The Culture Series

[89th]

Someone at work recommended it. I presume this is fodder for TNCR so...begin!

[George K]

It's gotten great reviews - everywhere.

I tried reading "Consider Phlebas" a couple of times, but gave up.

I should really give it another shot, perhaps I'll put that on my list.

I've always enjoyed how some sci-fi writers come up with clever names for the the ships:

The Expanse: "The Weeping Somnambulist"
SpaceX: "Of Course I Still Love You."
Scalzi: "“Tell Me Another One”
Banks: "No More Mr. Nice Guy," "Clean Air Turbulence."

[Aqua Letifer]

Ian Banks is the shit. A lot of sci-fi writers either have a good idea and try to shoehorn a theme into it, or have a strong moral point wrapped around a mediocre plot and background. Banks had both vision and fun stories to tell.

[Doctor Phibes]

I actually prefer his non sci-fi stuff. The Crow Road, Espedaire Street and The Wasp Factory are three I remember. I found his Culture books a little difficult, although The Player of Games was good.

[Friday]

After reading the first 2 Culture books, I thought long and hard about whether or not to continue on with the rest of the books. I really enjoyed the stories, but they made me feel... sort of.....sad. I don't want to give away any plots. Anyway, I figured that if a book could give me any feels (good or bad ones), then it was worth continuing on. And I'm so glad I did, because the next one I read was Use of Weapons, which I absolutely loved.

It might take a while to understand the Culture, but I would say give it a shot 89th.

[89th]

Thanks! I'll add it to my list of "what I'll do when I have more time"

[George K]

@george-k said in The Culture Series:

t's gotten great reviews - everywhere.
I tried reading "Consider Phlebas" a couple of times, but gave up.

Trying for the 4th time, and I've made it past beyond where I gave up in the past.

(@Aqua-Letifer I didn't want to use the word "past" twice in the same sentence, particularly with different meanings.)

Style is great. Sarcasm is great.

I'm still not sold on the storyline. It's okay, but it's just not grabbing me. I'm only about 10% into the book.

I'm looking for something that grabs me by the neck and says, "READ ME!"

Reynolds does that, and he demands you pay attention.

Even the "popcorn" books do that.

I'm still not grabbed, but I'll give it some more time.

[George K]

I give up.

About ⅓ of the way through this. Good opening, with a good second act.

Then, nothing happens for the next 200 pages. Irrelevant adventures with more weird characters and weirder stories, none of which have anything to do with the major plot line.

Feh....