Look to Windward - Ian M Banks **SPOILER**

ButcherOfNog

anyone else read this? if you are going to read it plz stop reading this post

a good read but .... i was a bit disappointed it in, we knew the basic outcome of the main plot pretty early on, ok the pieces didn't quite fall into place till nearer the end, but i knew the attack on the hub would be unsuccessfull once it was revealed what the the chel plan was. earlier on a disussion took place of a similar scheme that the culture foiled (blowing up a ship, not a hub, but the weapon was transported in the same way).

the most interesting sub-plot (airsphere) was sortof forgotten about and a hasty conclusion tacked on after the end of the main story, which i found very odd, its almost as if mr banks forgot about it.

BossArky

Ok, so I'm as good as finished Look to Windward (6 pages left) and think it is time to see what others thought of it.

The beginning dragged, the middle got slightly interesting.... the end bombed...

I was hoping for some kind of epic ending. It was over before it started. The attacker (Ouilan) had placed the device before I knew it... and then we didn't even get a massive exploding Hub.

Total disappointment. I want those few hours reading that book back.

I don't "get" Banks' culture novels at all.

• Use of Weapons - rubbish
• Player of Games - meh / borderline interesting
• Look to Windward - never really got going
• Agaginst a Dark Background - .... yet to read.. should I bother?

I did find the Wasp Factory slightly better than his sci-fi.

I think my expectations are way too high having read Peter F Hamiltons Nights Dawn Trilogy, plus Pandoras Star / Judas Unchanged.

InvisibleBadger

I loved this book. Maybe because i had read other culture novels first, loved them and knew what to expect.

Had the chel succeeded, it would have been a big let-down for me, as i knew how crazy-clever the culture Minds are. And maybe because i know from reading other culture novels that "you don't f*** with the culture!".

Maybe try Consider Phlebas, which is a kind of prequelI(very loosely) to Look to Windward.

The only non-culture sci-fi by Banks I've read is Against A Dark Background, which i gave up on half way through, as it felt like a bad script for a bad movie.

Sconsey

BossArky wrote: »

I don't "get" Banks' culture novels at all.

• Use of Weapons - rubbish
• Player of Games - meh / borderline interesting
• Look to Windward - never really got going
• Agaginst a Dark Background - .... yet to read.. should I bother?

I'd recommend Consider Phlebas, it's a while since I read it but I think that was the best of the culture books.

I've always been curious about the work of Banks - how would boardsies rate rate his work?

BossArky

I'd rate him 6/10 ... some good, but lots of hit and miss stuff too.

I can barely remember other books of his which I read - so I take that as a bad sign.

I've heard that he churns out a book fairly quickly, not sure if that effects the quality of his work (though I doubt it).

In the same breath, I've heard his books contain a strong Socialist slant, not sure I'd like that aspect! :pac:

InvisibleBadger

Deleted User wrote: »

I've heard his books contain a strong Socialist slant, not sure I'd like that aspect! :pac:

There is a hint of socialism in the Culture, but only in that it's natural in a post scarcity society where there is no need to work if you do not wish to. Banks certainly doesn't bash you about the head with socialism, and in fact most of the books are set outside or on the fringes of the Culture.

Tristram

Banks Culture series has to rank near the top of any science-fiction produced over the last 20 years. I wouldn't treat Look to Windward as an exemplar. Consider Phlebas would be a suitable launch-pad and isn't as challenging as some of the others in terms of plot structure. I love The Player of Games and Excession. Connections between Culture-politik and socialist ideals... pffft not bloody likely lol

edit: Night's Dawn Trilogy & Fallen Dragon, havent read any others, recommendations?

Well sure feck it, I've a good bit in my "library" to get through, but I'll give Mr. I Banks a try after I've got through them...

Cheers folks!