Alan Spence's series of linked short stories, Its Colours They Are Fine, is a classic of modern Glasgow fiction, vividly evoking the city and its inhabitants. His second novel, Way To Go, is an at turns darkly humourous and deeply poignant novel about the ultimate questions of life and death. John Burns' SCOTNOTE study guide examines the social and philosophical backgrounds of Spence's work, exploring the ties between the surface events and the deeper currents beneath. These notes are suitable for senior school pupils and students at all levels.