Dead Air
Encyclopedia
Dead Air is a novel
by the Scottish writer Iain Banks
, published in 2002.
The reader hears many of Nott's shock-jock lines ("Guns for nutters only; makes sense.") and sees him described as a drug
and booze
fuelled, sexually promiscuous party animal. His politics
are left-wing and libertarian
, and he rants at every chance.
Nott's various girlfriends (including Jo, who does public relations
for an indie
band called Addicta), his long-suffering radio show colleague Phil, and his black DJ friend Ed are described. Apart from the expected difficulties associated with being a politically controversial radio DJ, everything is going smoothly for Ken until he meets Celia (or "Ceel"), a gangster
's wife, who he falls in love with. An indiscretion with a mobile phone
and an answering machine
leads him into some difficult and frightening situations.
, his previous book (under the Iain M Banks guise). Like The Business
, Dead Air is very topical, with much detailed background on technology and contemporary political issues.
"Major rethink on format after the events of September the eleventh," Phil says, about a delay to a television show they are planning. "What a brilliant excuse that's turned out to be, for so many things." The cover of the novel conjures images of the attack as it shows an old picture of two of the chimneys of London's Battersea Power Station
with an aeroplane above them. Critics charged that Banks used the dramatic events of 9/11, and other features of the early 21st century, more as wallpaper than in any meaningful or resonant way.
Critics also felt that Banks did not successfully establish a distance between his own voice and that of the protagonist. Nott's rants are often passionate and articulate; this book was written at the time Banks was building up to cutting up his passport and taking part in the campaign to impeach Tony Blair
. Some of these political ideas are developed further in Raw Spirit
.
Ken Nott resembles a happier version of Cameron Colley, the main character in Banks' earlier novel Complicity
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by the Scottish writer Iain Banks
Iain Banks
Iain Banks is a Scottish writer. He writes mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction as Iain M. Banks, including the initial of his adopted middle name Menzies...
, published in 2002.
Plot introduction
The book revolves around the life of Ken Nott, a radio DJ on a London station called Capital Live!Plot summary
The first person narrative begins on 11 September 2001, and Banks uses the protagonist's conversations - both on the radio and off - to discuss the consequences of the terrorist attacks in the United States on that day. Ken Nott is at a loft party in London at the crucial moment.The reader hears many of Nott's shock-jock lines ("Guns for nutters only; makes sense.") and sees him described as a drug
Psychoactive drug
A psychoactive drug, psychopharmaceutical, or psychotropic is a chemical substance that crosses the blood–brain barrier and acts primarily upon the central nervous system where it affects brain function, resulting in changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, and behavior...
and booze
Alcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
fuelled, sexually promiscuous party animal. His politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
are left-wing and libertarian
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
, and he rants at every chance.
Nott's various girlfriends (including Jo, who does public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
for an indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band called Addicta), his long-suffering radio show colleague Phil, and his black DJ friend Ed are described. Apart from the expected difficulties associated with being a politically controversial radio DJ, everything is going smoothly for Ken until he meets Celia (or "Ceel"), a gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
's wife, who he falls in love with. An indiscretion with a mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
and an answering machine
Answering machine
The answering machine or message machine, also known as the telephone answering machine in the UK and some Commonwealth countries) and previously known as an ansaphone, ansafone, or telephone answering device is a device for answering telephones and recording callers' messages.Unlike voicemail,...
leads him into some difficult and frightening situations.
Literary significance & criticism
The book was not generally well-received by critics. While Banks' story-telling skills were acknowledged, some felt that this was less satisfying, in contrast to Look to WindwardLook to Windward
Look to Windward is a science fiction novel by Scottish writer Iain M. Banks, first published in 2000. It is Banks' sixth published novel to feature The Culture.-Plot introduction:...
, his previous book (under the Iain M Banks guise). Like The Business
The Business (novel)
The Business is a novel by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, published in 1999.-Plot introduction:Kate Telman is a 'level 3' executive in the Business, a vast business empire. During her sabbatical year, she comes to suspect that some of her colleagues are stealing from the organisation, and...
, Dead Air is very topical, with much detailed background on technology and contemporary political issues.
"Major rethink on format after the events of September the eleventh," Phil says, about a delay to a television show they are planning. "What a brilliant excuse that's turned out to be, for so many things." The cover of the novel conjures images of the attack as it shows an old picture of two of the chimneys of London's Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station
Battersea Power Station is a decommissioned coal-fired power station located on the south bank of the River Thames, in Battersea, South London. The station comprises two individual power stations, built in two stages in the form of a single building. Battersea A Power Station was built first in the...
with an aeroplane above them. Critics charged that Banks used the dramatic events of 9/11, and other features of the early 21st century, more as wallpaper than in any meaningful or resonant way.
Critics also felt that Banks did not successfully establish a distance between his own voice and that of the protagonist. Nott's rants are often passionate and articulate; this book was written at the time Banks was building up to cutting up his passport and taking part in the campaign to impeach Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
. Some of these political ideas are developed further in Raw Spirit
Raw Spirit
Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram is a nonfiction book by Iain Banks, first published in 2003. It is his first nonfiction book.-Summary:...
.
Ken Nott resembles a happier version of Cameron Colley, the main character in Banks' earlier novel Complicity
Complicity
Complicity is a novel by Scottish author Iain Banks. It was published in 1993.-Plot introduction:Its two main characters are Cameron Colley, a journalist on a Scottish newspaper called The Caledonian, which resembles The Scotsman, and a serial murderer whose identity is a mystery...
.
Release details
- 2002, UK, Little Brown (ISBN 0-316-86055-7), Pub date ? ? 2002, hardback (First edition)
External links
- Guardian review 14 September 2002.