The Wasp Factory
by Iain Banks
The Wasp Factory is Iain Banks's debut novel, first published by Macmillan in the United Kingdom on 16 February 1984. Its narrator, 16-year-old Frank, lives with his father on a remote Scottish island. Reviews were mixed, and it won Germany's Kurd Lasswitz Award for best foreign work in 1992.
- Editions tracked
- 1
- First edition
- Macmillan, 1984
- First published
- Macmillan, United Kingdom, 1984
The first edition of The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks was published in London by Macmillan in 1984. We track 1 edition.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Adaptations
- The Wasp Factory adaptation
In print
- Editions recorded
- 28 on Open Library, 16 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 10 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
Read the guide →6 min readBook Condition Grading: Fine to Poor Explained
Book condition grading uses a six-step trade scale: Fine, Near Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair and Poor. Collectors grade the …
Read the guide →7 min readDust Jackets Explained: Why the Jacket Drives a Book's Value
For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of The Wasp Factory?
The first edition of The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks was published in London by Macmillan in 1984.
How many editions of The Wasp Factory are there?
We track 1 edition of The Wasp Factory, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Has The Wasp Factory been adapted?
Yes, including The Wasp Factory (adaptation), according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- The Wasp Factory, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- The Wasp Factory (Q589485), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 19 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.