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PaperclipPerfector  3mo ago (text post)   3078 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for July 24, 2026

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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I just finished Consider Phelbas and was underwhelmed enough to not continue the series. It gets better you say?

Banks is very much hit or miss in terms of tone and story. The only book he's done that I really enjoy and will re-read from time to time is Excession, and that's predominately because the focus is almost 80% on the Minds.

Maybe I'm just being sensitive or cranky, but I can't help but think that Banks falls into the same trap that a few number of sci-fi authors do by making all their human characters be insufferable assholes.

Most people find it to be the worst the series. I’d try player of games and if you get a good bit in and still hate it. Call it quits. Player of games is a better book

Phelbas might be my favorite and I've genuinely read all of them. Games/weapons other two favs. Found the rest interesting but not inspired to read again unlike the prior 3 which I've read a few times each

What are your favorite culture books?

I loved Surface Detail (the one with the tattoo girl and bunny hell).

Matter. An odd choice I know as it usually ranks low. I think I just like different things about Banks work. I remember the MC in that was such a boob. I was always amused with his antics. And very cool setting.

Phlebas is a decent but underwhelming book. The rest of the series is great. The only other one I was somewhat disappointed by was the Hydrogen Sonata. Lovely name, but a disjointed, unsatisfying mess by Banks standards.

It's very much different from the other novels. The Player of Games is often considered the better way to start

I have only read the first two, but yeah I'd say so. Consider Phlebas was so boring I struggled to finish it, while Player of Games was genuinely quite interesting and fun to read.

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