5. Skagboys (2012)
This is Welsh's latest work and the prequel novel to his first and most well-known work, Trainspotting (more on this piece later on in the list). It gives the reader a chance to peer into the lives of the characters Renton, Sick Boy, Begbie and the rest of the gang before their lives are taken over by heroin abuse (I know Begbie never took any heroin, but he was such a big character and part of their lives that I couldn't miss him out of the list). Much like Trainspotting, the majority of the narration is by Mark Renton, who gives an insight into what Scotland was like and how it was to grow up in the 80s for their social class. Being a prequel we already know where the characters are going to end up, but that's what makes this such an interesting novel, because you are constantly trying to fill in the blanks and work out how certain characters get to certain places in their lives. The underlying theme of politics is very much apparent in this work and adds to the growing tension felt in the country at the time. Renton allows himself to feel closer to his father by getting involved with his interest in how the country was being run and his opposition to Thatcher who was selling off the country piece by piece. Skagboys was initially supposed to be part of Trainspotting, but Welsh decided to remove it and kept it to one side; all I can say I'm glad it was never completely discarded, because it makes a great start for this list!