gore wroteDjpekingman wroteIain Banks - the middle class Irvine Welsh. Or at least that's how he started off. The Wasp Factory, on a par with any of Irvine's horrors, just not as obscene. The Bridge - a middle class intellectual take on the Marabou Stork Nightmares. And then it was all downhill, although Stonehaven was a return to form, echoing middle class niceties over Skag Boys. Came out with the odd good yarn, though rarely as provocative as he should have been. I suppose that's what a nice midddle class upbringing does for you. RIP - at least you'll be able to look down on Irvine at last.
That turned me off his stuff. Started it, abandoned it half way through.
Agreed about the Bridge, I chucked it after a chapter, but Wasp Factory, Crow Road, and Complicity are great books, and his sci-fi stuff (The Player of Games, Feersum Endjinn) was superb (not a popular opinion round this neck of the woods, I know). Welsh was a big fan of his, don't think it's a great comparison, happen to be 2 jocks, that's about it. I thought his journalist in Complicity was a great memorable character, holding down a job just about while doing drugs recreationally, more convincing and relatable than the cartoons that Welsh writes.
Admired Banks for his attitude to death too, a classy way to go. Good lad. Cheers for the books.
