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Iain Banks

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer Iain Banks.

This week's castaway is an author. In his book The Wasp Factory, the teenage protagonist tortures insects, experiments with bombs and kills a brother and a cousin. But, says Iain Banks, that was "just a phase he was going through". He tells Sue Lawley how, as a writer, he has not developed the filters that most adults do and so views the world with childlike eyes, describing what he sees. And this world, he feels, is very often a violent and terrifying one.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Mohammed's Radio by Warren Zevon
Book: The Complete Monty Python Television Scripts by Monty Python
Luxury: Front Seat Of A Porsche

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Aug 1997 09:05

Music Played

  • Steeleye Span

    Hares on the Mountain

    • Parcel Of Rogues.
    • Shanachie.
  • Jackson Browne

    For A Dancer

    • Late For The Sky.
    • Asylum.
  • The Rezillos

    Cold Wars

    • Can't Stand The Rezillos.
    • Sire.
  • Pete Atkin

    Beware of the Beautiful Stranger

    • The Clive James and Pete Atkin Songbook 1967-1974.
    • RCA.
  • Family

    Me My Friend

    • Music In A Doll's House.
    • Reprise.
  • Thuli Dumakuda

    Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika

    • Cry Freedom.
    • MCA.
  • Al Stewart

    Roads To Moscow

    • Past, Present And Future.
    • BGO Records.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Warren Zevon

      Mohammed's Radio

      • A Quiet Normal Life.
      • Asylum.
  • Book Choice

    • The Complete Monty Python Television Scripts - Monty Python

  • Luxury Choice

    • Front Seat Of A Porsche

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Iain Banks

Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Aug 1997 12:15
  • Fri 29 Aug 1997 09:05

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