Dead Air

Banks's subject here is nothing less than the survival of the individual in the face of a chaotic world. The destruction of personality under the lacerating values of modernity is a subject repeatedly addressed by JG Ballard (and that author's shadow is clearly evident here), and although this is one of the Iain Banks novels in which he pointedly does not use the "M" in his name that marks his science fiction, this nightmare vision of contemporary London has more than a trace of that genre in its sense of fractured reality. But all the caustic humour and dark character development that Banks excels in are fully in place. --Barry Forshaw

Reader Reviews:

Politics Passed Off as a Novel? (1/1 people found this helpful)

Have to say I have mixed feelings about this story of the life of fictional shock-jock, Ken Notts. For one thing, I can't stand it when authors discuss or express political views through the dialogue between their characters, and this is frequently the case in this novel as Notts embarks upon long, uninteresting rants on politics, society and sport. The character felt nothing more than an excuse for the writer to express posssible views of his own that would have seen him linched if this wasn't a work of fiction. In the end I skipped them all until he took the reader back to the narrative. The dialogues also slow the novel right down, too.

The other thing I don't like about the novel is what I'd consider a blatant exploitation of the 9/11 disaster, for there's very little reference to, connection with, or discussion, on the tragedy at all in the book. It has simply been used to attract the attention of the reader, which I find very bad taste, and has put me right off Iain Banks.

The first half seems to drift nowhere in particular, with nothing of note other than the accident, the introduction of Nott's affair with a gangster's wife and the kidnapping, though these don't really hook you because of the distractions of the dialogue from the narrative.

Then, all of a sudden, the book kicks into life in the second half, becomes a fairly enjoyable read with some real moments of tension and you wonder what Banks was playing at in the first half. I particularly enjoyed Nott's confrontation with a Holocaust denier - even if this reflected a possible political argument of the author! - and how he gets himself in and out of the tight spot regarding his affair with the gangster's wife, I also liked how he Notts related what was going through his mind.

If you're the type of person that has a pile of books to get through, "Dead Air" is one to be put to the bottom until you've read all the others, since the first half makes it a get-it-over-and-done-with-style novel. If it hadn't have been for the second half I wouldn't have give "Dead Air" any stars.

Jeremy Clarkson on drugs (1/1 people found this helpful)

These are some comments from my book group which scored this book between 2 and 8 (out of 10) averaging out at 5.

The main character, Ken, appears to believe he's a moral crusader. As a DJ he discusses left-wing values at length in a conceited fashion on his radio show. He strongly challenges those who don't agree with him before finding that, with the first bit of pressure, his own morals rapidly crumble beneath him.

Other characters come and go very easily in this novel as there's only one person who really interests superficial Ken - his incredibly emotionally controlled lover.

Ken comes across as very self-opinionated and shallow, a Jeremy Clarkson on drugs. Is the author perhaps like this himself or is this self-centred character possibly a reflection of the navel-gazing, dysfunctional, post 9/11 wider world?

This novel is filled to the brim with pseudo-intellectual mocking rants, filler and scornful diatribe. There's a great deal of clever word play but also rather boring monologue. The disjointed dialogue reminded one of our book group of a radio being tuned in and out.

The contrived plot was felt to have too neat an ending.

The writing is very energtic but there's too much padding and diatribe. This is a self-indulgent novel, a light read - chick-lit for men.

Dead Air by Iain Banks (1/2 people found this helpful)

Reviewed by Kez Russell

Shock-Jock local DJ Ken Nott is outrageous and outspoken. He has an eye for the ladies and a vitriolic point to make - several points, in fact. Banks doesn't let his faithful followers down with a real-life adventure described in convincing monologue by one of the strongest fictional characters I've ever met. Things are getting worrying though as Nott faces death threats and discovery of more than one misdemeanour with other men's wives. Another gripping read from Banks - as the sinister conclusion approaches, putting down the book becomes an impossible cause.

Really good but just doesn't feel quite right... (1/1 people found this helpful)

Barcode: 9780349116648

I read this just after i read The Wasp Factory and well... let's just say this is a very different story, both in content and quality. Don't get me wrong, Banks is a fantastic writer and it shows in this book, thus the 4 stars. The plot is tense, the dialogue witty and the characters likable. Above all, it is intensely realistic, and that is where my doubts first come in.

It is almost too realistic. When reading people like to escape but this is way too close to home, set as it is in contemporary London, dealing with terrorism and so on. This is one of those texts where you just wish the lead character would get a break and something good would happen but instead he just comes up against misfortune upon misfortune right up to the end.

The sex scenes feel overly seedy, the true love that is behind them not shwoing through enough although aside from that are are quite a few moments of genuinely charming interaction between various characters. Also, like another reviewer said, prepare yourself for major social/political views to come flying at you - it is quite clear the author likes to invest his characters with what he thinks and it shows all too clearly. Now, as best i can remember, i didn't object to his views overly, they't just a bit in your face and are they really the thing you want to read about when you pick up a novel?

I'd still recomend this book though as it is fascinating and it'd make for a great film. Bank's gift at realism is incredible and it is worth reading his book for that alone.

The Banks Formula (2/4 people found this helpful)

This is another of Banks' formulaic novels, which nevertheless makes it no worse for the reading when in the right mind-frame.

The formula of the last few years appears to lie somewhere along the boundary between the bohemia and depravity of Western lifestyle. This I must say is why I tend to be drawn back to his novels (much as I am reluctant to admit this).

Although, I was unable to let this book go until I had finished it, I was unable to recommend it onto others, feeling somewhat unfulfilled at the end.

Banks is a quick-fix to literature, like McDonalds is to cuisine, The Spice Girls are to music, or Playstation is to having fun. We're drawn to these things, but we can't say much more than "it's OK".

Iain Banks

Editorial Review: