General / Off-Topic 'Culture' novels

jamieboo

J
Hello folks

I've never read any of Ian M Banks' Culture novels, but for Christmas I got Consider Phlebas, The Player of Games, and Excession. Very looking forward to getting stuck in!
Now I know the books do not make up a single narrative arc so the order is not really important, but they will have to be read in some order!
So, those familiar with the Culture series, what would you recommend?
I guess starting with Consider Phlebas makes most sense as that was Banks's first venture into his universe, but what about the other two?

Suggestions welcome!

Thanks
 

Faded Glory

Faded Glory
Personally I'd read Consider Phlebas, The Player of Games and then Excession.

Excession is actually my favorite of his books (and I've read them all), but it might be a little less 'accessible' than the other two. Hopefully you will enjoy them all, I thought he was a terrific author (and his fiction as Ian Banks, without the M) is also great. :)
 

Iskariot

Iskariot
jamieboo said:
Hello folks

I've never read any of Ian M Banks' Culture novels, but for Christmas I got Consider Phlebas, The Player of Games, and Excession. Very looking forward to getting stuck in!
Now I know the books do not make up a single narrative arc so the order is not really important, but they will have to be read in some order!
So, those familiar with the Culture series, what would you recommend?
I guess starting with Consider Phlebas makes most sense as that was Banks's first venture into his universe, but what about the other two?

Suggestions welcome!

Thanks
Click to expand...


I always read series in their publication order.
That is what most authors recommend.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
Redacted for dedicated thread.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

damon8r351

damon8r351
You don't get to see first hand how and why the Ring got to the Shire in the first place, but yes, you can start the Lord of the Rings before The Hobbit since it's explained during the Council of Elrond and other parts. I wouldn't do it, but you're not me.
 

Deleted member 110222

D
damon8r351 said:
You don't get to see first hand how and why the Ring got to the Shire in the first place, but yes, you can start the Lord of the Rings before The Hobbit since it's explained during the Council of Elrond and other parts. I wouldn't do it, but you're not me.
Click to expand...

You know, I think it's a question worthy of its own thread. Going to edit out my question here so I can direct people to a dedicated topic.
 

the100thmonkey

the100thmonkey
My first Culture novel was Excession.

I can also recommend viewing the Wikipedia page and just opening all links in a new tab if you're bored - you'll be there all night, as I have. :)
 

GreyAreaUK

GreyAreaUK
jamieboo said:
Hello folks

I've never read any of Ian M Banks' Culture novels, but for Christmas I got Consider Phlebas, The Player of Games, and Excession. Very looking forward to getting stuck in!
Now I know the books do not make up a single narrative arc so the order is not really important, but they will have to be read in some order!
So, those familiar with the Culture series, what would you recommend?
I guess starting with Consider Phlebas makes most sense as that was Banks's first venture into his universe, but what about the other two?

Suggestions welcome!

Thanks
Click to expand...

Definitely go with them in order, so CP first, then PoG, then Excession. Excession takes place a considerable amount of time after CP. It's also generally considered to be a bit of a difficult book - don't expect to 'get it' at first. However, it's also one of those books that benefits hugely from re-reading. Also, you'll find out how I got my handle :)
 

the100thmonkey

the100thmonkey
GreyAreaUK said:
Definitely go with them in order, so CP first, then PoG, then Excession. Excession takes place a considerable amount of time after CP. It's also generally considered to be a bit of a difficult book - don't expect to 'get it' at first. However, it's also one of those books that benefits hugely from re-reading. Also, you'll find out how I got my handle :)
Click to expand...
Meatf....
 

The Chairmaker

The Chairmaker
Use of Weapons is an absolute masterpiece. However it is not a simple pick up and read book as it has split narratives with one chapter going forward in time and another going backward in time.
Its very much in the same vein as Christopher Nolan films in which he plays with time to create the tapestry of a story. Banks does the same in Use of Weapons.

Consider Phlebas is a fantastic space opera.
Player of Games is what i consider a satire on the social political systems on Earth, with their false notions of freedom and democracy. I always attributed the "Game" to the completely false notion of the "American Dream"

As for the others you would need to read the aforementioned stories to understand what they are referencing.
I would also read the collection of short stories called State of the Art before reading Use of Weapons as that features a short story concerning THE CULTURES interactions with the Earth in the 1970's and features some or the characters in Use of Weapons It also features another culture story that hints at the dark underbelly of "Special circumstances"
 

Winterwalker

Winterwalker
They're all brilliant. I read the three mentioned, in order of Consider Phlebas, Excession, Player of Games .. but that's only as it happens.

I didn't think about it at all! :D

Consider .... Phlebas, I would.
 

Adept

Adept
I have read all thee. My favorite is Excession, which was quite good.

Consider Phlebas is a rather strange book, in that nothing that happens in it really matters. No doubt it's a deliberate choise.

Player of Games is ok, but not my favorite. One of the better culture novels still.
 

Manticore

Manticore
I've read a lot of Culture novels but I see no real reason to read them in any specific order.

Banks was a great novelist.... may he RIP.
 

Oss133

Oss133
All good. Read them in the order published, as already suggested.

Also, read his fiction as Iain Banks. Dead Air was a favourite.
 

GreyAreaUK

GreyAreaUK
Oss133 said:
All good. Read them in the order published, as already suggested.

Also, read his fiction as Iain Banks. Dead Air was a favourite.
Click to expand...

'The Crow Road' was awesome. And the four-part BBC TV adaptation was very well done. Mr. Banks himself has a quote on the DVD covers stating "Annoyingly better than the book" :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom