Science Fiction Books > Iain M. Banks Science Fiction Books

Advantages: Amaizing futuristic culture introduced to the world
Disadvantages: none

Consider Phlebas is quite rightly a space opera! This stunning book is an inspiring introduction to the culture books. The Culture well the culture is an enormous well culture comprising of many different humanoids and of course their famous machines who not only are considered sentient the also run the society . The Humanoids of the culture lead fulfilling and essentially hedonistic lives Their activities trend towards maximising pleasure in life ...
...person. They live on a variety of gigantic space ships and Orbitals which are like macro hula hoops with land on the inside held by artificial gravity due to its spin. This book is set around the war between the large unisexed three legged Idirans who are religious fanatics conquering the universe and the culture whose machine human symbiosis seems blasphemous to the Idirans.. The Plot evolves around one Bora Horza Gobuchal a changer humanoid ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent dark storyline - don't need to be a sci-fi buff to enjoy this
Disadvantages: None I can tthink of - but definately not an up-beat story :)

...stage for the events. Use of weapons is a dark and complex tail centered around it's main character, Cheradenine Zakalwe, who works for the future's equivalent of the CIA. In the midst of a good deal of political intrigue (but not too heavily so) and espionage, the character's dark and gruesome past is brought to light through a series of flash-backs and current events. As with all of Banks' stories there is a strong vein of irony and humour and ...
...cause pause for thought. Exciting? Yes. Intrigueing? Definately. This is only one of a number of novels based in the 'Culture' Universe, and doesn't need to read concurrent to any of the others. I don't believe this to be the strongest of the Culture novels, but still an excellent read. ... Read review

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 ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent characters and storyline; really grips you to the end
Disadvantages: none whatsoever

...mixed opinions so far but Inversions was in a different class. If this is your first read of Iain M Banks then I'm sure you won't be disappointed. The lead charactert is a female and Bamks builds an enigmatic and deep person for his lead. The story is written in the first person from the point of view of the servant of this female character in a world dominated by males, but the strength of the woman and her character dominates proceedings. As a ... Read review

Advantages: Mindblowing, fantastic
Disadvantages: None

Takes you into a whole new area of the Culture, where the AI minds discuss the problems that are occuring since the presence of an unidentified object. It is riddled with Banks' usual wit, imagination and depth. This gives many insights into areas of the Culture I'd not wondered about before. The is much intrigue with many twists along the way. This was book I'd heard many goods things said about it, and was not disappointed. You've heard books ... Read review