Isis Whit is no ordinary teenager. An innocent in the ways of the world, an ingenue when it comes to pop and fashion, she does however rejoice in the exalted status of Elect of God of the Luskentyrian Sect, a small but committed religious cult based near Stirling.
A month before their four-yearly Festival of Love, during which members indulge vigorously in acts of carnal abandon, the Luskentyrians are thrown into crisis when their Guest of Honour renounces her faith and refuses to attend. Isis' standing in the Community, coupled with the fact that the apostate is her cousin Morag, swiftly marks her out as the person to venture out among the Unsaved and bring the fallen one back to the fold
But her mission through the spiritual barrenness of Ninties Britain - with its 'herbal cigarettes', compact discs and neo-facist thugs - is soon made even more treacherous. It appears that not only has Morag embraced the ways of the Unsaved with spectacular abandon, but for some reason she seems to be actively avoiding Isis, whose own hallowed status among the bretheren undergoes a radical about-turn as her pillar of faith slowly crumbles from within.
Related by a heroine of true originality - a beguiling blend of candour, naivete and naked wit - Whit is a modern Pilgrim's Progress, exploring the techno-ridden vacuity of modern society from a unique perspective. It confirms Iain Banks' status as one of the most entertaining and perceptive chroniclers of life in contemporary Britain, addressing issues of truth and falsehood, kinship and betrayal in a manner that will entrance the huge readership dazzled by The Crow Road and Complicity.
A month before their four-yearly Festival of Love, during which members indulge vigorously in acts of carnal abandon, the Luskentyrians are thrown into crisis when their Guest of Honour renounces her faith and refuses to attend. Isis' standing in the Community, coupled with the fact that the apostate is her cousin Morag, swiftly marks her out as the person to venture out among the Unsaved and bring the fallen one back to the fold
But her mission through the spiritual barrenness of Ninties Britain - with its 'herbal cigarettes', compact discs and neo-facist thugs - is soon made even more treacherous. It appears that not only has Morag embraced the ways of the Unsaved with spectacular abandon, but for some reason she seems to be actively avoiding Isis, whose own hallowed status among the bretheren undergoes a radical about-turn as her pillar of faith slowly crumbles from within.
Related by a heroine of true originality - a beguiling blend of candour, naivete and naked wit - Whit is a modern Pilgrim's Progress, exploring the techno-ridden vacuity of modern society from a unique perspective. It confirms Iain Banks' status as one of the most entertaining and perceptive chroniclers of life in contemporary Britain, addressing issues of truth and falsehood, kinship and betrayal in a manner that will entrance the huge readership dazzled by The Crow Road and Complicity.
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Used availability for Iain Banks's Whit
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
April 2000 : Hardback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-00-105754-5 / 978-0-00-105754-8 (UK edition) Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
January 1995 : Hardback
| Title: Whit, or Isis Amongst the Unsaved Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-316-91436-3 / 978-0-316-91436-9 (USA edition) Publisher: Little Brown and Company Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
December 2000 : Paperback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-349-10848-X / 978-0-349-10848-3 (UK edition) Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1997 : Paperback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks Publisher: Abacus Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
September 1996 : Paperback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-351-31784-8 / 978-0-351-31784-2 (UK edition) Publisher: Abacus Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
September 1996 : Paperback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-349-10768-8 / 978-0-349-10768-4 (UK edition) Publisher: Abacus Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
1995 : Paperback
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks Publisher: Little, Brown Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
Audio Editions
March 2001 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-00-711610-1 / 978-0-00-711610-2 (UK edition) Publisher: HarperCollins Audio Availability: Amazon UK More details... |
April 1999 : Audio Cassette
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 1-85849-772-8 / 9781858497723 (UK edition) Publisher: Argo Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
April 1999 : Audio CD
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 1-85849-777-9 / 9781858497778 (UK edition) Publisher: Argo Availability: Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
September 2008 : Unknown
| Title: Whit Author(s): Iain Banks ISBN: 0-7481-0997-8 / 978-0-7481-0997-5 (UK edition) Publisher: Hachette Digital Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
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