in the aftermath of what appears to have been a long and devastating war - though at no point is any indication of its causes, or even who was fighting. While the war itself may even be over - it's hard to tell, with no real communication between different parts of the country - it's left anarchy behind : food and fuel are scarce, while there are regular skirmishes between a number of roaming factions. The story is told by Abel, an aristocrat with a title - albeit, apparently, a minor one. As the book opens, he and his beloved Morgan are abandoning their castle - hoping to avoid the sort of people it would probably attract. Unfortunately, they are captured early in their journey by a band of partisans who - as Abel feared - viewed the couple's home as an excellent base of operations. Abel and Morgan are taken back to their home - now, as trapped by the castle's walls as they are protected by it.

The book is told entirely from Abel's point of view - "I wonder at the lieutenant and the history of her men". Gradually, hints of his former life are given, much of it involving the development of his relationship with Morgan. Little, on the other hand, is told of the lieutenant or her men - even their real names are withheld. The language and style used is very descriptive at times, lyrical and nearly pretentious in places. For all his attempts to romanticise his thoughts, his feelings and his past, however, I found Abel to be an increasingly dislikeable character : for a member of the nobility, there was very little noble about him. In fact, as the book went on, I wasn't even convinced Morgan felt any real warmth towards him. For someone who hasn't read anything by Banks, I'm not sure I'd recommend this as a starting point - "Whit" and "The Crow Road" would possibly be a better introduction. However, "A Song of Stone" is certainly worth reading.
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4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful language, powerful subject, Mar 13 2002
By perseus69 (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
first off, let me say i have read all of iain banks' books and this is different. so dont expect sci-fi "culture" entertainment.

that said, this is really a great book, brilliantly written with beautiful poetic language. while banks is always a good technical writer, this novel is by far the most lyrical and poetic in language. it is also somewhat harder to follow than most of his as a consequence, but i liked that it made you think a little. also, some aspects of the story are never stated outright but only implied obliquely through the actions of other characters or implications in the main characters interior monologue. again, perhaps a bit challenging for some, but i liked it and found it consistent with the dark, murky tone of the novel. the characters are so close and personal that it really touches you in a powerful way. it reminds me of "The Killer Inside Me" (Jim Thompson) in that way.

this book is disturbing in many ways, but it is also Real. it is a powerful commentary both on age-old human nature and on recent history. the combination of the close first-person narrative and the disturbing topics can be too much for some, but i found it very stimulating. this is one of the few books i read in the last year that i still think about. the themes and images will be with you for a long time. disturbing and dark yes, but brilliantly written and very powerful.

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3.0 out of 5 stars Disturbing...., Jul 17 2001
By spideranansie (Singapore - Manchester) - See all my reviews
I haven't read any of Iain Banks' novels before I picked up "A Song of Stone" so I can't honestly say if it is his usual standard or if it's better or worse than his other works. Reading some of the other reviews on here, however, I do agree that he has a gift of making people feel uncomfortable. Abel's reflections on violence and incest was troubling to say the least. I thought the story slow-moving and felt like I was going around in the same circle the whole time, but perhaps that was Banks' intention to create a dismal atmosphere where one's trapped, and there's no escape except through death (for us, thankfully, the completion of the novel would suffice!) The underlying sexual tension with the female lieutenant was interestingly dealt with, however, and that was probably the only part of the novel where there was visible progress. I should need to read more of Banks' work to decide if I like him or not....if I have the desire to sink into depression again.....
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 		 Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a stroll in the park, but...
I nearly gave up on this book six months ago. It was a tough read, and it took me a month of stops and starts to finish. Read more
Published on Jun 13 2001 by pdresslar

2.0 out of 5 stars One of Banks' Worst
Of all the Iain Banks novels I've read (and that's all but 3), this is my least favorite. In fact, I didn't enjoy it at all. Read more
Published on Nov 18 2000 by Michael A. Alderete

1.0 out of 5 stars Boring rubbish
Although the use of language is most eloquent, the story doesn't go anywhwere. What story there might be is interrupted by chapters about the main character's sex life, which... Read more
Published on Oct 23 2000 by Marty

4.0 out of 5 stars Banks fan, this is a nightmare, beware
To all Banks fans, be warned.

This is not a "normal" Ian Banks or Ian M. Banks book. This is a mix of Kafka, Gombrowitch, non-heroic-sinister-second-world-war movies... Read more

Published on Oct 9 2000 by Henning Henning

4.0 out of 5 stars It is bleak. Really bleak.
It seems that with every novel Mr.Banks produces, his stories become less and less acessible. A large, large part of "A Song of Stone" is left up to interpretation... Read more
Published on Jul 28 2000 by mahalia

2.0 out of 5 stars Iain's worst by far, I think...
Iain went too far with this book. If you read this, it's good at first (especially with the Lt.'s introduction killing Half-Caste) but when you keep going it gets horribly... Read more
Published on Jul 15 2000 by puffinstuf

1.0 out of 5 stars Bleak
I'm a Banks Fan. I've read most everything he's ever published -- but many many people warned me about this book, saying it was no good. Read more
Published on Jul 10 2000 by dac

3.0 out of 5 stars Unsettling but not groundbreaking...
It seems to be generally agreed upon that this is not one of Iain Banks' finest works. In Song of Stone, Banks has plucked some successful elements from previous works and placed... Read more
Published on April 24 2000 by Chris MB

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting novel.
Interesting novel. It has distinct style which could be viewed as either eloquent or wordy. Personally I lean towards the latter.
Published on Feb 8 2000 by Jim Beam

4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant as ever
As always, Banks is brilliant with words and spins a yarn that gets you tangled quickly and permanently. Read more
Published on Feb 2 2000 by Martin Samuelsson

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