Bought some new hi-fi lately?

Posted by: seagull on 12 May 2004

I am currently reading a collection of short stories by Ian Rankin. Among them is an Inspector Rebus tale where he is investigating a series of seemingly unconnected burglaries. Rebus works out that the common thread was that they had all had an expensive systems recently installed by a particular hi-fi dealer. A few weeks later, the houses were burgled and valuables (e.g paintings, stamp collections etc but not the hi-fi!) had been stolen.

Hmmm...
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by JohanR
Well at least a story that acknowledges the fact that HiFi exists.

The book 'High Fidelity', f. ex. is not about HiFi at all.

JohanR
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by BLT
The only other mention of Hi-Fi in literature that I can recall is in "The Bridge" by Ian Banks. There is mention that the character had bought an expensive system from a "Scottish manufacturer" (I wonder who that could be?!), but that it just highlighted the scratches on his records.
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by seagull
A certain Scottish company's goods have been mentioned in other Rebus books. But then Rebus (and Rankin) are from north of the border.
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by Top Cat
ISTR that Brett Easton-Ellis' "American Psycho" has a long passage extolling the oneup-manship of loudspeakers, culminating in the Infinity IRS V or somesuch. That's the only other hifi reference that springs to mind...

John
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by Brian OReilly
quote:
Originally posted by Top Cat:
ISTR that Brett Easton-Ellis' "American Psycho" has a long passage extolling the oneup-manship of loudspeakers, culminating in the Infinity IRS V or somesuch. That's the only other hifi reference that springs to mind...

John


Don't remember that bit, but I do remember a 100 page tract explaining why "Huey Lewis and the News" were the pinnacle of rock music.

Laugh ? I nearly did.

Brian OReilly
Posted on: 12 May 2004 by Richard S
Ian Rankin lists among his many jobs that of HiFi reviewer. I read that story too and thought he had inside knowledge.

The entire series is excellent and the books and character of Rebus get more complex as they progress.
Posted on: 13 May 2004 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by Top Cat:
ISTR that Brett Easton-Ellis' "American Psycho" has a long passage extolling the oneup-manship of loudspeakers, culminating in the Infinity IRS V or somesuch. That's the only other hifi reference that springs to mind...



Top class - he goes on about his huge Duntech speakers, and at one point he goes on about Aiwa (blue IIRC!) seperates in his office, and his nice new upgraded stereo Toshiba video and Panasonic TV IIRC...

It's the bits about where he tries to cook and eat the girl, and the burning of the other girl's eyes with a lighter, that I can't get out of my head - very grim indeed.

And what about the starved rat??? Euughhh....

__________________________
Don't wanna be cremated or buried in a grave
Just dump me in a plastic bag and leave me on the pavement
A tribute to your modern world, your great society
I'm just another victim of your highrise fantasy!
Posted on: 13 May 2004 by Bhoyo
Many moons ago, Ian Rankin worked for HiFi Review (now defunct), which grew out of The Flat Response. Both were enthusiastic fans of Linn/Naim/Exposure etc.

Senor Rankin and Malcolm Steward were the best writers.
Posted on: 14 May 2004 by Will_Dias
The first televised Inspector Morse episode, 'The Dead of Jericho', has a story that revolves (oooh, wince, bad unintentional pun) around a pair of fictional turntable manufacturing brothers.

It may or may not feature Naim equipment too. I remember spotting some shoebox sized equipment in the background.

Not sure about the book though, I read it, but years ago.

Will.
Posted on: 14 May 2004 by Mike Sae
Douglas Adams uses so many stereo references you know he had to be a hifi nerd.