{"product_id":"book-l2c2","title":"Iain Banks: A BBC Radio Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSelected readings and full-cast dramatisations from across the literary and science fiction of Iain Banks\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIain Banks, aka Iain M Banks, came to fame in 1984 with his transfixing debut \u003ci\u003eThe Wasp Factory\u003c\/i\u003e, described as both 'a work of unparalleled depravity' and 'a masterpiece'. In 1993 he was acknowledged as one of the Best of Young British Writers, and his numerous bestselling books include \u003ci\u003eThe Crow Road\u003c\/i\u003e,\u003ci\u003e Complicity\u003c\/i\u003e and the 'Culture' sci-fi series. Collected here are three of his best works, as heard on BBC Radio.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Wasp Factory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Iain Banks' controversial first novel features one of literature's most unsettling teenage boys. Sixteen-year-old Frank invites us inside his macabre world, as he describes experimenting with explosives, torturing insects - and killing his relatives. But he is not alone in his madness - his brother, Eric, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is making his way back home… \u003cb\u003eJoseph McFadden\u003c\/b\u003e reads this blackly comic cult classic, abridged by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe State of the Art\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Arriving on Earth in 1977, the Culture ship \u003ci\u003eArbitrary\u003c\/i\u003e finds a planet on the brink of self-destruction, obsessed with alien concepts such as 'property' and 'money'. When agent Dervley Linter decides to go native, can Diziet Sma change his mind? \u003cb\u003eAntony Sher, Nina Sosanya\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003ePaterson Joseph\u003c\/b\u003e star in this thrilling sci-fi novella, adapted for radio by \u003ci\u003eDoctor Who\u003c\/i\u003e writer Paul Cornell.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePiece\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003ci\u003e - \u003c\/i\u003eAs he waits to board a plane, Munro recalls two previous journeys. Travelling by bus and then train, he finds himself in parallel arguments started by the books he is carrying, pitching reason against faith. But life is too complicated for there not to be continual coincidences… This radio adaptation by Craig Warner of Iain Banks' short story stars \u003cb\u003eBill Paterson\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eEspedair Street\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Told in the style of a Radio 1 documentary, Paul Gambaccini presents the story behind the spectacular rise and tragic fall of the fictional 1970s mega-band, Frozen Gold - from the album deal that set a rock industry record, to the mysterious deaths of two of the band members. At the centre of it all is Weird, the songwriting genius from a Paisley housing scheme, who suddenly finds himself living a life of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll… Starring \u003cb\u003eJohn-Gordon Sinclair, Louise Beattie, James MacPherson \u003c\/b\u003eand \u003cb\u003eSteven McNicoll\u003c\/b\u003e, and featuring original music by Iain Banks.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eText copyright © Iain Banks 1984 (\u003ci\u003eThe Wasp Factory\u003c\/i\u003e), 1987 (\u003ci\u003eEspedair Street\u003c\/i\u003e), 1989 ('Piece')\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe State of the Art\u003c\/i\u003e copyright © Iain M Banks 1989\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Wasp Factory\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eRead by Joseph McFadden\u003cbr\u003eAbridged by Craig Warner\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Alex Burrett\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 March-5 April 1997\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe State of the Art\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Ship - Antony Sher\u003cbr\u003eDiziet Sma - Nina Sosanya\u003cbr\u003eDervley Linter - Paterson Joseph\u003cbr\u003eLi - Graeme Hawley\u003cbr\u003eTel - Brigit Forsyth\u003cbr\u003eSodel - Conrad Nelson\u003cbr\u003eDramatised by Paul Cornell\u003cbr\u003eDirected by Nadia Molinari\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 5, 5 March 2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003ePiece\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMunro - Bill Paterson\u003cbr\u003eJack- Harry Jones\u003cbr\u003eMo - Bash Kher\u003cbr\u003eEve\/the Voice - Susan Sheridan\u003cbr\u003eAdapted by Craig Warner\u003cbr\u003eProduced and directed by John York\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 1991\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eEspedair Street\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWeird - John Gordon Sinclair\u003cbr\u003eChristine - Louise Beattie\u003cbr\u003eDavey - James MacPherson\u003cbr\u003eRic - Steven McNicoll\u003cbr\u003eMcCann - Sandy Morton\u003cbr\u003eJean Webb - Margaret Clark\u003cbr\u003eWes - Douglas Russell\u003cbr\u003eWee Tommy - Martin Docherty\u003cbr\u003eInez - Gowan Calder\u003cbr\u003eNightclub manager - Graham Debanzi\u003cbr\u003ePop biographer - Paul Gambaccini\u003cbr\u003eDramatised by Joe Dunlop\u003cbr\u003eMusic by lain Banks and Nigel Clark\u003cbr\u003eKeyboards: Brian Kellock, Guitar: Nick Clark, Drums: Gordon Wilson, Vocals: Monica Queen\u003cbr\u003eDirected by Dave Batchelor\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-29 January 2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":50353788813616,"sku":"BDl2c2","price":11.67,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/l2c2-Square-cover.jpg?v=1782015191","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-l2c2","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}