Dead Air

Dead Air, by Iain Banks. Abacus.

This book is called a thriller, and I guess it is. Hard to believe, because it starts off slowly. Not that it is ever boring — Banks has a good lead character whose monologues and rants are fun to read, but certainly he takes his time before getting to the "thriller" part of the book.

It's certainly worth the wait, though. My heart was pounding during most of the last 50 or so pages. How could the lead be so stupid, and would he manage to get out of the jam he got himself into?

Qua thriller, the book could probably be rewritten as a novella and lose little. Maybe. Maybe the long buildup makes the end more exciting; it certainly gives Banks a chance to express (what I assume are) some of his political beliefs, which are reasonable, at least.

Thanks to Paul for leaving this book behind when he visited about two years ago.