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Posted By: David roberts Jul 24, 1999 - 08:46 am

I would have to recommend these books as possibly the best science fiction i have ever read. Superbly written and structured their range is epic and the ideas invovled stupendous, not just technologically but as social and humanitaian comment. If you haven't experienced them then I would get a copy straight away, a good place to start is probably 'consider phlebeas'. Everyone i have lent these books to to read has come back to me amazed at the staggering breadth of vision this man has.
(he also writes quite superb non-genre novels as Iain Banks that are well worth checking out)

Posted By: Emily Jul 27, 1999 - 08:10 am

What do you mean, precisely, by "culture novels?" Novels that focus on an imagined culture? Novels that do a lot of cultural world building? Novels based on our culture exrapolated? Cultural novels meaning "high class genre writing?" Throat culture, what?

Just curious... :)

God bless,
Emily

Posted By: dave mugwump Jul 29, 1999 - 03:41 am

'The Culture', is the name of Banks imagined civilisation that spans galaxies. Sort of pan-glactical loose federation of races that are very liberal, post economic and very highly technical with AI 'minds' and drones given human rights.
You should read them to find out more!!

(sorry for the poor explanation)
DaveXX

Posted By: Porn_Star Jul 23, 2000 - 03:31 pm

These books are by far the most innovative and stimulating sci-fi work that I have read. The culture is a vast civilization somewhat akin to the edonists of Hamiltons reality dysfunction series. Banks describes them with such allure that you really wish you could be apart of this dynamic race. Kick things of by reading the "Player of Games" which gives you an idea of the thrust of the culture, then sling yourself into "Excession" about a mysterious artifact and the cultures race to unlock its secrets. Then try "Use of Weapons" a somewhat confusing novel with a gruesome ending, Finally I recommend "Against a dark background" which is about a race to attain the most powerful weapon in the galaxy "the lazy gun" . I guarantee you will not be disappointed

Posted By: Dave Jul 24, 2000 - 01:01 am

absolutely spot on mate!!
glad to see someone else here has read these books, they're more important than mere books, they're almost philosophical tracts about the possiblities of the human mind.

Read em'

Posted By: changeling Mar 10, 2001 - 03:15 pm

Iain Banks is a Techno-dark Tom Robbins... : ) Long live the Culture....!!!!!!!!!!

Posted By: Nemes Dec 18, 2001 - 09:04 pm

Hello people.
These books are indead a must read.
Excession being the best of them, due to it being about the huge planet size ships and their sentient robots.
Brilliant stuff.
Regards::

Posted By: zakalwe Dec 06, 2003 - 04:27 am

I am very interested in all things 'culture' any info on fan type sites 'zines etc would be appreciated. Any one wishing to 'bang on' about how great the aspirations, ideas & technology of the culture can mail me here 4 a session

Posted By: Halloween_Jack Jul 30, 2004 - 01:14 pm

i read consider phelbas and excession. excession started so well i loved it, but i found myself getting lost towards the end and wasn't really sure how it resolved. i kinda blame myself, i feel i missed it slightly. i've read alot of his non sci fi too which is good. but again i always feel with him that i'm missing something in the concept. i dunno, is that good writing or bad?

Posted By: Hyperion Aug 02, 2004 - 12:12 pm

I M Banks Culture Novels are always a joy to read imo.

Excession I consider to be one of his better ones, up there with Player Of Games, Inversions & Look To Windward.

He be slighlty vague at times but I think that is the socialist in him simply trying to get the reader to joine in the whole process of the story and create avenues in it for themselves.

I always political edgings from banks as far as his scifi writing goes anyways. It's like he is trying to tell the reader that control is always the wrong way to go hehe.

I don't think you're missing something in the books Halloween_Jack, just go back over them again and get deeply into the whole plot behind whatever story -it- is. I think you will come to realise that his writing is a double edged blade, if you want the most out of it, you have to use your own immagination as much as he did when writing it.


I M Banks for me has a very unique way of making me actually SEE or mentaly VISUALISE the machines he writes about in the Culture.

Hyperion The Deespised.