| Pages: [1] :: one page |
| Author |
Thread Statistics | Show CCP posts - 0 post(s) |
TerrorBaBy
Caldari
Universal-Corp
The Nexus Alliance
   |
Posted - 2008.06.28 22:00:00 -
[1]
Hi all,
I first read the Algerbraist after I read a recommendation of it on this forum about 6 months ago (I forget who it was that recommended it, think it was in a thread about good sci-fi novels maybe).
Anyhoo I finished it and loved it within a few days. I was walking through Waterstones the other day looking for another book and thought I'd check out the sci-fi section for a promising looking read since I didn't have one on the go at the time. Imagine my surprise to see a whole host of Ian M. Banks sci-fi novels entitled the 'Culture' series!
I picked up the first book 'Consider Phlebas' and am coming to the end of it after two days of reading about Horza Gobuchul.
Now onto my question. Do the next books that make up the series tie in with the first in some way? Or are they separate stories in the same universe? Do they share any of the same characters? I would love to read more stories about them.
Please bear in mind that I haven't finished reading this book yet! Don't spoil the ending for me in your answer!
_______________
 Originally by: Constance Harme
It's like willfully getting into a car full of strangers and then being driven out to the woods and being shot.quote]
|
ReaperOfSly
Gallente
Lyrus Associates
The Star Fraction
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 22:06:00 -
[2]
They're separate stories set in the same universe, although big historical events such as the Idiran war are mentioned in later books.
__________________________
Quote:
...bored, skint, no charter, and a ship that looks like an explosion in a girder factory...
|
TerrorBaBy
Caldari
Universal-Corp
The Nexus Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.28 22:11:00 -
[3]
Ah shame  .
Thanks for the answer Reaper.
_______________
Originally by: Constance Harme
It's like willfully getting into a car full of strangers and then being driven out to the woods and being shot.quote] |
knifee
Caldari
Euphoria Heavy Industries
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 00:04:00 -
[4]
Originally by: TerrorBaBy
Ah shame .
Thanks for the answer Reaper.
The Culture books are amazing. Read them all. |
SoftRevolution
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 02:17:00 -
[5]
A couple of them are sort of sequels.
Look To Windward is vaguelly a sequel to Consider Phlebas for example.
I think there's maybe a handful of characters that recure to. I can think of one example with a short story and a pair of characters in Use Of Weapons. |
F'nog
Amarr
Celestial Horizon Corp.
Celestial Industrial Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 05:03:00 -
[6]
It's nice that Matter has caused a rerelease of the other Culture books. I've only read Use of Weapons and Excession, both of which were awesome, but it was a pita just to find them in used stores.
Now I can get the rest anywhere I go.
Coincidentally, I just bought the Algebraist the other day. Soon I'll read it.
Originally by: Kazuma Saruwatari
F'nog for Amarr Emperor. Nuff said
Originally by: Chribba
Go F'nog! You're a hero! Not a Zero!  /me bows
|
brakespear
Minmatar
Heaven Up Here
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 18:49:00 -
[7]
Originally by: knifee
The Culture books are amazing. Read them all.
This - got back into reading fiction again by devouring the Culture novels (although funny enough my two favourite Banks books are non-Culture - Against a Dark Background and The Algebraist  ) |
F'nog
Amarr
Celestial Horizon Corp.
Celestial Industrial Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:17:00 -
[8]
Are there any other books set in the Against a Dark Background universe? I'd love to find out more about what's going on there.
Originally by: Kazuma Saruwatari
F'nog for Amarr Emperor. Nuff said
Originally by: Chribba
Go F'nog! You're a hero! Not a Zero! /me bows
|
brakespear
Minmatar
Heaven Up Here
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:20:00 -
[9]
Originally by: F'nog
Are there any other books set in the Against a Dark Background universe? I'd love to find out more about what's going on there.
If you mean with some of the same characters, locations, references etc then I believe not
--------------------------------------------------
'people will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with 'welcome' written on it.' |
Malcanis
We are Legend
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:21:00 -
[10]
Originally by: TerrorBaBy
Hi all,
I first read the Algerbraist after I read a recommendation of it on this forum about 6 months ago (I forget who it was that recommended it, think it was in a thread about good sci-fi novels maybe).
