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LTW is only 'nominally a sequel' insofar as a central event harks back to the Idiran War. But then you could say the same of Excession (also my favourite, well, joint favourite with Player of Games). But yeah, read them in order, will do no harm. \o/ |
Iain M Banks - 'Culture series' • Page 4
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ccfb 337 posts
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Registered 18 years agoSo you agree, then? .gif)
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Gah, do either, just read the fucking things! 
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After saying in this thread last September that I intended to read a Culture novel, I've only just started reading my first (Consider Phlebas) yesterday.
I'm enjoying it immensely so far, partly because it promises a lot for me personally. I love sprawling epic sci-fi worlds. When I was a kid I got totally sucked into Asimov's Foundation/ Robot timeline, so the prospect of something that will have a similar impact on the more mature and demanding reader I am now is one I like a lot! -
Psychotext 70,652 posts
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Registered 15 years agoBah... shitbadgers.
I thought there was a new book out or something when I saw this thread bumped. =/ -
Lepperman 251 posts
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Registered 14 years agoI read The Player of Games for the third time recently. It's amazing, my favourite by a long way. -
Scimarad 9,964 posts
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Registered 18 years agoI seem to remember struggling through Consider Phlebas but really didn't enjoy it - Not entirely sure why, though.
I have, however, just read Use of Weapons and that was exceptionally good. Reading the above posts has convinced me to order Player of Games -
Scimarad wrote:
I have, however, just read Use of Weapons and that was exceptionally good. Reading the above posts has convinced me to order Player of Games
You wont be dissapointed. It's awesome. I have Matter waiting for a read but it seems quite long and I haven't had the time yet. Does anyone rate it? -
TechnoHippy 19,245 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 18 years agoMatter was ok, I preferred his most recent one (Transition I think it's called), which isn't a Culture novel, but a more interesting read.
Excession is my favourite Culture novel. Player of Games is a good one as well. -
DocX 1,963 posts
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Registered 20 years agoI liked Matter. I thought the shellworld was an outstanding invention, so I can overlook it being a bit long with a predictable ending. -
President_Weasel 12,355 posts
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Registered 17 years agoMatter wasn't Banks at his best, but even Banks at 3/4 power is still a more than decent book.
It's a hell of a lot better than Canal Dreams, put it that way -
I'll have to check it out when I have a bit more time. I've been meaning to get back into reading a bit more again but time is pretty short at the moment. If only I still had my daily commute .gif)
I guess if I want a long book I should have a go at Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow which is sitting on my shelf and is a behemoth. -
Upon reflection I like Consider Phlebas less now. Well written, but it now has a cold feeling when I think of it. -
DaM 17,729 posts
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TechnoHippy 19,245 posts
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Registered 18 years agoI think I just did a little sex wee in my pants -
DaM 17,729 posts
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Registered 20 years agoRelease date Oct 2010 (as usual actually - he sticks to a timetable for writing). -
RyanDS 14,073 posts
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Registered 13 years agoDaM wrote:
Release date Oct 2010 (as usual actually - he sticks to a timetable for writing).
Literally. He spends 3 months a year writing 8 hours a day on a very strict timetable according to one interview I read. I met him last year and was a really nice guy to boot.
For Londoners he is doing a book signing at Forbidden Planet on (I think) 16th Oct. (I saw a sign there on the weekend.) -
DaM wrote:
\o/
wahay!!!
It begins in the realm of the Real, where matter still matters. It begins with a murder. And it will not end until the Culture has gone to war with death itself. Lededje Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit. Prepared to risk everything for her freedom, her release, when it comes, is at a price, and to put things right she will need the help of the Culture. Benevolent, enlightened and almost infinitely resourceful though it may be, the Culture can only do so much for any individual. With the assistance of one of its most powerful - and arguably deranged - warships, Lededje finds herself heading into a combat zone not even sure which side the Culture is really on. A war - brutal, far-reaching - is already raging within the digital realms that store the souls of the dead, and it's about to erupt into reality. It started in the realm of the Real and that is where it will end. It will touch countless lives and affect entire civilizations, but at the centre of it all is a young woman whose need for revenge masks another motive altogether.
Deranged warship - wicked. Sounds really interesting. -
Khanivor 44,800 posts
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Registered 20 years agoSweet, release date only three weeks later over here in the US. -
StixxUK 8,755 posts
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Registered 19 years agoJust reading Matter at the moment. Culture books are all pretty much great. I didn't like Excession, but I was young when I read it and it was also the first one I read - had absolutely no idea what was going on, so I might give it another go. Seeing as it seems to be many people's favourites, and it's literally the only one I didn't get at all.
New book good news anyway -
Khanivor 44,800 posts
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Registered 20 years agoOne half of my dissertation's source texts came in the form of Excession. -
Jetset_UK 3,578 posts
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Registered 18 years agoso I might give it another go
Please do, in my shitty opinion, it's the finest Culture book there is.
I think I might read it again when I'm done with Neal Asher. -
Jetset_UK 3,578 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 18 years agoHis books that is. -
Just read 'Surface Detail' - his new one - it's really good, easily the best since Excession! One rather forced plot device but other than that an excellent yarn and a nice return to some classic cyberpunk themes. -
Khanivor 44,800 posts
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Registered 20 years agoI like the new otto that only shows up with pertinent information ;P
Thanks for reminding me it's out. Time to tack it onto the chrimbo shopping. -
Gruff 3,940 posts
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Registered 18 years agoOnly read player of games, loved it. -
Oh and there's a great little Easter Egg at the end of Surface Detail for those who have read the other Culture novels. -
Oh excellent - I'd forgotten about it. Once upon a time, I'd be counting down the days until a new Banks book. -
Me too. But I tend to forget what day it is these, uh, days.
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