Iain Banks Sci-Fi stuff

[mrs quoad]

I can remember that I got the horn at something in Wilt when I wor about 14.

Though - thinking back - I'm damned if I can remember what.

Wilt? Do I mean Wilt? Or was that written by the bloke who my mum always said was like Terry Pratchett, only without the fantasy land, and for adults

 

[snowcrash]

My electronic copy of that book has transliterated versions of bascule's chapters, so you don't have to untangle the phonetics

What a complete waste of time !

 

[scifisam]

I decided to get one of his books out of the library after seeing a thread on here about the culture novels, but it turns out that the one I've got isn't a culture novel either - they only had the Algebraist.

I can remember that I got the horn at something in Wilt when I wor about 14.

Though - thinking back - I'm damned if I can remember what.

Wilt? Do I mean Wilt? Or was that written by the bloke who my mum always said was like Terry Pratchett, only without the fantasy land, and for adults

That was a comedy (not a science fiction comedy) set in modern-day Britain, written by Tom Sharpe. Both he and Ian Banks do write in English, though, so I can see why you got them confused.

 

[mrs quoad]

That was a comedy (not a science fiction comedy) set in modern-day Britain, written by Tom Sharpe. Both he and Ian Banks do write in English, though, so I can see why you got them confused.

A quick wiki suggests a misplaced consonant.

 

[Santino]

Whit = Shit

 

[ericjarvis]

Whit = my favourite of Banks's novels

Though it's a close thing with Use of Weapons and The Bridge.

 

[tar1984]

I started reading the algebraist last night. Just read a little bit of it and there's already some fucking cool shit going on! Namely luseferous' novel (and awesome) ways of torturing his victims!

Yeah I think I can get into this.

 

[ChrisC]

Why not?

What about the Algebraist?

The Algebraist is a great book. One of my faves by him.

 

[camouflage]

I've read and really enjoyed a couple of Iain Banks novels - 'dead air' and 'the steep approach to garbadale'. Looking in the library for more of his material I see a couple of his sci-fi ones too. I know there's people on here who rave about these, but i've never really read any sci-fi, and I was wondering if it's something sci-fi fans are more likely to enjoy, or if they're accessible enough for anyone?
Also, for a first time reader, would you suggest starting off with 'the algebraist' or 'matter'? - these are the two the library has.

Niether. Start with the State of the Art, then go on to Consider Phlebas, Use of Weapons, the Player of Games, the Excession, and then the rest. End with Inversions.

 

[bluestreak]

"Look to the Windward"

What an odd mistake.

IV. DEATH BY WATER

P[SIZE=-1]HLEBAS[/SIZE] the Phoenician, a fortnight dead,[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep seas swell[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] And the profit and loss.[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] A current under sea[SIZE=-2] 315[/SIZE] Picked his bones in whispers. As he rose and fell[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] He passed the stages of his age and youth[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Entering the whirlpool.[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Gentile or Jew[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] O you who turn the wheel and look to windward,[SIZE=-2] 320[/SIZE] Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.-Eliot, The Wasteland

 

[Santino]

What an odd mistake.

IV. DEATH BY WATER

P[SIZE=-1]HLEBAS[/SIZE] the Phoenician, a fortnight dead,[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Forgot the cry of gulls, and the deep seas swell[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] And the profit and loss.[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] A current under sea[SIZE=-2] 315[/SIZE] Picked his bones in whispers. As he rose and fell[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] He passed the stages of his age and youth[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Entering the whirlpool.[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] Gentile or Jew[SIZE=-2] [/SIZE] O you who turn the wheel and look to windward,[SIZE=-2] 320[/SIZE] Consider Phlebas, who was once handsome and tall as you.-Eliot, The Wasteland

It's The Waste Land actually.

/pedant