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But n Ben A-Go-Go
Written entirely in Scots, this is a science fiction novel set in a future where the Scottish Highlands are the only unsubmerged area of Britain. With strong characters and a gripping plot, the well-defined settings create an atmosphere of paranoia and danger.
207 pages, Paperback
First published September 11, 2000
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199 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Fitt
56 books9 followersMatthew Fitt is a Scots poet and novelist. He was born in 1968 in Dundee, Scotland. Previously writer-in-residence at Greater Pollok in Glasgow, he is currently National Scots Language Development Officer and writes a column in Scots for The National newspaper.
In 2002, together with James Robertson and Susan Rennie, he co-founded Itchy Coo, a publishing imprint and educational project to reintroduce schoolchildren to the Scots tongue.
His best known work is But n Ben A-Go-Go, a cyberpunk novel in Scots. Earlier works included The Hoose o Haivers, a loose retelling of the Metamorphoses of Ovid in Scots and The Smoky Smirr o Rain, a Scots anthology. He also wrote the lyrics to Icker in a Thrave, the 2007 Scots entry for the Liet-Lavlut song contest for minority languages in Europe.
Fitt has translated several Asterix books into Scots. The first was Asterix and the Pechts, published in 2013. He has also translated several Roald Dahl novels, including The Twits (The Eejits), George's Marvellous Medicine (Geordie’s Mingin Medicine) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Chairlie and the Chocolate Works).
In 2002, together with James Robertson and Susan Rennie, he co-founded Itchy Coo, a publishing imprint and educational project to reintroduce schoolchildren to the Scots tongue.
His best known work is But n Ben A-Go-Go, a cyberpunk novel in Scots. Earlier works included The Hoose o Haivers, a loose retelling of the Metamorphoses of Ovid in Scots and The Smoky Smirr o Rain, a Scots anthology. He also wrote the lyrics to Icker in a Thrave, the 2007 Scots entry for the Liet-Lavlut song contest for minority languages in Europe.
Fitt has translated several Asterix books into Scots. The first was Asterix and the Pechts, published in 2013. He has also translated several Roald Dahl novels, including The Twits (The Eejits), George's Marvellous Medicine (Geordie’s Mingin Medicine) and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Chairlie and the Chocolate Works).
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2022
Gey gid
A story thats memorable on its own, even compared to the giants of Sci-Fi it pays tribute too
A story thats memorable on its own, even compared to the giants of Sci-Fi it pays tribute too
November 15, 2012
This is a SF novel written entirely in Scots dialect! I enjoyed this story, set in 2090 Scotland which has been mostly flooded due to climate change, with ordinary Scots and refugee Danes living in floating city communities, while only the Highlands are still above ground, inhabited by the very rich; mutant wild animals (Kelpies) and rebel American tourists. Its a very inventive novel, it has to be commended for grappling with ideas about where climate change and other contemporary issues could lead. I enjoyed the linguistic playfulness of the novel, a mix of standard lowland and highland Scots with some invented futuristic Scots words. I'm not sure how much of an audience there is for a book like this though, outside of Scotland and the very north of England.
July 5, 2014
“Java 5 aye got Broon where he wis gaun, but no athoot a stooshie and never athoot a fecht.”
My spellchecker is freaking out here as I'm reviewing Matthew Fitt’s superb Scots language story But n Ben A-Go-Go. Futuristic sci-fi type fiction normally leaves me cold, but what Fitt has written in But n Ben A-Go-Go is absolutely captivating. This book hit me in the same way as Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting; the language is so vivid and direct and sharp that it invites you to read it out loud to fully savour it. Even when he is describing unremarkable events and situations, Fitt’s writing grabs you like he’s standing talking to you right at your side. And it’s not just linguistic dexterity that marks this amazing book out. It’s also an exciting story, even though an unrelenting desperation pervades the book.
Paolo Broon is the hero. He undergoes a dangerous odyssey through what is left of Scotland in the year 2090 after most of the country has disappeared under water due to global warming. The most compelling thing about the book is that Fitt doesn’t let his fertile imagination obscure the humanity of his characters. The story might be set decades in the future, but anyone can relate to Broon’s nightmare journey and the passion that drives him on. Broon is constantly under threat from malevolent forces, usually without him knowing exactly where the threat or danger lies. “Somethin here wis bowffin. Somethin aboot the haill thing reeked but Broon had nae time tae jalouse where the guff wis comin fae.”
Broon has little or no control over events as he progresses on his journey. Even at the early stages, his journey is impeded by challenges and dangers that would deter a less driven individual. “The day had langsyne heelstergowdied oot o control.” There is nothing quaint or precious about Fitt’s use of Scots words and phrases; he uses them because they exactly express the reality that he is describing.
