The Wasp Factory

From beginning to end, this short novel is chock full of depraved and disturbing imagery. Banks' ability to speak from within the mind of his main character is both startling and unsettling. While Frank Cauldhame is indeed a darkly twisted young protagonist, the reader is quickly and easily drawn into his weirdly insular world-view. Frank's matter-of-fact descriptions of his daily endeavors and his past crimes are so casually delivered that it adds an entire extra dimension to the horror of who and what he is.

Although there were plenty of subtle hints along the way, I did not see the twist ending coming. I knew there was something off about the main character, (I mean something other than his murderously cruel tendencies), but Banks steered me into the surprise ending without telegraphing the true nature of the situation. The final wrap-up was a little too tidy and redemptive for me but did not detract from how skillfully it was delivered.

At the end of the day, this is a brilliant piece of writing, but the subject matter can be distressing. People who like animals should probably steer clear.