Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
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Book Reviews of Consider Phlebas
Book Review: A Taste of Culture!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Culture is a civilization of sentient beings, both organic and "machine" (think artificial intelligence with all the rights of intelligent life forms) based. There is no need for money except to use in less evolved cultures. The Culture doesn't even have goals of planetary conquest. They just build enormous artificial habitats in space.
But the Culture does pay attention to those other civilizations that can upset the status quo, or keep the Culture from its path to enlightenment.
In Consider Phlebas, author Iain Banks follows one small chapter in the decades long battle between the Culture and the Idirans. The Idirans have been very successful in expanding their sphere of influence, and the godless Culture is a dangerous irritant. Religious passion is an alien concept to the Culture, and their Contact branch, and the Special Circumstances division within Contact, must fight a war.
As a story within this battle, a Mind (AI) is stranded on a peculiar planet (protected for reasons unknown by a vastly powerful entity that allows no armies to approach). A team of Changers has had a historical presence on this planet, and the Idirans have one Changer loyal to them (Horza) who used to be stationed there. His mission is to return to the planet, locate the Mind (with its secrets of the Culture's technologies), and turn it over to the Idirans. The Culture simply wants to rescue one of their own, the Mind. They are confident in an eventual outcome of the war in their favor, but they recognize that the capture of the Mind will delay success for a few years. They are very analytic.
This book is the tale of Horza and his extraordinary adventures in getting to the planet hiding the Mind, and finding the Mind on the planet. The uniqueness of AI sentience, the Culture's technologies, the physiology of the Changers, and determination of the Idirans, all make this an intriguing tale and a unique sci-fi offering. Banks makes Horza a horrible person who seems to care not a wit who is hurt or killed (usually killed) in his search for the Mind, while trying to make the reader sympathetic to his life and loves. I'm not sure this works. However, what does work is the introduction of the Culture. This is the second Culture book that I've read (the first was The Player of Games). I was told they don't have to be read in any particular order, and that certainly is bearing true.
The Culture series is an exciting addition to the sci-fi literature. You'll finish that last page, close the cover, and find yourself just sitting and thinking. Isn't that what great sci-fi is all about?
Book Review: A Better Starting Point
Summary: 4 Stars
My first read of Iain M. Banks was The Algebraist, which I quite enjoyed and thought worth 4 stars. That was until I read "Consider Phlebas", the first of the Culture novels, and found myself far more impressed and interested.
The main character, an interesting Changer with some nasty surprises for those who irritate him, is on the hunt for a Culture mind that decided to hide itself on a Planet of the Dead. Horza is commissioned by a race at war with the Culture to find it and get it. The commission goes to the dogs pretty much right from the first minute, and the book's plot is made of Horza's attempts to get at the Mind. Sadly, the Culture are also aware of it, and his mission, so that adds something extra.
The scope of the story is massively huge, and the universe Banks has created is simply boggling in its immense size and variety. The range and sheer detail of the universe is wildly cool, and this alone kept me hooked until the end.
Sometimes, Bank's turn of phrase stretched the mind as he said things in a strange or unusual way. However, for the most part, this added to the "other-worldliness" of the story. Only occassionally did it distract from the business of enjoying the adventure.
Although I gave this the same rating as "The Algebraist" in my ignorance, I do consider this to be a much better book and story. Having read this, I am no longer wondering what people see in Iain M. Banks.
Book Review: Great begining to the Culture
Summary: 4 Stars
Like others have said this book is either hit or miss with most readers however for me it was a big hit.
Banks takes us on a while ride through a universe as wide and large as any ever imagined where technology has advanced beyond all else and the Culture is content to let the machines (MIND) rule over them. However where as in some books this would be a nightmare in Banks creation it seems borderline heaven.
Still, not all is well and war is still needed to protect that which is most valuable and keep those in its charge happy.
As we follow the plot of saving a lost Mind we get to go on a romp through this universe that was amazing and frankly much better than the Algebraist.
I think the only real negative I felt is that the war was wrapped up with a quick blurb in the end and I would have rather seen that as a separate story.
However, for anyone who loves a good read and slice of a world experience this book is for you.
Book Review: Dog's Breakfast
Summary: 4 Stars
"Consider Phlebas" is a page turner, no doubt about it. However, the overall concept and the following books are greater than this, the first book. I am guessing Banks was feeling his way into the visible edges of his hidden dream-scape.
On one level the book is Swiftian, on another it is a Larry Niven-like comedic take on the space opera, which on a fundamental level is a violation of tone.
Another problem with the book is its tortured violation of point of view to present us with a very cinematic and omniscient view of the carnage at the end of the novel.
There seems to be a need among the current crop of science fiction writers to write cinema. I find this distracts from the writing. More particularly, ninety percent of the novel is written from the limited point of view of Bora Horza Gobuchul. Every time, Banks shifts to the Mind or Fal N'geestra I felt a novelistic hiccup, an interruption in the narrative flow.
Book Review: A Great Big Universe!
Summary: 4 Stars
Read all the rave review about the Culture -- Can't believe it took me so long to find it... but anyways -- I did enjoy visiting that Universe....
Lots of interesting places and people --- I was a bit taken aback with all of (practicaly S&M) renditions of bizare tortures.... & the battles did become a bit tedious at times, well - usualy --- I am certain that the entire bit about 'the eaters' could have been left out entirely! That bit of gruesome perversion was totaly unnecesary and added diddle to the overall story -
Sadly, the attrition rate during the endless battles was the one constant... and Considering Phlebas was ernestly illustrated in an unexpected fashion...