Anyhoo I finished it and loved it within a few days. I was walking through Waterstones the other day looking for another book and thought I'd check out the sci-fi section for a promising looking read since I didn't have one on the go at the time. Imagine my surprise to see a whole host of Ian M. Banks sci-fi novels entitled the 'Culture' series!
I picked up the first book 'Consider Phlebas' and am coming to the end of it after two days of reading about Horza Gobuchul.
Now onto my question. Do the next books that make up the series tie in with the first in some way? Or are they separate stories in the same universe? Do they share any of the same characters? I would love to read more stories about them.
Please bear in mind that I haven't finished reading this book yet! Don't spoil the ending for me in your answer!
Some of the references will make more sense if you read them in orer, but it's not really necessary. The only sequencing recommnedation I'd make is to read Consider Phlebas first, which you did.
His Culture novels are all fantastic IMO. If i absolutely had to pick a favourite it would be whichever I had read least recently of Player of Games and Use of Weapons.
CONCORD provide consequences, not safety; only you can do that. |
Baron Agamemnon
Caldari
Holy Grail Constructiion
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:24:00 -
[11]
I have heard much about theese books from my uncle, and when i get the time and money, I will aquire them and read them :). The algebraist was also good, read that one some months ago :)
|
Bad Harlequin
Minmatar
The Harlequinade
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:44:00 -
[12]
Originally by: Malcanis
His Culture novels are all fantastic IMO. If i absolutely had to pick a favourite it would be whichever I had read least recently of Player of Games and Use of Weapons.
this squared.
I also greatly enjoyed Inversions. There's some debate over whether or not it counts as a Culture novel, which i don't get, since it clearly is 
-----
-- we all live in a yellow subroutine -- |
mamolian
Eternity INC.
Project Alice.
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 20:52:00 -
[13]
Not read his latest Scifi novel.. matter was it? its good i hope?
-----------
|
Patch86
Di-Tron Heavy Industries
Atlas Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 21:04:00 -
[14]
I've read all of the Culture novels except the most recent one, and I'm reading the Algebraist right now. Great author, I'm a big fan. Although Consider Phlebas was probably my least favourite.
------
Originally by: Micheal Dietrich
You can even get a midget with a camera to sit on the floorboard.
|
brakespear
Minmatar
Heaven Up Here
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 21:05:00 -
[15]
Originally by: mamolian
Not read his latest Scifi novel.. matter was it? its good i hope?
I thought it was really good apart from the last ten pages or so
--------------------------------------------------
'people will always be tempted to wipe their feet on anything with 'welcome' written on it.' |
Jaerl
Caldari
|
Posted - 2008.06.29 22:00:00 -
[16]
There is continuation in the sense that it is about the Culture universe - more specifically, usually the lives of Contact and/or Special Circumstances agents. Look to Windward is the 'sequel' to Consider Phlebas, in continuation of the Idiran War theme - I'd recommend reading Consider Phlebas before Look to Windward if only for the backstory.
SPOILERS IN THIS PARAGRAPH. There is another continuation of another character, Sma and Skaffen the drone from Use of Weapons also make an appearance in State of the Art, but it's pretty minor.
And if you're thinking about reading Inversions, I would read it after you've read the rest of the Culture novels to fully enjoy it. When I first read it, I hadn't the faintest idea who Iain M. Banks was - I was a bit mystified as to why this book was labelled 'sci-fi' when it was like fantasy. I read the Culture novels a few years later and re-read Inversions with knowledge of the backstory, and it was one of the best reads I've ever had.
---
Usually, a lot of people start off by reading The Player of Games as an introduction to the Culture since it's fast-paced, and relatively linear and basic compared to the other books. You know... with all the flash fowards, backs, and side-to-sides... 
|
Mtthias Clemi
Gallente
The Space Bastards
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 01:32:00 -
[17]
Originally by: Patch86
I've read all of the Culture novels except the most recent one, and I'm reading the Algebraist right now. Great author, I'm a big fan. Although Consider Phlebas was probably my least favourite.
Patch whats wrong with you!?!? Consider is freaking awesome
|
Bad Borris
The Pikey Rebellion II
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 09:02:00 -
[18]
Edited by: Bad Borris on 30/06/2008 09:05:18
Culture books are all great... Lucky you for finding them and having alot of great reading to look forward to.
They are not a series but some books talk about events that occured earlier (the idiran war i think) but not so much that it matters.
