The Wasp Factory

“The Wasp Factory” is the debut novel by Scottish writer Iain Banks, published in 1984. Set on a remote Scottish island, it’s narrated by Frank Cauldhame, a psychopathic teenager. Frank’s life revolves around bizarre rituals, weapons, and a mysterious invention called the Wasp Factory. Behind each numeral on its clock face lies a trap leading to ritualistic wasp deaths. As Frank grapples with his past, family secrets, and violence, the novel delves into themes of identity, cruelty, and isolation.