6 replies to this topic

[Centurion]

Has anyone here read consider phlebas by Iain M Banks?
Finished this recently myself and thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable read. Quite vivid and very well depicted. So vivid infact I felt physically sick during "Fwi Song & The Eaters"

[Florin Clapa]

I've read all of Bank's Culture books, and the society he depicts is probably the best utopia in all of SF with a few caveats. SPOILER WARNING The first caveat is that most people freely choose to live only to 400. The second is that nearly no one seems to want to radically augment themselves as envisioned by transhumanists—such as becoming a Jupiter brain or living as an upload. END SPOILER WARNING Despite these quirks, it's a society in which most immortalists and transhumanists (and nearly anyone else) would love to live in. Highly recommended.

Edited by Florin Clapa, 18 October 2011 - 04:48 AM.

[nowayout]

I love all Bank's culture books, although the newest one was in my opinion not as good - a bit too much into virtual realities for my taste (all rules and constraints going out the window so everything veers too much into fantasy).  His Sci-Fi books in general are excellent - the Algebraist is a great non-culture example.  Just be careful - Ian M. Banks is his Sci-Fi "nom de plume" - he also publishes books as Ian Banks that would definitely not appeal to most Sci-Fi readers.

Edited by viveutvivas, 18 October 2011 - 06:08 AM.

[Florin Clapa]

Surface Detail deals with virtual reality in an awkward way, but otherwise it was OK.

Fantasy-like settings and characters (minus the magic) that I didn't care for were present in Matter and especially in Inversions.

Edited by Florin Clapa, 18 October 2011 - 06:44 AM.

[nowayout]

I agree with you about Matter.  I really hate buying what I think is a science fiction book but turns out to be a medieval (or any other pre-industrial or early industrial) fantasy, just on another planet.

[cryonicsculture]

I actually just got a copy of Plebas after reading the first 28.5 pages online. I have read alot about the culture series, but have only started reading the actual book yesterday. That said, I was pretty sure that I had read something about mind uploading being possible in the culture universe and there being stories about it. I may have gotten it confused with Minds sleeping or being reconstructed.

I also agree that 400 is a pretty limited lifespan.

[okok]

I think Consider Phlebas is one of his weakest books and was published and hyped only after his other - rightly - successful books. Right now I'm catching up with Matter, relishing refined victorian language style. Anyone scoffing at that is not deserving former attribute.