Iain M Banks

[Draken]

Anyone read any of his sci-fi set in the Culture? Bold, magnificent, modern space opera...love it. For me "Use of Weapons" is best. Wonder if he might be running out of steam a little now though.

Also like the mainstream stuff he's written, apart from "Song of Stone", which was a chore to finish to be honest.

But still, a great writer not scared to go places with his books. Strictly for grown-ups, mind!

[johnnyrod]

I liked the Culture, but like you say, he's let it get out of hand; his later books are rather self-involved, whereas the earlier ones like Use of Weapons and Consider Phlebas are very much human stories with a sci-fi backdrop, which for me is proper sci-fi, not crap like Star Trek that is all about the sci- bit.

[Draken]

Yep I'd put Consider Phlebas, Player of Games and Use of Weapons as his best Culture books, and I agree that that's down to strong central characters who you care about. I think his more recent stuff has got too fascinated by the Minds and Ships.

Still, a below-par Culture novel is still better than the average read!