Published in Incorporating Writing, Issue 5 Vol 3, July 2008
Unpicking the secretive history of a highly powered, wealthy games manufacturing company, this novel revolves around a crescendo for the family business - the opportunity to sell out to an American corporation. The Steep Approach to Garbadale tells of the game play in a struggle for power within the family. This wrangling is of the business, closely held family secrets, parental control and recognition of responsibility. The concurrence between the family relationship and the business permeates the novel, exploring the changes in the marketplace, echoing the move from family establishment to the new Corporation involvement. In reflection of this overriding theme, Alban's changing affections provide reinforcement for the plot. He relinquishes his adoration of Sophie (his childhood sweetheart) to accept his mature and real feelings for VG who sets Alban free, bringing freshness to the novel through her new perspectives and unconventional attitude.
Tactics and the generic principles behind well known games enable the reader to empathise with the characters. This breaks down the complex family relationships to an almost childish simplification, aiding our understanding by presenting a stereotypical surface, which paradoxically makes a greater depth evident.
The characters are often childlike, ageless in their playfulness and extreme stereotypes. A coming of age tale for Alban, the novel is narrated by and about this central character, creating an unbiased and refreshing roundness to the characters. This childishness is present in each character - Win (Alban's grandmother), for example is a formidable woman yet she approaches her family much more seriously than her business. Fielding is a contrast as he is overwhelmingly conscious of brand and commerce, treating family as a game and commodities as reality.
As Alban discovers, and abandons, his naivety the novel reaches its climax and the family begins to reveal its secrets. In the truth about his Mother and his shattered affair with Sophie, Alban uncovers a deeply interwoven and exceedingly dark family dynamic, bringing a greater appreciation and understanding of individuals as separate from the family unit.
The chance element of gaming is represented within the plot as love - beyond tactics and scheming, the complex romantic relationships within this family are unquantifiable and somewhat irrational. An antidote to the capitalist undertones, Banks' reminds us that money can't buy you happiness. As the entanglement of emotions within The Steep Approach to Garbadale unfolds, Alban is able to, albeit painfully, evolve and his coming of age is complete. He leaves his childhood just as the family must leave their business.
Iain Banks has a rare, humble talent. His writing is often uncomfortable (evident from his first novel, The Wasp Factory) yet evocatively effective; his use of Scottish colloquialisms and wry, dark humour triumphs time after time. Banks doesn't write to please in an obviously gratifying way - instead he creates subtle and sumptuous, accomplished literature.
Building upon this tradition, The Steep Approach to Garbadale blends ruthlessly humane storytelling with sometimes nauseating commercial references where the exaggerated level of superficial detail slows and desensitises the narrative. The pace is controlled by the contrast between this dense yet empty narrative, and Banks' dialogue - where humour and colloquialisms increase the pace. These aspects of the narrative make the characters and themes more identifiable; the largely alien theme of the established, super-rich family is further grounded by the parallel, anecdotal sub plots throughout.
Early on in the novel this is particularly disquieting. The pulp references to commercial awareness and capitalism are overbearing and insincere; yet as the plot fills out this trait becomes evidence of Banks' talent - emphasising his gentle negotiation of satire and social commentary. The tone is lighter than Bank's usual style, it is less involved and so emphasises attitudes to the business (in particular to Alban's desertion of the family firm). Its attempted sophistication appears brash in contrast to the more developed complex social themes. The hedonistic lifestyle of these highly achieving characters fragments the narrative, creating mystery with its frustrating gaps and sporadic detail.
Although not Banks' most immediately likeable novel, The Steep Approach to Garbadale is exceptionally well written; conscious of the ironies of contemporary culture with a control and density which make it a rich, rewarding read.
Unpicking the secretive history of a highly powered, wealthy games manufacturing company, this novel revolves around a crescendo for the family business - the opportunity to sell out to an American corporation. The Steep Approach to Garbadale tells of the game play in a struggle for power within the family. This wrangling is of the business, closely held family secrets, parental control and recognition of responsibility. The concurrence between the family relationship and the business permeates the novel, exploring the changes in the marketplace, echoing the move from family establishment to the new Corporation involvement. In reflection of this overriding theme, Alban's changing affections provide reinforcement for the plot. He relinquishes his adoration of Sophie (his childhood sweetheart) to accept his mature and real feelings for VG who sets Alban free, bringing freshness to the novel through her new perspectives and unconventional attitude.
Tactics and the generic principles behind well known games enable the reader to empathise with the characters. This breaks down the complex family relationships to an almost childish simplification, aiding our understanding by presenting a stereotypical surface, which paradoxically makes a greater depth evident.
The characters are often childlike, ageless in their playfulness and extreme stereotypes. A coming of age tale for Alban, the novel is narrated by and about this central character, creating an unbiased and refreshing roundness to the characters. This childishness is present in each character - Win (Alban's grandmother), for example is a formidable woman yet she approaches her family much more seriously than her business. Fielding is a contrast as he is overwhelmingly conscious of brand and commerce, treating family as a game and commodities as reality.
As Alban discovers, and abandons, his naivety the novel reaches its climax and the family begins to reveal its secrets. In the truth about his Mother and his shattered affair with Sophie, Alban uncovers a deeply interwoven and exceedingly dark family dynamic, bringing a greater appreciation and understanding of individuals as separate from the family unit.
The chance element of gaming is represented within the plot as love - beyond tactics and scheming, the complex romantic relationships within this family are unquantifiable and somewhat irrational. An antidote to the capitalist undertones, Banks' reminds us that money can't buy you happiness. As the entanglement of emotions within The Steep Approach to Garbadale unfolds, Alban is able to, albeit painfully, evolve and his coming of age is complete. He leaves his childhood just as the family must leave their business.
Iain Banks has a rare, humble talent. His writing is often uncomfortable (evident from his first novel, The Wasp Factory) yet evocatively effective; his use of Scottish colloquialisms and wry, dark humour triumphs time after time. Banks doesn't write to please in an obviously gratifying way - instead he creates subtle and sumptuous, accomplished literature.
Building upon this tradition, The Steep Approach to Garbadale blends ruthlessly humane storytelling with sometimes nauseating commercial references where the exaggerated level of superficial detail slows and desensitises the narrative. The pace is controlled by the contrast between this dense yet empty narrative, and Banks' dialogue - where humour and colloquialisms increase the pace. These aspects of the narrative make the characters and themes more identifiable; the largely alien theme of the established, super-rich family is further grounded by the parallel, anecdotal sub plots throughout.
Early on in the novel this is particularly disquieting. The pulp references to commercial awareness and capitalism are overbearing and insincere; yet as the plot fills out this trait becomes evidence of Banks' talent - emphasising his gentle negotiation of satire and social commentary. The tone is lighter than Bank's usual style, it is less involved and so emphasises attitudes to the business (in particular to Alban's desertion of the family firm). Its attempted sophistication appears brash in contrast to the more developed complex social themes. The hedonistic lifestyle of these highly achieving characters fragments the narrative, creating mystery with its frustrating gaps and sporadic detail.
Although not Banks' most immediately likeable novel, The Steep Approach to Garbadale is exceptionally well written; conscious of the ironies of contemporary culture with a control and density which make it a rich, rewarding read.
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