Culture Fans? (Iain M Banks)

[Razorback]

I'm in the middle of my first by Banks: Consider Phlebas. So far, my impressions of this one are very similar to yours Coolhand. I'll update this once I finish the book.

 

[MetalJon]

I've read `Use of Weapons' and `Consider Phlebas' as well as `Player of Games' - I think I'm going to have to re-read the first 2! I read them ages ago and thoroughly enjoyed, but the actual plots are a dim and distant memory...

I do think all the culture novels are a fascinating reflection on what life might be like in the future!

 

[Vetch]

Read them all; and as I said in the Matter thread - Excession is my favourite. Player of Games and Look to Windward follow. You notice I like the -- how to call it? -- the friendly stuff. Use of Weapons is amazing, too, though I have similar feelings about it as Coolhand in the beginning of his thread ("question about cheradine zakalwe" - sorry, may not post links yet).

I used to dislike Consider Phlebas, mainly because I disliked it's protagonist so much. But after a recent rereading I changed my mind. Love most parts of the the novel, and like Horza much better (though I still think he 's a dick).

I also notice a certain ... sameness about some of Banks' male protagonists. Horza is a bit like Zakalwe is a bit like Genar-Hofoen.

 

[UnethicalSolutions]

Big fan. Fell out of love with SciFi in my early 20s, and it was Iain M. Banks who got me back to it in my mid 30s. Read all of the Culture novels as they came out (after some initial catching up), and have just spent the last couple of months on a splurge rereading the lot of them, after picking up the paperback of Matter. They get better every time I read them.

The only one of Bank's science fiction books I've never been able to get into is The Algebraist (non-Culture).

 

[Rodders]

With the Player of Games being my personal favourite i thing that Iain M. Banks is an incredible writer. I would like him to be more prolific with regards to his Culture novels. I've yet to read the Albergeist (I know i spelt it wrong, but i'm sure you all sympathise.)

It seems amazing that so much good SF is coming out of Scotland. What are they putting in the water up there?

 

[AE35Unit]

Now having done some reseach on Fantastic Fiction it appears that the books in the culture series don't follow on. They're not serial. This is what i like to see. It means I don't have to find them all in the right order like a fantasy series. Thank you Mr Banks!

 

[bobbo19]

read the first 3 in the series so far: Consider Phlebas, The Player of Games and Use of Weapons. Finished Use of Weapons this morning and thought i was a good book, but did not erapture me as much the the first two. My fav. so far has the be The player of Games. I rate that novel in and amongst one of the best i have read, alongside novels such as the Xeelee sequence by Stephen Baxter.

 

[AE35Unit]

I rate that novel in and amongst one of the best i have read, alongside novels such as the Xeelee sequence by Stephen Baxter.

Thats some praise!

 

[bobbo19]

AE35 Unit i take it your a stephen baxter fan too. and finaally my 10 post. It does allow you to have an avatar now doesn't it?

 

[AE35Unit]

AE35 Unit i take it your a stephen baxter fan too. and finaally my 10 post. It does allow you to have an avatar now doesn't it?

Oh yea,I like my hard SF,space opera,space etc rather than earth based stuff or cyberpunk. Big fan of Arthur C Clarke and now Baxter,who is similar in some ways. I like SF by scientists rather than philosophers.
As for the avatar,i wouldn't know. I'm sure when I registered back in December 07 I got an avatar right away! I know you can't post links straight away but i don't remember a restriction with avatars.

 

[bobbo19]

got it sorted, <<<<<<. Yeah i agree, Scientists such as Gregory Benford get really technical. If you like scientists, theni would put you on to him!

 

[AE35Unit]

got it sorted, <<<<<<. Yeah i agree, Scientists such as Gregory Benford get really technical. If you like scientists, theni would put you on to him!

Yea I've read quite a few Benford books,mainly the series sort of beginning with Great Sky River.
Very good author when he's on form.

 

[Fal]

I borrowed and read 'Consider Phlebas' which I thought was set on such a grand, epic scale! The size of the ships, the disciption of the mind and it's memory capacity was phenominal!

I certainly want to read more about the culture, when I find the time and finish reading those I already have stacked high.

 

[Rodders]

Does Iain M. Banks plan to return to the Culture? I've not heard anything?

 

[bobbo19]

@ Rodders

Man i hope so, even though i do not own all the culture novels. Matter is his latest one is'nt it?

 

[Rodders]

Yes, Matter is his latest Culture novel. I've not yet read it, but i'm let to believe that it's not actually set in the Culture. Could be another "Contact" novel like inversions.

 

[Dave]

I've read Matter. It concerns a Culture Special Circumstances operative who returns to her homeworld (not a part of the Culture) to deal with some family business. Her homeworld is a strange low-tech, hollow, Shellworld, with a number of different levels beneath the surface. Some of it's inhabitants don't realise this, and there is a power struggle between the two that do, and a race to uncover an ancient artefact. Many people find it more fantasy than scifi and don't like it for that reason. It is a Culture Novel, but there are no Minds in it, and only one drone that follows her on her journey back home.

 

[Joey Sixknuckles]

I found 'Matter' really hard going, in fact I've been on a break from reading it for several months. I think it's far too padded out, and needs some heavy editing, it's one of those books I would buy again if they released "an editor's cut" edition.

There are still plenty of Culture elements to keep us junkies happy in my opinion, and the fantasy elements are actually quite good fun, it's just too long.

 

[bobbo19]

well, im reading matter now and im about 300 pages in. Yes i agree with some of th previous comments that its padded out and a slow starter, but it is really beginning to pick up and enticing me to read on. To be honest the book just gets better and better as it goes along. His descriptions of ancient civilisations and past genocides/shellwords are brilliant. Worth a buy if anyone is unsure.

 

[Lenny]

Got Consider Phlebas for Christmas and finished it within a couple of days - I loved it. I've read SF before, but nothing quite like Banks.

A week ago, I ordered the full collection (as well as his other SF, except Transition, which I'm waiting for the paperback version of), but foolishly only had two delivered to Durham - Player of Games and Use of Weapons.

Read PoG for an hour yesterday and finished it in a session this evening (which ended five minutes ago) - I enjoyed it immensely. UoW will follow tomorrow and, alas, will probably be finished just as quickly.

They (and the new Hobb) were supposed to be my after-exams entertainment. I'm half tempted to send my parents some money and have them post the rest of the collection up here.