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Matter is actually a good one to start with I'd say. It takes a good while to get going, eases you into things. And the Culture is more in the background. player of Games was my first Culture book. All my gaming rigs have been named Jurnegh for the last 20 years or so. |
Iain M Banks - 'Culture series' • Page 12
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Khanivor 44,714 posts
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Registered 19 years ago -
@Khanivor I'd have to disagree, but then again I'm an awkward sod and thought Matter and Surface Detail were two of the most disproportionately unlikeable books in the series. I still have my copy of Hydrogen Sonata unopened as I didn't have a chance to read it before the news broke of his illness and subsequent death and I really, really, really don't want the last book of his I read to be a disappointment.
Edited by FuzzyZealot at 18:23:18 20-11-2014 -
cov 2,426 posts
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Registered 17 years agoThe quarry is a very poignant, fitting and appropriate last novel -
@FuzzyZealot It's better than the other two you mentioned. Can't really call it a return to former glory, but it's definitely better. -
TheJackKetch 171 posts
Seen 11 hours ago
Registered 13 years agoAnyone know of a decent author who does space opera like Iain M Banks? Going to miss my annual fix with him no longer with us.
Read all the obvious ones like Peter Hamilton, Alistair Reynolds and Neal Asher. -
Immaterial 2,494 posts
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Registered 14 years agoCan I recommend Anne Leckie's Ancilliary series? Smart ships, clones and all that gubbins. Different economic model to her societies, but very well thought out.
edit: link fail.
Edited by Immaterial at 11:27:56 01-12-2014 -
TheJackKetch 171 posts
Seen 11 hours ago
Registered 13 years agoCheers, will give them a try -
I've been reading Surface detail for what seems like ages but it's one of his better books.
I'm actually quite sad that I only have one more to go and there's no more culture novels...ever.
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Immaterial 2,494 posts
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Registered 14 years agoThis is why I have never read The Quarry. That way, I've still got one Iain Banks book to read (well, two if you include his Whisky guide). -
Ha. Same here. I really don't know when I'll read it. -
I only found this out this evening:
Elon Musk Names SpaceX Drone Ships in Honor of Sci-Fi Legend.
Glad he didn't use the drone names from the books. -
pogomeister 1,706 posts
Seen 11 months ago
Registered 14 years agoJust finished consider phlebus after only 2 years, am a slow reader though! Is it worth jumping right into player of games or maybe leaving it a while -
JoeBlade 5,720 posts
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Registered 18 years agopogomeister wrote:
The Culture novels can mostly be considered stand alone stories. There's an overarching tone but that's about it, very few characters even extend beyond one book.
Just finished consider phlebus after only 2 years, am a slow reader though! Is it worth jumping right into player of games or maybe leaving it a while
Reading them chronologically (as in: release date) isn't even a must but I would recommend leaving Player of Games and especially Excession for last simply because they are the most awesomest shit ever
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oldskooldeano 3,294 posts
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Registered 17 years agoConsidering it took you two years to read the last one, I wouldn't leave it too long mate. 
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neems 5,185 posts
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Registered 13 years agoPlayer of Games is my favourite Iain M. Banks novel. I say dive in. -
I think Consider Phlebus is one of his more dense books in tone and narrative complication so if you made it through that then you should find some of the others a swifter read. I really should re-read these books as I barely remember most of them. I do remember that Player of Games is boss though.
Edited by Mr_Sleep at 00:48:14 17-07-2016 -
AwesomeWells 1,119 posts
Seen 10 months ago
Registered 15 years agoExcession totally baffled me, must go back and try it again sometime.
Definitely go for Player of Games and follow that up with Use of Weapons. Both are brilliant. -
Only Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow has fucked with my head more than Feersum Endjinn, that makes Excession seem simple in comparison. -
andytheadequate 9,494 posts
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Registered 10 years agoI've read 5 of his books so far and I found Player of Games to be by far his weakest one. It was incredibly predictable and the concept was a bit rubbish. Am I missing something? -
Excession was my first culture experience, I had to read it three times to fully grasp the concepts and shear majesty of the universe created by Banks. The closing comments from the books title name was absolute genius. -
mumtoucher 755 posts
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Registered 14 years agoUse of weapons is my favourite. It's an absolutely perfect book. The end as well - absolute genius. Look to windward I'd rate as the funniest, made me laugh out loud on the train a few embarrassing times. -
mumtoucher 755 posts
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Registered 14 years agoCan anyone recommend another Sci-fi opera author, I've read a few but none get close to Iain.M.Banks IMO.
Edited by mumtoucher at 09:08:56 17-07-2016 -
Immaterial 2,494 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 14 years agoAnne Leckie's Ancillaries series (clones, smart ships and stuff) or Paul Macauley's The Quiet War (relativistic (?) space flight with a colonised solar system) might suit. -
oldskooldeano 3,294 posts
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Registered 17 years ago@mumtoucher Peter F. Hamilton? In particular the Commonwealth Saga, Judas Unchained and Pandora's Star. A practically omniscient human civilisation, Galaxy spanning travel and a great unknown. Head spinning stuff. -
andytheadequate 9,494 posts
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Registered 10 years agoImmaterial wrote:
I've read the first one and I agree it's pretty good; not quite as good as Banks but we'll worth a read. I find a lot of Sci Fi stuff to be badly written and a bit cringe worthy, so would also be interested in any recommendations.
Anne Leckie's Ancillaries series (clones, smart ships and stuff) or Paul Macauley's The Quiet War (relativistic (?) space flight with a colonised solar system) might suit. -
mumtoucher 755 posts
Seen 4 hours ago
Registered 14 years agoI couldn't get into P. F. Hamilton. Perhaps I'll give it another shot. Which one should I start with?
I'm actually half way through the Malazan series (which is excellent) so any scifi is gonna be a few months away yet.gif)
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grey_matters 5,379 posts
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Registered 15 years agomumtoucher wrote:
The Reality Dysfunction is probably a good place to start. It takes a long time setting up the universe (maybe 500 pages!) but if you stick with it there is a good pay off.
I couldn't get into P. F. Hamilton. Perhaps I'll give it another shot. Which one should I start with?
I'm actually half way through the Malazan series (which is excellent) so any scifi is gonna be a few months away yet -
Mekanik 4,726 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 16 years agogrey_matters wrote:
Agree with this, although the Reality Dysfunction series of books are in their own separate universe. Pretty much all his other books (starting at Pandora's Star) are set within the same persistent universe and have a lot of the same characters appearing and disappearing throughout.
mumtoucher wrote:
The Reality Dysfunction is probably a good place to start. It takes a long time setting up the universe (maybe 500 pages!) but if you stick with it there is a good pay off.
I couldn't get into P. F. Hamilton. Perhaps I'll give it another shot. Which one should I start with?
I'm actually half way through the Malazan series (which is excellent) so any scifi is gonna be a few months away yet
Give him time, these are proper Space Opera books.
Also, Use of Weapons is my fave Banks sci-fi book. That ending... -
mumtoucher 755 posts
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Registered 14 years ago@Mekanik you don't get much better endings do you. So so dark. -
@mumtoucher Absolutely. And its one of the few book endings you really really dont see coming.
.gif)
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