# Iain Banks' Culture novels - recommendations?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 11, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122 "2003-04-11T21:26:45Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/1 "2003-04-11T21:26:45Z")
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]
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### Author:  [@fortytwo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fortytwo)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/2 "2003-04-11T22:19:48Z")
My favourite has always been The Player of Games. So I’d recommend that one.
Personally I would leave Feersum Endjinn 'til last though 🙂
V
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/3 "2003-04-11T22:23:12Z")
Iain Banks Culture novels:
_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_.
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### Author:  [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/4 "2003-04-11T22:27:04Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@tanstaafl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanstaafl)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/5 "2003-04-11T22:33:06Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/6 "2003-04-11T22:34:14Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/7 "2003-04-11T22:35:07Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Loneraven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loneraven)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/8 "2003-04-11T22:40:37Z")
Thanks for the advice. Haven’t decided, although I’m currently leaning towards _The Player of Games_.
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### Author:  [@Tanaqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tanaqui)
#### Post date: [April 11, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/9 "2003-04-11T23:15:05Z")
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?
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### Author:  [@beatgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beatgirl)
#### Post date: [April 12, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/10 "2003-04-12T00:38:07Z")
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.
Enjoy
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### Author:  [@TheRealJohnPeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheRealJohnPeat)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2003, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/11 "2003-04-13T01:12:37Z")
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
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### Author:  [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/12 "2003-04-13T01:39:38Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Badtz\_Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Badtz_Maru)
#### Post date: [April 13, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/iain-banks-culture-novels-recommendations/168122/13 "2003-04-13T02:38:11Z")
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.