Science Fiction Books > Iain M. Banks Science Fiction Books

Advantages: Good plot, Intriguing story
Disadvantages: Complex at times

'The Algebraist' is the welcomed return of Iain M Banks (aka Iain Banks) to science fiction and I'm glad to say he has continues where he left off producing another intriguing and cerebral piece of fiction. Iain M Banks is best known for his novels set in the 'Culture' universe (The Player Of Games, Consider Phlebas) dealing with the development of human civilisation thousands of years in the future where machines have been completely integrated ...
...'The Algebraist' is different, the Culture does not exist (or maybe has not yet developed) in this universe in the year 4034 AD, 'thinking' machines are seen as abominations actively legislated against and destroyed if found. Humanity has spread far and wide throughout the universe but only with the help of other alien races older and more advanced than us. The eventual result is a hierarchical economic and interracial galactic empire the 'Mercatoria' ... Read review

Advantages: Iain Banks' usual quality, good story
Disadvantages: about a quarter of the book is written phonetically - gets a bit annoying

...The 'real world' in Feersum Endjinn is centred on the Serehfa Fastness - a giant proportioned castle (rooms are several kilometres wide) that was once the Earth-site of a space elevator. The real technology behind it has been lost before the staging of this book, so consequently the Serehfa has become fairly mysterious. This works well for the reader, as we also see only the strangeness of this relic, without understanding what has gone before. It ...
...leads to rather convenient unexplained technology just left lying around for use. Still, the setting is unusual and well described. Once again, Banks has employed the style of writing each chapter from a different character's viewpoint. Unlike Walking On Glass, the different strands are set in the same world, and the links become obvious much earlier on. Still, at the beginning they read as fairly disparate tales, weaved together quite skilfully ... Read review

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. ... 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