Iain M. Banks?

[anarch]

Does anybody here read his stuff? Anybody? He's one of my all-time favorites...just curious, since it seems hard to find other fans. Well, if you haven't heard of him, and you like space-operas and really great speculative science fiction, you owe it to yourself to check out his books...especially the "Culture" books.

[phantom power]

1. Somebody else posted a Banks appreciation thread a while ago.

So you're not alone! I haven't yet read any of his stuff, but he's on my list.

[Technowitch]

2. I'm reading "The Algebraist" now

So far, it seems pretty good.

[NewHampshireDem]

3. I always recommend him on this board

He's second only to William Gibson on my list. I really enjoy his regular fiction too. Haven't gotten my hands on "Algebraist" yet, though--I've been working my way through Richard K. Morgan's books the past couple of months.

[Taxloss]

4. I love his stuff. He's great at plot twists.

Like at the end of "Use of Weapons" and in "Inversions" and "Excession" (my favourite).

[Kellanved]

5. My department uses names from his books to name computers

For example our cray is named "limiting factor".


Edit. Ooops.

[blindpig]

6. Just started reading Excessions.

My first Banks. Very promising!

[NewHampshireDem]

7. I'm glad you're enjoying it ...

it certainly is not a book I'd recommend for a first Bank's read--not quite as action-packed as most of his others and <em>any</em> book in which space ship AI's figure prominently is bound to leave many readers scratching their heads.

You should pick up 'Use of Weapons' or 'Consider Phlebas' next. Both are outstanding ... well, all of his books are outstanding, but those two are IMHO his two best Culture novels.

[blindpig]

8. Done.

Very enjoyable. I found the AI ships to be one of the more interesting aspects of the book. The Culture reminded me in some respects of Dan Simmons's Shrike books. Ill take your advice on my next Bank read, our local library is pretty well stocked.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. I love him ,and I also recommend his 'non-science fiction' books

which are published without the 'M.' in his name (one or two of them tend towards science fiction anyway, such as 'Walking on Glass'), though they're a little more patchy - I think "The Wasp Factory" (though that's not for the squeamish), "The Bridge", "Whit", "Walking on Glass" and "Complicity" are great, though his later non-science fiction has been a little disappointing.

Pretty much all the 'M.' books are very good, though I found "Feersum Enjin" (sp?) a little heavy going at first, because about half the book is written in that phonetic style - you have to develop a habit of vocalising everything you read.

[Porcupine]

10. I like to make up my own ship names! Try it, it's great fun.......

Some of my favorites:

ROU- "Flat Learning Curve"
GSV- "I didn't eat corn"