Transition (novel)
Encyclopedia
Transition is a novel
by Iain Banks
, first published in 2009. The American edition gives the author's name as "Iain M. Banks", the name Banks uses for his science fiction work.
Banks explained what he was aiming for, "With Transition, I wanted to prove something. I wanted to show I could do something like The Bridge
again because until now, that has been my favourite."
While he has insisted it wasn't a commentary on American imperialism ("I don't think it's about America per se; it's more about power and the way that it is wielded in general") he does admit that the character The Philosopher is a way of addressing the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
.
and the 2008 financial crisis
, Transition centres on a shadowy organisation called 'The Concern' (also known as 'L'Expédience'), and how the workings of this organisation affect the lives of the novel's multiple narrator
s and characters. Banks uses the many-worlds interpretation
of quantum mechanics
theory to imagine "infinitudes" of parallel realities
, between which The Concern's agents–known as Transitionaries–can "flit", intervening in events to produce what The Concern sees as beneficial outcomes for that world. Transitioning, or flitting, is only possible for people with a predisposed talent for such movement, who may only flit after ingesting a mysterious drug
called 'septus'. When a Transitionary flits into another world, he or she temporarily takes control of the body of an existing inhabitant of that world, along with some of that body's residual idiosyncrasies (such as personality disorder
s and sexual preferences).
head, Madame d'Ortolan, owing to his formerly close relationship with a renegade Concern operative, Mrs Mulverhill.
, she is deeply worried about the influence of Mrs Mulverhill on the Concern's activities.
in the reality of our own Earth, Adrian is, at first, apparently not connected to the other characters or The Concern. He is a former drug dealer
and arch-capitalist
, who becomes extremely wealthy from his work as a trader, before setting up his own hedge fund
.
Mrs Mulverhill theorises that M. Ortolan is motivated, along with a need to control the Council (and therefore humanity), to ensure that none of the many Earth worlds are contaminated by alien contact. Her instructions to the transitionaries to kill, supposedly to eliminate evil workers, are suspected by Mrs. Mulverhill as being the means of eliminating the possibility of alien contact for Earth in all its realities (or otherwise of covering up this motive). In the final scene, M. 'O' appears to accept this accusation.
- and claims to take no pleasure in his work, seeing it only as a necessary evil
.
for The Guardian
and he suggested the book has a "weird half-heartedness." He concludes "this is an airport novel, something for the flight from JFK to Eafrow. You're welcome to take that for as much of a recommendation as you choose."
.
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 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...
, first published in 2009. The American edition gives the author's name as "Iain M. Banks", the name Banks uses for his science fiction work.
Background
In an interview with The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
Banks explained what he was aiming for, "With Transition, I wanted to prove something. I wanted to show I could do something like The Bridge
The Bridge (novel)
The Bridge is a novel by Scottish author Iain Banks. It was published in 1986. The book switches between three protagonists, John Orr, Alex, and the Barbarian. It is an unconventional love story.-Plot summary:...
again because until now, that has been my favourite."
While he has insisted it wasn't a commentary on American imperialism ("I don't think it's about America per se; it's more about power and the way that it is wielded in general") he does admit that the character The Philosopher is a way of addressing the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Beginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
.
Plot summary
Set between the dismantling of the Berlin WallBerlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was a barrier constructed by the German Democratic Republic starting on 13 August 1961, that completely cut off West Berlin from surrounding East Germany and from East Berlin...
and the 2008 financial crisis
Late-2000s financial crisis
The late-2000s financial crisis is considered by many economists to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s...
, Transition centres on a shadowy organisation called 'The Concern' (also known as 'L'Expédience'), and how the workings of this organisation affect the lives of the novel's multiple narrator
Narrator
A narrator is, within any story , the fictional or non-fictional, personal or impersonal entity who tells the story to the audience. When the narrator is also a character within the story, he or she is sometimes known as the viewpoint character. The narrator is one of three entities responsible for...
s and characters. Banks uses the many-worlds interpretation
Many-worlds interpretation
The many-worlds interpretation is an interpretation of quantum mechanics that asserts the objective reality of the universal wavefunction, but denies the actuality of wavefunction collapse. Many-worlds implies that all possible alternative histories and futures are real, each representing an...
