Consider Phlebas (original 1987; edition 2009)

Plodding and unengaging. ( )

It took me a while to get around to reading Consider Phlebas, and now I'm not entirely sure why. Something about it struck me as stuffy and boring. I have no idea why because actually reading it... I read it in more or less two sessions, straight through. It's not as polished and carefully structured as Use of Weapons, nor did it 'wow' me as much, but it's crammed full of interesting ideas. The whole concept of Schar's World, of Horza's race, of all the things that are so familiar now to fans of the Culture... It introduced a whole new world, and yet there isn't that getting to know you feeling of a first book at all.

Some parts of it weren't very well written in my view -- the last handful of chapters' breathless style struck me as sort of amateurish -- but it's still a worthwhile read, and I love that it presents so many points of view, not just that of the Culture.

I'm sad that I'm really getting into the Culture novels only after Banks' announcement of his cancer. Still, it's as good a way to honour him as any! ( )

This is a certainly unusual book as far as I am concerned. The story moves between very different settings (in space, on an orbital, on an island, in tunnels) and situations that are well described and keep the interest high. The Culture universe is very interesting with numerous wonderful advancements but with also a dirty/gritty side that makes it feel real. On the other hand, there are no really likeable characters and even though you care for some of them, at times you would beat them over the head with a stick for some of the stuff they do. By the time the book ends, you feel like you've been punched in the stomach. The author doesn't bother to sugarcoat anything and you get the full brunt of the effect of war and a senseless mission on the individual participants. Did I enjoy it? Well maybe not the way I enjoyed other books, but it was a good read. Perhaps even 4 stars. ( )

I am almost certain I've added this book and written a review for this a few months back... but maybe I didn't!

Anyway, I was quite excited to find this book - I've read Player of Games previously, and thought it most excellent. This book is of a different sort - you see the ruthlessness of the Culture while at war. A baby mind (AI Sentience Machine) is created, than lost. Two groups of people, on each side of the war are after it. This is the story of both groups of people, their beliefs, there hopes. I liked it, but I didn't think it was as good as Player of Games. The characters were nicely complex, but I didn't really connect with them. The world was detailed - the Dyson Ring is awesome. A nice read but one I wouldn't read again. ( )

I have given up, perhaps temporarily, perhaps permanently, on page 85. Banks is widely lauded as highly literary. The sentences in the last paragraph I read began as follows: "He a-ed... He b-ed... He c-ed... Then... Horza (i.e. He) d-ed... He e-ed... Then..." Clearly this is some definition of "highly literary" that I have not heard of. And probably don't want to.

Friends and family assure me, however, that there is brilliance, humour and wit to be had in Banks' other writing, so I'll have to try again with a different book. It has been suggested that Phlebas was probably not the best one to start with, for the very reason that it's a bit of an "action movie" = of a lumbering, ponderous, shoot-em-up nature. (Can you tell what I think of action movies??)

NB: I feel most mean pasting in such a "pasting" in light of the terrible news about Mr Banks' health that has been revealed in recent days. All I can say is I feel very sorry for him and those close to him, but still ain't going to read this particular book! ( )