Matter - New Iain M Banks Culture Novel

[camouflage]

The new Banks Culture novel is out.

Can't wait to buy it, even though 18 quid's abit steep (bloody gougers).

http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,,2254874,00.html

Looks interesting, but then I'd expect no less.

 

[Crispy]

Clarified your title if you don't mind?

Sorely tempted to go and splash out on this

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

The new Banks Culture novel is out.

Can't wait to buy it, even though 18 quid's abit steep (bloody gougers).

http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/generalfiction/0,,2254874,00.html

Looks interesting, but then I'd expect no less.

Waterstones has it at half-price. I'm about half way through and enjoying it so far.

 

[jayeola]

Half-way through the Algebraist at the moment. It's a good read, although long-winded.

 

[danny la rouge]

I've tried the Culture books, because I liked Wasp Factory and other Banks books, but I'm afraid I don't like his science fiction at all.

 

[Gmart]

I've tried the Culture books, because I liked Wasp Factory and other Banks books, but I'm afraid I don't like his science fiction at all.

In contrast I like his sci-fi, and find the culture to be a great device for commentary on Earth.

One of my favorites was the State of the Art, where the culture found Earth.

That was great

 

[DotCommunist]

Lets hope this ones a bit better than the Algabraist which was meh

 

[rich!]

I got given it on Thursday (thanks, gsv), and finished it yesterday.

It's a f' better than "long tedious crawl up to garbdale" or whatever his last "no-M, no-talent" one was called.

 

[Cloo]

Glad you enjoyed it (you read faster than gsv!)

I'm waiting for my dad to be through with his copy, then nicking it.

I enjoyed the Algebraist, actually, but I'm looking forward to another encounter with the Culture.

 

[maya]

So... anyone read this yet?
(no spoilers, please!)

Since plowing through the Algebraist by pure willpower despite thinking it was the shittiest M. Banks yet, I'm not sure whether I'd take the chance with this new one to be honest...

Any opinions?

 

[DotCommunist]

So... anyone read this yet?
(no spoilers, please)

Since plowing through the Algebraist by pure willpower despite thinking it was the shittiest M. Banks yet, I'm not sure whether I'd take the chance with this new one to be honest...

Any opinions?

as cloo pointed out, this one is Culture. And imo he hasn't written a bad Culture novel yet.

 

[PursuedByBears]

as cloo pointed out, this one is Culture. And imo he hasn't written a bad Culture novel yet.

I like the first couple of Culture novels but I think it all goes wrong after those. Excession gets glowing write-ups but I found it to be boring, derivative and pointless, and when I finished it I wondered why I'd bothered. It's put me off reading the new one, to be honest.

 

[Santino]

Use of Weapons was fucking awesome.



As you were.

 

[bodach]

I've read all his books apart from the sci fi ones, although I did read 'Player of Games' which was quite good. His book 'The Search for the Perfect Dram' was good.

 

[sleaterkinney]

So... anyone read this yet?
(no spoilers, please!)

Since plowing through the Algebraist by pure willpower despite thinking it was the shittiest M. Banks yet, I'm not sure whether I'd take the chance with this new one to be honest...

Any opinions?

Really, I enjoyed the Algebraist, I thought it was a return to form after a couple of lax novels, Look to Windward especially

 

[DotCommunist]

Really, I enjoyed the Algebraist, I thought it was a return to form after a couple of lax novels, Look to Windward especially

Look to windward and Player of Games are my two favorite Culture novels

 

[Crispy]

LtW is my fave

 

[jayeola]

In that case I think I'll read the Wasp Factory next, in the hope that there might be more "action". P381 so far... Zzzzz-ish.

 

[Cid]

There's a good rip of the look to windward audio book doing the rounds (got it off demonoid)... It's pretty well performed. Or at least I think it is (I listened to it whilst fucked on K, intense but v cool).

 

[DotCommunist]

There's a good rip of the look to windward audio book doing the rounds (got it off demonoid)... It's pretty well performed. Or at least I think it is (I listened to it whilst fucked on K, intense but v cool).

I salute you sir, for giving me a good idea

 

[QueenOfGoths]

Really, I enjoyed the Algebraist, I thought it was a return to form after a couple of lax novels, Look to Windward especially

I really enjoyed The Algebraist too, it was the first Iain M. Banks I'd read and I recommended it to loads of people, though my husband who is a bit sci-fi fan found it a bit turgid. Then I went on to Inversions, which I liked a lot, and have just started Excession

Was tempted by "Matter" today but I have too many books waiting to be read at the moment and also I'm supposed to be on a savings drive. Boo

 

[Cloo]

I think Excession is my favourite - love those mentalist space vessels! BTW, there's a great list of Banks' vessel names on Wikipedia.

 

[snadge]

found it lacking in vision really, pretty boring.

He seems to be mixing up his styles a bit.

 

[Stigmata]

I really enjoyed The Algebraist too, it was the first Iain M. Banks I'd read and I recommended it to loads of people

Same here. 'Twas a good read I thought.

 

[gsv]

In that case I think I'll read the Wasp Factory next, in the hope that there might be more "action". P381 so far... Zzzzz-ish.

You lucky, lucky jayeola!

GS(v)

 

[jayeola]

Phew! Just finshed it, (Algebraist). So tell me, what does Fassin mean right at the end when he says "One day we'll all be free?" Does this mean that Fassin's a bloody AI?

 

[TheHoodedClaw]

Phew! Just finshed it, (Algebraist). So tell me, what does Fassin mean right at the end when he says "One day we'll all be free?" Does this mean that Fassin's a bloody AI?

Yes.

 

[snadge]

Yes.

No, it means that he knows the gardener is an AI..

and reconises that it has equal rights.

 

[unusual_solid]

I've tried the Culture books, because I liked Wasp Factory and other Banks books, but I'm afraid I don't like his science fiction at all.

kind of think along the same lines.

I like the first couple of Culture novels but I think it all goes wrong after those. Excession gets glowing write-ups but I found it to be boring, derivative and pointless, and when I finished it I wondered why I'd bothered. It's put me off reading the new one, to be honest.

read Excession but like above prefer his more "mainstream" stuff if it can be referred to as such but imvho on the whole quite enjoyable.
Dead Air was a good book and worth the time. :thumb:

 

[tommers]

just started matter.

I've enjoyed pretty much all the sci fi but special mentions go to use of weapons and player of games...

it's hard to think of a duff one... maybe inversions?