Amazon MGM Studios is working on a TV adaptation of Iain M. Banks' science fiction novel Consider Phlebas. The book is part of Banks' Culture series, which
I know this is the common advice but I started with Consider Phlebas and it is far from unapproachable. There are some benefits of the PoV character being outside The Culture I think. As much as I liked The Player of Games, I much preferred the second half of the book.
I know I’m late to the party but I totally agree. I had never heard anyone say to skip Phlebas so I naturally started there when taking on the series and I thought it was an excellent book. It was very thought provoking at times and provides a good perspective to take into the rest of the series. It certainly doesnt hit the same way that The Player of Games and (my personal favorite BY FAR) Use of Weapons did but it is still excellent.
Banks has an approach to exposition that could best be described as “Kill it with fire.” His goal is to only ever provide you with exactly as much information as you need to make it through the next paragraph, and nothing more. Very often he deliberately leaves you confused about critical aspects of the world building in order to intrigue you with questions that will be answered later. This can be jarring, especially if you’re used to lore-dump heavy SF/fantasy.
Consider Phlebas is a bit of a rough start. I found it to be more rewarding on a second read-through after finishing several other Culture novels. By all means keep reading Phlebas, it’s very good, but it’s ok to sit back and sort of let the book happen, if you get my drift. It’ll become clearer as you read.
I just started reading it lol
I recommend starting with player of games. It is the best of his work imo and it is super approachable.
I know this is the common advice but I started with Consider Phlebas and it is far from unapproachable. There are some benefits of the PoV character being outside The Culture I think. As much as I liked The Player of Games, I much preferred the second half of the book.
I know I’m late to the party but I totally agree. I had never heard anyone say to skip Phlebas so I naturally started there when taking on the series and I thought it was an excellent book. It was very thought provoking at times and provides a good perspective to take into the rest of the series. It certainly doesnt hit the same way that The Player of Games and (my personal favorite BY FAR) Use of Weapons did but it is still excellent.
Yeah, Banks made a very deliberate and conscious choice in asking readers to first approach the Culture from the outside. Dude knew what he was doing.
100% this.
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How is it
Only reached page 40 or so, quite interesting! Lots of names that i have to remember because I knew nothing about the series haha
Banks has an approach to exposition that could best be described as “Kill it with fire.” His goal is to only ever provide you with exactly as much information as you need to make it through the next paragraph, and nothing more. Very often he deliberately leaves you confused about critical aspects of the world building in order to intrigue you with questions that will be answered later. This can be jarring, especially if you’re used to lore-dump heavy SF/fantasy.
Consider Phlebas is a bit of a rough start. I found it to be more rewarding on a second read-through after finishing several other Culture novels. By all means keep reading Phlebas, it’s very good, but it’s ok to sit back and sort of let the book happen, if you get my drift. It’ll become clearer as you read.
Banks is genuinely one of my favorite sci fi authors of all time. Excellent writing and really incredible world building.
Thanks! That will make me go read into him