Iain Banks: A BBC Radio Collection: Including The Wasp Factory, The State of the Art & Espedair Street

Selected readings and full-cast dramatisations from across the literary and science fiction of Iain Banks

Iain Banks, aka Iain M Banks, came to fame in 1984 with his transfixing debut The Wasp Factory, 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 The Crow Road, Complicity and the ‘Culture’ sci-fi series. Collected here are three of his best works, as heard on BBC Radio.

The Wasp Factory – 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, Angus, has escaped from a psychiatric hospital and is making his way back home… Joseph McFadden reads this blackly comic cult classic, abridged by multi-award-winning playwright Craig Warner.

The State of the Art – Arriving on Earth in 1977, the Culture ship Arbitrary 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? Antony Sher, Nina Sosanya and Paterson Joseph star in this thrilling sci-fi novella, adapted for radio by Doctor Who writer Paul Cornell.

Piece – As 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 Bill Paterson.

Espedair Street – 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 John-Gordon Sinclair, Louise Beattie, James MacPherson and Steven McNicoll, and featuring original music by Iain Banks.

Text copyright © Iain Banks 1984 (The Wasp Factory), 1987 (Espedair Street), 1989 (‘Piece’) The State of the Art copyright © Iain M Banks 1989

The Wasp Factory Read by Joseph McFadden Abridged by Craig Warner Produced by Alex Burrett First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 March-5 April 1997

The State of the Art The Ship – Antony Sher Diziet Sma – Nina Sosanya Dervley Linter – Paterson Joseph Li – Graeme Hawley Tel – Brigit Forsyth Sodel – Conrad Nelson Dramatised by Paul Cornell Directed by Nadia Molinari First broadcast BBC Radio 5, 5 March 2009

Piece Munro - Bill Paterson Jack- Harry Jones Mo - Bash Kher Eve/the Voice - Susan Sheridan Adapted by Craig Warner Produced and directed by John York First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6 June 1991

Espedair Street Weird – John Gordon Sinclair Christine – Louise Beattie Davey – James MacPherson Ric – Steven McNicoll McCann – Sandy Morton Jean Webb – Margaret Clark Wes – Douglas Russell Wee Tommy – Martin Docherty Inez – Gowan Calder Nightclub manager – Graham Debanzi Pop biographer – Paul Gambaccini Dramatised by Joe Dunlop Music by lain Banks and Nigel Clark Keyboards: Brian Kellock, Guitar: Nick Clark, Drums: Gordon Wilson, Vocals: Monica Queen Directed by Dave Batchelor First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 8-29 January 2008

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Lydbog: 26. juni 2025