Espedair Street

Another great book by Iain Banks, this one is a bit less apocalyptic than usual, but no less dark or gritty for it. The novel is the biopic of a fictional famous rock star, from the era of Bowie and Rod Stewart. Set after the collapse of his band, but told mostly through flashbacks, we get a harsh and thoroughly realistic experience through the eyes of (but of course) a highly unusual man. An enthralling book, that blends in Banks' more traditional views on ethics and morals with his flair for good old fashioned adventure. Also, I'm not sure about the title, it looks like it should be an anagram for 'Despair Street' (think Desperation Row), but what's that extra e for eh?

We join armies, we enter monasteries or nunneries, we adopt the party line, we believe what we read in ancient books or shit newspapers or what we're told by plastic politicians, and all we're ever trying to do is give somebody else the responsibility for thinking.