Iain M Banks - 'Culture series' Page 4

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  • otto Moderator 13 Oct 2009 13:11:57 49,238 posts
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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/

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  • ccfb 13 Oct 2009 13:14:16 337 posts
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    So you agree, then? :)
  • otto Moderator 13 Oct 2009 13:16:12 49,238 posts
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    Gah, do either, just read the fucking things! :D

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  • lucky_jim 2 Mar 2010 10:28:30 4,896 posts
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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 2 Mar 2010 10:30:34 49,183 posts
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    Bah... shitbadgers.

    I thought there was a new book out or something when I saw this thread bumped. =/

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  • Lepperman 2 Mar 2010 10:46:02 251 posts
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    I read The Player of Games for the third time recently. It's amazing, my favourite by a long way.
  • Scimarad 2 Mar 2010 16:07:45 8,282 posts
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    I 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:)
  • Mr_Sleep 2 Mar 2010 16:17:05 13,554 posts
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    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 2 Mar 2010 16:18:58 14,256 posts
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    Matter 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.

    The Cult of Me [ Blog ] [ e-book ] [ An Odd Quartet ]

  • DocX 2 Mar 2010 16:47:28 1,961 posts
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    I 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 2 Mar 2010 17:08:53 7,750 posts
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    Matter 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
  • Mr_Sleep 2 Mar 2010 17:32:34 13,554 posts
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    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 :-)

    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.
  • RedSparrows 6 Mar 2010 01:12:05 16,988 posts
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    Upon reflection I like Consider Phlebas less now. Well written, but it now has a cold feeling when I think of it.
  • DaM 6 Jul 2010 20:29:09 11,747 posts
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    wahay!!!
  • TechnoHippy 6 Jul 2010 20:31:43 14,256 posts
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    I think I just did a little sex wee in my pants :-)

    The Cult of Me [ Blog ] [ e-book ] [ An Odd Quartet ]

  • DaM 6 Jul 2010 20:37:27 11,747 posts
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    Release date Oct 2010 (as usual actually - he sticks to a timetable for writing).
  • RyanDS 6 Jul 2010 20:40:27 7,636 posts
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    DaM 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.)
  • Bremenacht 6 Jul 2010 20:43:20 11,170 posts
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    DaM wrote:
    wahay!!!
    \o/
    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.

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  • Khanivor 6 Jul 2010 20:48:00 38,679 posts
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    Sweet, release date only three weeks later over here in the US.
  • StixxUK 6 Jul 2010 20:58:19 6,917 posts
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    Just 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 6 Jul 2010 21:13:37 38,679 posts
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    One half of my dissertation's source texts came in the form of Excession.
  • Jetset_UK 6 Jul 2010 23:12:38 3,478 posts
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    so 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 6 Jul 2010 23:13:02 3,478 posts
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    His books that is.
  • otto Moderator 19 Nov 2010 22:13:10 49,238 posts
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    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.

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  • Khanivor 19 Nov 2010 22:21:42 38,679 posts
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    I 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 19 Nov 2010 22:54:56 2,282 posts
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    Only read player of games, loved it.
  • otto Moderator 19 Nov 2010 23:02:48 49,238 posts
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    Oh and there's a great little Easter Egg at the end of Surface Detail for those who have read the other Culture novels.

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  • Bremenacht 19 Nov 2010 23:13:53 11,170 posts
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    Oh excellent - I'd forgotten about it. Once upon a time, I'd be counting down the days until a new Banks book.

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  • Khanivor 19 Nov 2010 23:17:14 38,679 posts
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    Me too. But I tend to forget what day it is these, uh, days.
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