A Song of Stone - Iain Banks

After they finished reading my other Iain Banks Review a "friend" passed me this novel to Review.. hmmm, so without further ado: A Song of Stone is one of Iain Banks' more mainstream novels, but like a number of his other non-genre works, there is much here of interest for the SF fan. In this latest offering there is a Banksian take on a subject very reminiscent of J G Ballard, of a society coming apart at the seams, falling under the weight of its own idiocies. This is a story without a definite place in space or time. The setting seems relatively modern, though it could be any time since the thirties, and almost any European, or at ...  Read the complete review

I've read every Iain (M) Banks title I've ever picked up almost without a break - even Feersum Enjinn - until I reached this one. One thing you can say for Banks is that his stories are page-turners before anything. You just can't resist reading them. Well, I can't anyway. Despite this, after a bit of reflection it is possible to argue that his stories are remarkably similar. Does a ruined castle seem familiar? If so, what about a strong military woman, some serious weapons, a bit of implied pervy stuff, a bizarre secret and a vignette of ruined grandeur caught up in a pointless war? Yes? Up to now, these recurring themes really have not been a bad thing ...  Read the complete review

I'm a fan of Iain Banks book and read all his non science-fiction offerings, but this is probably the poorest one to date. Usually his books command your attention and you end up reading for hours this one took forever to finish. Whilst it has got good bits, in the main this is a dull book in which I didn't really care what happened to the characters. The story beginning in the midst of a civil war with the trails of refugees leaving they're homes for safer climes. However our main character (whose name escapes me) and party are stopped by one (small) faction who realise they are the owners of a castle and force them to go back. The rest of story is set in and ...  Read the complete review

I have to praise the style in which the book is written. It must have taken a lot of patience, however, I couldn't stand it the book. I don't know what put me off but something did. This isn't the first book I have read by Iain Banks. It is the first I didn't like though. I had to read it all in one go because I knew I'd never pick it up again otherwise. This isn't a book for the faint hearted there are some explicit descriptions of rather preverse sexual acts and violence. There is a questionable relationship between Morgan and the man who narrates the story. The book is simply about a European country in the grip ...  Read the complete review

Iain Banks seems to have this thing where all his writings have those magical little twists and details that *make* you engrossed, and A Song Of Stone is no exception. On the surface, the story is of a couple, Abel (Banks' narrative) and Morgan, seemingly his wife; of their fleeing from a castle home during a civil/guerilla war, and their subsequent capture and use by a rag-tag army unit and their female lieutenant commander. A Song Of Stone is typical of Iain Banks, full of dark wit, imagination and intricate details. In my opinion, one of the signs of a good book is needing and wanting to re-read sections.... which this forced me to do. ...  Read the complete review