Advantages: Varied, engaging, ambitious plot, lots of action Disadvantages: Can feel disjointed in places
...An exciting sci-fi book with tremendous scope First published in 1987, Consider Phlebas was Ian Banks (known here under the sci-fi pseudonym of Iain M Banks)'s first foray into the world of sci-fi space opera, and is a typically ambitious novel, set aro ...
Advantages: Brilliant piece of sci-fi writing Disadvantages: Hard to put down and will only encourage you to read his other Culture novels
For many years now, I have been an avid fan of the Scottish writer Iain Banks and the mainstream fiction that carries his name, such as The Wasp Factory, The Crow Road and Espedair Street. However, there are a series of books on the market bearing the nam ...
Advantages: Extremely readable Disadvantages: Banks sometimes loses control
"Consider Phlebas" was a groundbreaking book for Iain Banks, his first Culture novel, his first sf novel, and his first novel to have an M in his name. The distinction is silly; Banks' sf and non-sf are both written by the same author, and both as readab ...
Advantages: sheer brilliance of author Disadvantages: names of characters hard to pronounce
After reading most of Iain Banks non sci-fi i decided to read this one first without any previous knowledge of the Culture series. I believe it to be the first one, and in my opinion the finest. When i could finally put this truly awesome book down i co ...
Advantages: Interesting premise, exciting in places, well written in general Disadvantages: Lacks direction at times, occasionally poor characters.
Having read some of Iain Banks' non science-fiction novels I was intrigued to see how he would tackle this genre.
Well, although I am a fan of his work, I just can't bring myself to say it was excellent. A good read yes, but a classic? no...sorry!
The p ...
