Science Fiction Books > B Science Fiction Books

Inversions (Culture gone medieval)

Advantages: Another fresh view of Culture
Disadvantages: Not the book for somone starting Culture series

Iain M Banks Inversions is another page-turner in the great Culture series. A general description of Culture is that an Utopian, post-scarcity (limitless resources) alien society, lead/controlled by powerful Als. The view of Culture is that less-advanced societies would benefit from their influence, thus the series describes the interaction between Culture and other civilizations. Inversions continues on that similar theme but in a complete different ...
...and packed full of complex, fallible characters. The two plotline follows Special Circumstances agents in their widely different missions. Unfortunately I can't make an unbiased opinion on whether this a good book to start on Iain M Banks' Culture series. I would recommend to start the series with The Player of Games or Consider Phlebas. Both would provide a good background to Culture in general and Special Circumstances in particular. ...

blueonred 01.07.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Inversions - Iain M. Banks

fank u god 4 makin mr banks so gud

Advantages: everything in the whole world
Disadvantages: none

Bank's kicks ass, this book blew me away, absolutely and incredibly to another planet ... earth in the future. Banks is absolutely the most imaginative man on earth, never before has a book taken me to an alien future so messed up and so creative as this one. Starting with a birth from nowhere, a naked lady waking up for the first time and assimilating her surroundings, her capacity to think, to see, to talk and understand. Baskill the teller, a ...
...(though difficuult at first) dialect of english and who has a pet ant as a friend, who can also interact with the matrix which is physically implanted in the walls, floors and ceilings of all that is around him in the physical world, count sessine, reborn nine times on a voyage into the matrix to find the truth .... this is just incredible stuff.... I'll never forget the bit with Asura in the fairytale tower, the prince who came to take her away ...

ianexcession 07.08.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Feersum Endjinn - Iain M. Banks

One of his finest

Advantages: A story of epic proportions
Disadvantages: The book can sometimes get lost in its own complexity

...the universe of the 'Culture', Look to Windward is based around the encounters of a multitude of characters as they await a space-station mind's celebrations to mark the anniversary of a great genocide. Although the story starts slowly, the level of detail and pure pleasure associated with life on the space-station keep the reader interested. As the characters, a mix of diplomats, assassins and composers, begin to swing from system to system, the ...
...are literally unimaginable then sample Look to Windward. It is however an epic book, a space opera rather than what I like to call 'normal' stories (drama, crime, love etc.) set in space, therefore perhaps one to avoid for the casual sci-fi reader. I hope you enjoy a book which I have read again and again. ...

tibejw 24.02.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Look to Windward - Iain M. Banks

One of his best

Advantages: A non-Culture book from one of the very best of Sci Fi authors
Disadvantages: None really... unless you don't like science fiction!

...great too, but I adore Against A Dark Background! I had been getting used to the concept of the Culture and I enjoy the culture novels the best of all of them generally. However, it was good to read a non-culture book of his and Against A Dark Background has become my favourite so far... although Use of Weapons comes close! The story is based on Sharrow... a former member of a personally attuned combat team. She is also being hunted by the Huhsz, ...
...Lazy Guns. A weapon so powerful that they could destroy the world or worse! They blamed Sharrow for the destruction of the only other Lazy Gun in existence and are determined to not only kill Sharrow, but also to claim the final Lazy Gun for themselves. And so begins a roller coaster of a race to find the last Lazy Gun whilst also uncovering plots within plots. As with all Banks' books, it is very cleverly written and something new and unexpected ...

poodu 02.01.2002 · Read full review
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Review of Against a Dark Background - Iain M. Banks

The Wolverine Files - A comprehensive & visually impressive book

Advantages: Well presented and packed with information, facts and great original artwork.
Disadvantages: Can't really find any faults with this book !

In 1974 the character "Wolverine" made his debut into the Marvel Universe on the last page of Hulk #180 ... and these days Wolverine has become a well loved character. Over the years he became a regular and popular member of the X-Men line up and with a vast number of his own comics and graphic novels the character's popularity quickly grew. This year saw the first Wolverine movie hit the silver screen ... and with a sequel already planned it would ...
...to come. The Wolverine Files is a fantastic book which presents the complete story of Wolverine. With an impressive hardback slipcase (with Wolverine's trademark claw marks cutting through it) this book is presented as a series of files assembled by intelligence officers at Marvel's "Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law-Enforcement Division" [S.H.I.E.L.D.] The files chronicle the complete history of the character "Wolverine" and ...

jedimastergray73 21.07.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Wolverine Files - Mike W. Barr