47 pages 1 hour read

Iain Banks

The Wasp Factory

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1984

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks is a family drama and horror novel about Frank Cauldhame, a teenager living on a small Scottish island with his eccentric father. Frank believes he is the island's guardian, performing strange rituals and using a macabre device called The Wasp Factory to seek answers. As the story unfolds, Frank deals with his troubled brother Eric's escape from a psychiatric hospital and uncovers shocking truths about his own identity. The book includes graphic depictions of violence against animals, exploitative depictions of mental illness, and forced gender reassignment.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks delivers a dark and disturbing narrative that captivates with its originality and intense atmosphere. Reviewers praise its compelling prose and thought-provoking themes but caution about graphic content and controversial subject matter. Its unsettling nature may not suit all readers, yet it undeniably leaves a lasting impression.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Wasp Factory?

Readers who enjoy dark, psychological thrillers with complex characters and twisted plots will be captivated by Iain Banks's The Wasp Factory. Fans of works like William Golding's Lord of the Flies and Chuck Palahniuk's Fight Club will appreciate its disturbing yet compelling narrative and examination of human nature.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Coming of Age / Bildungsroman

Themes

Relationships: Family

Identity: Gender

Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Topics

Trauma / Abuse / Violence