Canal Dreams

Banks churns out another novel. The story chugs along.

It seemed that all the components were there. An interesting main character (a tough female japanese cellist), a ship stuck in the middle of a war-zone, a multi-cultural crew as well as a few other bits (which you'll discover if you read the story). However, the story never really took off. There were plenty of opportunities for Banks to develop some of his ideas, but apart from the protagonist, it all seemed a bit flat. Not quite one-dimensional, but more like this book was a rough draft that was going to have the details filled in later.

I've said this before about Iain Banks, and that is, it's OK (i.e. 3 stars), but don't expect more than a half-dead read.

Banks writes a lefty version of "Rambo" (0/6 people found this helpful)

What was Banks thinking of when he cobbled together this adventure story (as it becomes in the finale)? A low-quality novel, where we're asked to beleive in a one-woman attack force taking out a platoon of guerillas who Banks has allowed to justify their own s through their brutality earlier. The scenario created lacks interest and depth, since we are not permitted to like the protagonista's opponents.

By the way, did anyone mention that she's a world-class cellist? Perhaps we could believe that she has good martial arts skills, but where does her ability with a heavy machine gun come from? What about the missile launcher? At least John Rambo was supposed to've been a soldier.

Disappointing. Is there supposed to some kind of political point? He goes on a lot about Panama's history, but who knows? Did he think that being politically-correct would save the book? It doesn't.

Dream a Little Dream (5/5 people found this helpful)

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. "Canal Dreams" is his fifth non sci-fi book and was first published in 1989.

The book's central character is Hisako Onoda, a world-famous cellist. As the book opens, Hisako is en-route from Japan to Europe, where she's due to perform in a series of concerts. However, as she's terrified of flying, she's making the journey by boat. Having travelled to Honolulu on the Gassam Maru, she then boarded the Nakodo - which was due to take her to Rotterdam via the Panama Canal. Unfortunately, due to `civil unrest' in the region - armed conflict between guerrilla fighters and government forces - the canal has been closed. Fro the moment, the Nakodo and two other ships are essentially trapped on Gatï¿½n Lake. Although they are hoping for the all-clear to continue their journey soon, the conflict I, unfortunately, coming closer.

There are elements of a thriller to "Canal Dreams", but the strength of the book lies in telling Hisako's story. She is a very well-developed character, though her past in only gradually given away - the book jumps backwards and forwards, looking at some of the key events of Hisako's life. It's a method that may take a little getting used to - especially if you haven't read anything by Banks before. However, for me, I felt it really added to the enjoyment of the book. Hisako's travelling companions aren't so well developed, and little is told of their lives, thoughts or motivations. However, as "Canal Dreams" doesn't set out to tell their stories this really isn't a problem - and I would absolutely recommend this book.

Awkward thriller (4/4 people found this helpful)

Canal Dreams concerns a cello player scared of flying, who during a trip through the Panama Canal unwittingly ends up caught between revolutionaries and American special forces operatives. The basic scenario of this thriller is a good one, and the plight of the hostages stranded in the Panama Canal should result in a tense novel, but for some reason Canal Dreams never really comes to life. Probably the main culprit is the heroine Hisako, whose status as both a concert cellist and a martial artist able to kill with one strike is a little unlikely. Banks seems keen to explore what happens to people under extreme pressure – do they go meekly to their deaths or fight? It’s a good angle for a novel, but unfortunately due to her background Hisako is a very cold unemotional character who never really connects with the reader, and for all the pyrotechnics the action scenes never really come to life. Canal Dreams isn’t a bad book – there are plenty of nice moments in Banks writing to keep the pages turning, but compared to his other novels this is a rather flat and unengaging work. For Banks completists only.

Not quite up to Banks's best (11/11 people found this helpful)

It’s often easier to approach an Iain M. Banks novel than one without the middle initial. At least with the “M” present and correct you know what genre you’re going to be reading, whereas his so-called “mainstream” work seems to take place in every conceivable genre plus a few he has created for himself.

Unlike novels such as “The Bridge” or “Walking on Glass”, “Canal Dreams” is based completely in reality. Unlike “The Crow Road” or “Dead Air”, you’d be forgiven for forgetting this fact. The story concerns a famous Japanese cellist who becomes involved in a hostage situation on board a ship unable to escape from the Panama Canal. Essentially, this book is a thriller, but because it’s Iain Banks, you get the suspicion that there’s a lot more going on under the surface than you’re actually aware of. Which is often a good thing, but in this case I couldn’t really make head nor tail of it.

I suspect, though, that “Canal Dreams” was more a satirical take on politics at the time of its publication, making it – at least to a degree – a little irrelevant here and now. Of course, you can just read this as a thriller, but to get more from this book perhaps you need to be older than me. Well, that’s enough of my naysaying – “Canal Dreams” is a very clear, often shocking, illustration of the way life can treat you in very unexpected ways, and just how fragile our lives truly are. Banks keeps the events described realistic right up until the end… without giving away what happens, just bear in mind that the central character’s final actions are completely impossible.

There’s a great deal of tension felt when reading this book – Banks could (and does) do anything at any moment, which enhances the sense that life can and will throw anything your way whether you like it or not. High-octane is probably the best way to describe “Canal Dreams”, and in the end that’s probably all that can be fairly said of it. Simply put, this is an entertaining, well-written read, but intrinsically shallow compared to the more cerebral efforts usually on offer from Banks.

Iain Banks

Reader Reviews:

Half-Dead (0/0 people found this helpful)

Banks writes a lefty version of "Rambo" (0/6 people found this helpful)

Dream a Little Dream (5/5 people found this helpful)

Awkward thriller (4/4 people found this helpful)

Not quite up to Banks's best (11/11 people found this helpful)

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