I just read the latest book (matter) and it is one of the best imo but i would still read the earliest books first as he kind of builds his own imaginary world and expands on it in each book.
His latest book (for fans who dont know) is about special circumstances mission and is fantastic - it combines all the awsome technology (sc stuff, minds) and throws it into the mix with a young, developing civilisation. Very cool.
|
Rana Ash
Minmatar
Tribal Liberation Force
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 09:12:00 -
[19]
Originally by: brakespear
Originally by: mamolian
Not read his latest Scifi novel.. matter was it? its good i hope?
I thought it was really good apart from the last ten pages or so
Yeah i agree, i felt like it was suppose to be longer.
And for the banks newbies, read Excession that one is awsome..
Ļon Trinity is recruting, inquire within for details
lyret dedreen
|
Cutter Isaacson
Minmatar
Hollow World Mining Corporation
QUANT Hegemony
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 11:11:00 -
[20]
Im the proud owner of all of Banks' Culture novels as well as some of his books published under the name Iain Banks, rather than Iain M Banks. Everything this man writes is epic win.
Also, im lucky enough to have met the man while he was in Glasgow and got him to sign my copy of Matter which now has pride of place on my bookshelf.  |
Bad Borris
The Pikey Rebellion II
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 11:16:00 -
[21]
Originally by: Cutter Isaacson
Im the proud owner of all of Banks' Culture novels as well as some of his books published under the name Iain Banks, rather than Iain M Banks. Everything this man writes is epic win.
Also, im lucky enough to have met the man while he was in Glasgow and got him to sign my copy of Matter which now has pride of place on my bookshelf.
I met him too at a book signing and he signed the algebraist for me.
Top bloke. As for Iain bainks novels i recommend dead air because it has moments that will make u **** yourself laughing. |
Malcanis
We are Legend
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 11:31:00 -
[22]
Originally by: Bad Borris
Originally by: Cutter Isaacson
Im the proud owner of all of Banks' Culture novels as well as some of his books published under the name Iain Banks, rather than Iain M Banks. Everything this man writes is epic win.
Also, im lucky enough to have met the man while he was in Glasgow and got him to sign my copy of Matter which now has pride of place on my bookshelf.
I met him too at a book signing and he signed the algebraist for me.
Top bloke. As for Iain bainks novels i recommend dead air because it has moments that will make u **** yourself laughing.
I liked Whit best. Or maybe Crow Road.
CONCORD provide consequences, not safety; only you can do that. |
Nigel Sheldon
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 12:00:00 -
[23]
got considering phelbas, Use of weapons and The player of games when I joined up with fanatsy & SF bookclub not read any of them yet as I have a huge backlot of books to read...hope they are good when I get round too it, at the moment am reading simmons hyperion saga, halfway through the second book at the moment..
|
Mary Me'Belle
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 13:10:00 -
[24]
Originally by: Malcanis
Originally by: Bad Borris
Originally by: Cutter Isaacson
Im the proud owner of all of Banks' Culture novels as well as some of his books published under the name Iain Banks, rather than Iain M Banks. Everything this man writes is epic win.
Also, im lucky enough to have met the man while he was in Glasgow and got him to sign my copy of Matter which now has pride of place on my bookshelf.
I met him too at a book signing and he signed the algebraist for me.
Top bloke. As for Iain bainks novels i recommend dead air because it has moments that will make u **** yourself laughing.
I liked Whit best. Or maybe Crow Road.
Complicity and The Bridge are my two favorites for his Iain Banks books.
I would sincerely recommend that no-one ever read "A Song of Stone", not because it lacks artistry because it is very good indeed, but because it is very good at making you feel despair.
|
Patch86
Di-Tron Heavy Industries
Atlas Alliance
|
Posted - 2008.06.30 21:09:00 -
[25]
Originally by: Mtthias Clemi
Originally by: Patch86
I've read all of the Culture novels except the most recent one, and I'm reading the Algebraist right now. Great author, I'm a big fan. Although Consider Phlebas was probably my least favourite.
Patch whats wrong with you!?!? Consider is freaking awesome
Its good, I just think all the others are better. His prose was a little clumsy back then, and it went on a few meanders that I didn't think added much. What I liked in it, though, I liked a lot. |
| |
|
| Pages: [1] :: one page |
| First page | Previous page | Next page | Last page |