Most helpful customer reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Alcohol + Drugs + Talks Too Much = Trouble, Jan 24 2007
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. "Dead Air" is his eleventh non sci-fi book and was first published in 2002.
The book's 'hero' is Ken Nott - a Scottish 'shock jock' who works in London for Capital Live. He's very much a liberal who doesn't believe in religion; having said that, he isn't about to prevent someone from going to church. Ken currently lives on the 'Temple Belle', a very cool houseboat on the Thames. His home, however, is actually owned by Sir Jamie Werthalmey, Capital Live's incredibly rich owner, and is rented by our hero at a very reasonable rate. Ken also appears to be a very prolific lover. Divorced fro Jude, his current official girlfriend in Jo. A PR agent for a record label, Jo's main project appears to be pandering to the every whim of the label's current 'hot' band, Addicta. Unofficially, Ken's also been spending quite a bit of time with Celia. This is something he has to be very secretive about - not only because of Jo, but also because Celia is married to John Merrial. Merrial is not only an acquaintance of Sir Jamie's, but is also a noted 'businessman' whose imports and exports include drugs and people. Although, apparently, he isn't personally violent, crossing him will leave you - at best - VERY injured.
The story itself jumps backwards and forwards, which may put some off - for example, its established very early in the book that Ken and Celia are lovers, though the history of their relationship is told only gradually as the book progresses. The biggest factor on how much someone's going to enjoy this book is Ken himself. The holds very definite opinions about things - notably politics and religion - and won't hold back when he wants to make a point. Given that the book opens on the 11th of September, 2001, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that part of what Ken has to say touches on America's response. I'm also pretty sure there'll be people who won't like what he has to say or how he says it - as a result, I suspect the book won't be enjoyed by the pro-war, anti-liberal community. However, this isn't a book about the Twin Towers or the 'War on Terror' : it's about Ken's ability to get himself in trouble. Despite what I felt was a slow start, I enjoyed it a great deal.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Satire, but I think it is a bit weak, Jun 1 2004
It took me a while to figure out this one: it is set in the backdrop of 9/11, but 9/11 is not really important for the story, apart from a brilliant line: "If 9/11 was meant to be an attack on democracy, they should have rammed the planes into Al Gore's house!"
No, the satire lies in the fact that for the wast majority of people 9/11 did not change anything, life has gone on. Some banality here, a little drama there.
The protagonist, a shock-jock with similarities to Howard Stern goes on with his daily life in London, UK. Things happen to him, and he tries to set wheels rolling with political stunts, but everything just fizzles out for him. I think that's where the satire is: whatever big things that happen around is, our personal life and private dramas tend to be pretty banal.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Underrated, April 30 2004
I'm very surprised at the low rating of this book to date on Amazon. I found it to be good entertainment from beginning to end, and found I could relate to a lot of the scenarios and dialogue arising in the book. It is not a book based around one particular strong storyline but more about getting involved with the everyday life of one man and his friendships, relationships, vices and virtues. I found myself laughing out loud (intentional on author's part) near the end of the book during what was, at the same time, one of the most tense scenes when he broke into the house of his soon-to-be tormentor.Not my favourite Ian Banks book, but a good one as far as I'm concerned, and considerably better than the Business, the previous effort, which I did find dissappointing. I would like a return to something a bit darker though before Mr. Banks hangs up his pen for good.
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