A lighter note comes in the form of a nice swipe at lawyers at the beginning of the book. “The legal profession didna steer their bahookies fae their caller-conditioned office suites athoot there bein a heid tae nip, a scone tae steal or somethin sair tae be said”. He also has a dig at the crass advertising which is becoming ever more invasive in daily life. “He inhaled a lang braith. The auto-clippie channel wis boakin glaikit infomercials in his lug… His heid the day wis no a happy hoose.”
It might be a waking nightmare that he finds himself in, but what keeps Paolo going is his desire to try and free his girlfriend Nadia from the grip of an Aids-like virus that has swept what is left of this apocalyptic Scotland. “He had thocht himsel something braw an gallus swankin doon tae the Esplanade, airm thegither, wi a beautiful twinty-five year auld lawyer quine”.
The futuristic context might be strange, but the humanity of the story hits home and is familiar. There is one great poetic line which expresses the melancholy lyricism of this wonderful book. “The thocht rattled roon his mind like the clatter o stanes on a coffin lid.”
My spellchecker is freaking out here as I'm reviewing Matthew Fitt’s superb Scots language story But n Ben A-Go-Go. Futuristic sci-fi type fiction normally leaves me cold, but what Fitt has written in But n Ben A-Go-Go is absolutely captivating. This book hit me in the same way as Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting; the language is so vivid and direct and sharp that it invites you to read it out loud to fully savour it. Even when he is describing unremarkable events and situations, Fitt’s writing grabs you like he’s standing talking to you right at your side. And it’s not just linguistic dexterity that marks this amazing book out. It’s also an exciting story, even though an unrelenting desperation pervades the book.
Paolo Broon is the hero. He undergoes a dangerous odyssey through what is left of Scotland in the year 2090 after most of the country has disappeared under water due to global warming. The most compelling thing about the book is that Fitt doesn’t let his fertile imagination obscure the humanity of his characters. The story might be set decades in the future, but anyone can relate to Broon’s nightmare journey and the passion that drives him on. Broon is constantly under threat from malevolent forces, usually without him knowing exactly where the threat or danger lies. “Somethin here wis bowffin. Somethin aboot the haill thing reeked but Broon had nae time tae jalouse where the guff wis comin fae.”
Broon has little or no control over events as he progresses on his journey. Even at the early stages, his journey is impeded by challenges and dangers that would deter a less driven individual. “The day had langsyne heelstergowdied oot o control.” There is nothing quaint or precious about Fitt’s use of Scots words and phrases; he uses them because they exactly express the reality that he is describing.
A lighter note comes in the form of a nice swipe at lawyers at the beginning of the book. “The legal profession didna steer their bahookies fae their caller-conditioned office suites athoot there bein a heid tae nip, a scone tae steal or somethin sair tae be said”. He also has a dig at the crass advertising which is becoming ever more invasive in daily life. “He inhaled a lang braith. The auto-clippie channel wis boakin glaikit infomercials in his lug… His heid the day wis no a happy hoose.”
It might be a waking nightmare that he finds himself in, but what keeps Paolo going is his desire to try and free his girlfriend Nadia from the grip of an Aids-like virus that has swept what is left of this apocalyptic Scotland. “He had thocht himsel something braw an gallus swankin doon tae the Esplanade, airm thegither, wi a beautiful twinty-five year auld lawyer quine”.
The futuristic context might be strange, but the humanity of the story hits home and is familiar. There is one great poetic line which expresses the melancholy lyricism of this wonderful book. “The thocht rattled roon his mind like the clatter o stanes on a coffin lid.”
August 22, 2012
Hard work for someone not accustomed to Lallands Scots but well worth the effort as a different Scifi book about a drowned world where the tops of the Scottish Highlands are the only dry land around and the people in the floating towns are cursed with a genetic virus that is killing them.
January 4, 2023
I found it quite challenging to read in Scots until I really managed to tune in, but thoroughly enjoyed it once I had. The story is fun, lots of twists and turns, and the main character is very likeable.
June 16, 2008
Reading an entire work in the Scots language (without being remotely familiar with it) highlighted the incestuous relationship between English, Gaelic, & French.
March 19, 2010
Makes you dream in Scots (i stole that quote from the back of the book). Also, he appears to be the author of "Katie's Coo". 'Nuff said?
December 13, 2012
I read this ages ago, and just remembered it last week. Don't remember enough for a big review. I just remember I thoroughly enjoyed it.
September 7, 2014
I really enjoyed this entertaining book - the scots language it is written in is understandable even to me (an Englisher) - an interesting future is described
May 10, 2016
Written in a hypothetical version of new Scots and set in the Highlands after most of the world is under sea, a deadly virus spreads across the remaining land.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews