The Crow Road TV series

[randy_byers]

The Iain Banks novel was published in 1992, and this four part, four hour mini-series was produced in 1996. The adaptation is pretty faithful to the book, although one of the changes is that it moves the "now" to circa 1994 from circa 1990. This is mostly noticeable in that the background war is in Bosnia rather than Kuwait, but some of the other

Comments

[ron_drummond]

I really liked both the novel and the TV adaptation. Liked the show even more the second time through. I guess Prentice, in his distinctly Scottish brand of blandness, works as the stand-in for the viewer. A likeable kid, and I could totally relate to his shyness, and his blindness to Ashley's interest in him. The slow romance with Ashley was beautifully played, I thought, very believable. Lots of good ghostly touches. I loved the sculptor thread. Sorry you didn't much care for it, but if it makes it more likely that you'll return to Scotland someday, it's a good thing.

[randy_byers]

Ashley is a wonderful fantasy figure, but I think for me to relate personally she'd have to be just as confused and lost as Prentice. Or to put it another way, he's a lucky boy that somebody so self-assured and wise has taken an interest in him.

I did think the novel had some nice bits of structure and misdirection, and of course some good comedy as well.