The Steep Approach to Garbadale
Encyclopedia
The Steep Approach to Garbadale is a novel
by the Scottish writer Iain Banks
, published in 2007. The novel had at least two working titles, Matter and Empire! [fact]
called Empire!, now a successful computer game. A U.S. firm, the Spraint
Corporation, wants to buy them out.
, but has had to retire on medical grounds because of white finger
. He is distracted from affairs of business by his relations with his family and with his teenage love, his first cousin
Sophie.
McGill is approached by another cousin, Fielding, to help prevent the sale of the family company to the American Spraint Corporation. He also seeks a resolution of certain questions about his family background, and closure
of his relationship with Sophie. Much of the book is a build-up to the Extraordinary General Meeting
which will decide on the sale, which takes place at the family estate at Garbadale in Sutherland
. His current girlfriend, mathematician
Verushka Graef, is a hillwalker
, and near the end of the book Alban goes for a walk in the hills to think. On his return he takes the steep approach back to Garbadale.
Significant portions of the action are set in California
, Singapore
and Hong Kong, as McGill reminisces about his world travels during his gap year
. His mother's suicide
is described in detail, as is his relationship with the family matriarch, Grandma Win.
Banks takes the opportunity, as in Dead Air
and Raw Spirit
, to make points about the morality and wisdom of the War on Terror
, when McGill meets representatives of the American capitalists who wish to acquire the family game symbolising the British Empire
.
The book opens and closes with contributions from McGill's friend and ex-colleague Tango, who lives in a council estate in Perth
.
. Both involve a reunion of a large Scottish family, and both feature a dark secret at the heart of the family.
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 2007. The novel had at least two working titles, Matter and Empire! [fact]
Plot introduction
The book describes the Wopuld family, who made a fortune on a board gameBoard game
A board game is a game which involves counters or pieces being moved on a pre-marked surface or "board", according to a set of rules. Games may be based on pure strategy, chance or a mixture of the two, and usually have a goal which a player aims to achieve...
called Empire!, now a successful computer game. A U.S. firm, the Spraint
Spraint
Spraint or scat is the dung of the otter.Spraints are typically identified by smell and are known for their distinct aromas, the smell of which has been described as ranging from freshly mown hay to putrefied fish....
Corporation, wants to buy them out.
Plot summary
Alban McGill, a member of the Wopuld family, has sold most of his shares in the family firm, and resigned from his job in the company to become a foresterForester
250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...
, but has had to retire on medical grounds because of white finger
Vibration white finger
Vibration white finger is a secondary form of Raynaud's syndrome, an industrial injury triggered by continuous use of vibrating hand-held machinery. Use of the term Vibration White Finger has generally been superseded by Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome or HAVS...
. He is distracted from affairs of business by his relations with his family and with his teenage love, his first cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
Sophie.
McGill is approached by another cousin, Fielding, to help prevent the sale of the family company to the American Spraint Corporation. He also seeks a resolution of certain questions about his family background, and closure
Closure (psychology)
Closure or need for closure is a popular psychology term used to describe an individual's desire for a definite cognitive closure as opposed to enduring ambiguity...
of his relationship with Sophie. Much of the book is a build-up to the Extraordinary General Meeting
Extraordinary General Meeting
An extraordinary general meeting, commonly abbreviated as EGM, is a meeting of members of an organisation, shareholders of a company, or employees of an official body, which occurs at an irregular time. The term is usually used where the group would ordinarily hold an annual general meeting , but...
which will decide on the sale, which takes place at the family estate at Garbadale in Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
. His current girlfriend, mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
Verushka Graef, is a hillwalker
Hillwalking
In the British Isles, the terms hillwalking or fellwalking are commonly used to describe the recreational outdoor activity of walking on hills and mountains, often with the intention of visiting their summits...
, and near the end of the book Alban goes for a walk in the hills to think. On his return he takes the steep approach back to Garbadale.
Significant portions of the action are set in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and Hong Kong, as McGill reminisces about his world travels during his gap year
Gap year
An expression or phrase that is associated with taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time in which students disengage from curricular education and undertake non curricular activities, such as travel or...
. His mother's suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
is described in detail, as is his relationship with the family matriarch, Grandma Win.
Banks takes the opportunity, as in Dead Air
Dead Air
Dead Air is a novel by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, 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:...
and 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:...
, to make points about the morality and wisdom of the War on Terror
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
, when McGill meets representatives of the American capitalists who wish to acquire the family game symbolising the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
.
The book opens and closes with contributions from McGill's friend and ex-colleague Tango, who lives in a council estate in Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
.
Literary significance & criticism
The book has attracted comparison with The Crow RoadThe Crow Road
The Crow Road is a novel by the Scottish writer Iain Banks, published in 1992.-Plot introduction:Prentice McHoan's life, growing up in a complex but coherent Scottish family with many mysteries is described, seen through his preoccupations with death, sex, relationships, drink and God, with the...
. Both involve a reunion of a large Scottish family, and both feature a dark secret at the heart of the family.