of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
theory to imagine "infinitudes" of parallel realities
Parallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
, between which The Concern's agents–known as Transitionaries–can "flit", intervening in events to produce what The Concern sees as beneficial outcomes for that world. Transitioning, or flitting, is only possible for people with a predisposed talent for such movement, who may only flit after ingesting a mysterious drug
Drug
A drug, broadly speaking, is any substance that, when absorbed into the body of a living organism, alters normal bodily function. There is no single, precise definition, as there are different meanings in drug control law, government regulations, medicine, and colloquial usage.In pharmacology, a...
called 'septus'. When a Transitionary flits into another world, he or she temporarily takes control of the body of an existing inhabitant of that world, along with some of that body's residual idiosyncrasies (such as personality disorder
Personality disorder
Personality disorders, formerly referred to as character disorders, are a class of personality types and behaviors. Personality disorders are noted on Axis II of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders or DSM-IV-TR of the American Psychiatric Association.Personality disorders are...
s and sexual preferences).
The Transitionary
Referred to in section headings as "The Transitionary", the character's name is Temudjin Oh. Like the majority of The Concern's operatives, he naturally inhabits a version of Earth called Calbefraques, which is an "Open" world - one in which the presence of the many worlds is commonly known about and accepted. Temudjin, or Tem, is one of The Concern's most skilled and prized Transitionaries, although much mistrusted by the organisation's de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
head, Madame d'Ortolan, owing to his formerly close relationship with a renegade Concern operative, Mrs Mulverhill.
Patient 8262
A former Transitionary, now in hiding in a far-flung reality, posing as a patient in a hospital.Madame d'Ortolan
The ruthless, sexually predatory and ancient de facto head of The Concern's Central Council. More than two hundred years old, Madame d'Ortolan has been accorded the honour of being allowed to transition permanently into a younger body when her older one is near death. An unstable geniusGenius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
, she is deeply worried about the influence of Mrs Mulverhill on the Concern's activities.
Adrian Cubbish
A City traderTrader (finance)
A trader is someone in finance who buys and sells financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, commodities and derivatives. A broker who simply fills buy or sell orders is not a trader, as they are merely executing instructions given to them. According to the Wall Street Journal in 2004, a managing...
in the reality of our own Earth, Adrian is, at first, apparently not connected to the other characters or The Concern. He is a former drug dealer
Illegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
and arch-capitalist
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, who becomes extremely wealthy from his work as a trader, before setting up his own hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
.
Mrs Mulverhill
A former member of The Concern, a highly talented Transitionary and erstwhile teacher at The Concern's University of Practical Talents. She believes that the ruling elite of the Concern has ulterior motives and a hidden agenda for the actions they perform. After forming a close relationship with Temudjin Oh, she disappears, causing Madame d'Ortolan to become deeply paranoid about her motives and intentions.Mrs Mulverhill theorises that M. Ortolan is motivated, along with a need to control the Council (and therefore humanity), to ensure that none of the many Earth worlds are contaminated by alien contact. Her instructions to the transitionaries to kill, supposedly to eliminate evil workers, are suspected by Mrs. Mulverhill as being the means of eliminating the possibility of alien contact for Earth in all its realities (or otherwise of covering up this motive). In the final scene, M. 'O' appears to accept this accusation.
The Philosopher
A torturer and former employee of the police and army. The Philosopher likes to imagine himself as an ethical and thoughtful man - hence his sobriquetSobriquet
A sobriquet is a nickname, sometimes assumed, but often given by another. It is usually a familiar name, distinct from a pseudonym assumed as a disguise, but a nickname which is familiar enough such that it can be used in place of a real name without the need of explanation...
- and claims to take no pleasure in his work, seeing it only as a necessary evil
Necessary Evil
Necessary Evil sometimes referred to as Plane # 91 was the name of a B-29 Superfortress participating in the atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945....
.
Reception
Transition was reviewed by Patrick NessPatrick Ness
Patrick Ness is an American author, journalist and lecturer who lives in London. He holds both American and British citizenship...
for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and he suggested the book has a "weird half-heartedness." He concludes "this is an airport novel, something for the flight from JFK to Eafrow. You're welcome to take that for as much of a recommendation as you choose."
Unused material
In 2010, an unused section of the first draft was published by the Birmingham Science Fiction group as the short story 'The Spheres' in a booklet of the same name. The publication was a limited edition of 500 to mark Novacon 40Novacon
Novacon is an annual science fiction convention, usually held each November in the West Midlands, UK. It is now the annual convention of the Birmingham Science Fiction Group.-History:...
.