The Business (novel)
| Company type | Fictional multinational corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Various (fictional) |
| Founded | Roman Empire era (fictional) |
| Headquarters | Not specified , Not specified |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Various (fictional) |
The Business is a novel authored by Scottish writer Iain Banks, released in 1999.
Plot introduction
Kate Telman holds the position of a 'level 3' executive within the Business, an extensive global corporate conglomerate. While on her sabbatical, she becomes suspicious of embezzlement among her coworkers and initiates an inquiry.
Plot summary
The narrative begins with an early morning call at 4:37 a.m. from Mike Daniels to Kate Telman; he has been drugged and forcibly had several teeth removed before attending a critical meeting in Japan.
The Business is a formidable multinational company operating with democratic principles but shrouded in secrecy. Its origins precede the Roman Catholic Church, tracing back to merchants from the Roman Empire era. At one point, it briefly controlled the empire for sixty-six days by installing an emperor who was swiftly assassinated—a reference to Didius Julianus. Presently, the corporation aims to annex a nation to secure representation at the United Nations.
Kate Telman, aged 38, rose from humble beginnings under the guidance of her mentor and 'uncle Freddy', who invented the portable milk container known as the "chilp". She embarks on investigating internal theft starting at a silicon chip factory. Despite discovering corruption at senior levels, she remains loyal to the core objectives of the Business.
Her international journey includes traveling to Nebraska to prevent a weapon collector’s nephew from producing an anti-Islamic film script, scenes set aboard a vessel destined for scrapping at Sonmiani Bay shipyard, and phone calls with her friend Luce in California, who struggles with therapy-induced trauma and whose skepticism contrasts sharply with Kate’s optimism. Additionally, she receives a DVD exposing Stephen Buzetski’s wife in an affair intended to manipulate her.
A central storyline revolves around the proposed takeover of Thulahn, a small Himalayan nation similar to Bhutan—remote, underdeveloped, and fragile. The Business intends to revolutionize Thulahn completely, pushing its population toward modernization. Kate engages in negotiations with Thulahn’s crown prince Suvinder Dzung, who has previously harbored romantic feelings for her.
Bibliography
The Business, Iain Banks, London: Little, Brown, 1999, ISBN 0-316-64844-2 (paperback ISBN 0-316-84863-8)