I happened to pick up Excession, by Iain Banks, a while ago and although it took me a while to get into it, I thoroughly enjoyed it. When I discovered it was part of a series, I couldn’t have been happier.
But the libraries round here are sadly depleted. The only other Culture novel I could find was Look to Windward. I enjoyed it just as much, and I figured that would be that, but no, this afternoon I was handed an Amazon voucher from my beloved pater who thought a nice new book would cheer me up.
So, I’d like a new Culture book - but there’s a lot of them and I don’t want to pick one at random. Any suggestions?
[A friend has already told me to leave Inversions till last. Not sure why but I’m going with it]
Consider Phlebas Player of Games Use of Weapons Excession Look to Windward
State of the Art
Inversions
While none of the Culture novels are really dependant upon one another, this is the “chronological” order for them. (Ignoring State of the Art and Inversions for the moment.) Certain historical events described in Look to Windward are those which take place in Consider Phlebas but that is about it.
Generally the suggestion has always been to read Consider Phlebas first since much of it is told from the point of view of someone outside the Culture and by reading others first certain discoveries made in that book have less of an impact than they would if you didn’t know about the Culture already. Of course, since you’ve already read two of them that point is a bit moot.
All of them are quite good but if I had to choose I would say that Use of Weapons is my favorite. Player of Games is probably the best at showing what life in the Culture is like.
State of the Art is a short story collection which contains several Culture stories, including one where the Culture finds Earth.
Inversions is a Culture novel but doesn’t look much like one. It’s different from the others but I really can’t say much more than that without spoiling it.
So, any of them are good but if I had to pick one to recommend I would pick Use of Weapons.
Feersum Endjinn is sort of optional for the Culture books. At least I think so Vetch. (And when he writes SF, Iain uses his M. If he writes other fiction the M. gets dropped.)
Consider Phlebas, Use of Weapons or Against a Dark Background would be a good start into teh Culture. Save Excession back til you read a couple first. It’s better that way.
Oh, seeing Vetch’s post made me remember a point to add…
Iain M. Banks is the name he uses when he is writing his science fiction novels, including the Culture novels. The novels by Iain Banks (without the M.) are by the same person but are his non-science fiction. (Not that they are bad, if you want a truly disturbing read try The Wasp Factory, just letting you know what is going on before you start wondering what the difference is.)
Also, not all of Iain M. Banks’ novels are Culture novels. Feersum Endjinn is not a Culture novel. Neither is Against a Dark Background (though I know a few people who will disagree with me on that one). While I will recommend just about any of his stuff, if you are looking specifically for his Culture novels you need to look for the ones I listed above.
I think Use of Weapons is the best Culture novel, followed by Consider Phlebas, but none of them are disappointing. They’re all great reads. Frankly, you can’t go wrong with this guy.
Shall we have the theological debate now over whether Against A Dark Background actually takes place in the Culture universe or not? (It’s certainly not a Culture novel, per se.)
Use of Weapons is a really good one. I liked The Player of Games, but I know some people don’t, so YMMV.
I would recommend The Player of Games as well. Excellent novel. I’m under the impression that Consider Phlebas and Use of Weapons are much darker and more violent novels than the ones you’ve read (though I haven’t read them myself.) Can anyone confirm this?
Considering world events I would consider Consider Phlebas. Thought provoking in terms of war and cultural differences. It’s been awhile since I read it - I may be due for a re-read.
That said Player of Games is my fave - especially as it has much more comic moments to offset the darkness I find in all of Banks’ books.
Another vote for Player of Games here - tho I like all Iain’s work.
His sci-fi really appeals tho - simply because he resists the temptation to either
a) tell you nothing about the tech. and just babble so-as-to seem ‘complex’ or ‘avant garde’ (stand-up Gibson et al)
b) goto the opposite extent and give ‘nerd-quality’ descriptions of the tech. (most of the rest of the sci-fi world
c) give aliens names with q’s and z’s everywhere - I really hate that
TTFN
JP
p.s. If you ‘get’ Iain Banks - you should seek out and read Jeff Noon (Pollen and Vurt in particular) as well
Consider Phlebas had me up 'til 5:00 AM, reading the last quarter of the book or so.
The Player of Games had me up ALL night - as in I didn’t sleep at all - reading the last quarter, and then spending many hours thinking about it. It’s DEFINITELY one of the betters.
I have read all the Culture books except ‘Use of Weapons’ and ‘State of the Art’, which I cannot find at my local library. I also started but did not finish ‘Feersum Endjinn’ - Bascule’s writing style put me off of it, and when I had to take it back to the library unfinished I didn’t re-check it.
I’ve read a couple of his novels as Iain Banks, and they were both good - ‘The Wasp Factory’ and ‘Song of Stone’. I have checked out another couple of his mainstream novels and will be reading them over the next couple of weeks.
