Consider Phlebas
By Iain M. Banks
- Release Date: 2009-12-01
- Genre: Adventure Sci-Fi
Description
The first book in Iain M. Banks's seminal science fiction series, The Culture. Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination.
The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.
Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.
The Culture Series
Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
The State of the Art
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward
Matter
Surface Detail
The Hydrogen Sonata
Reviews
Unnecessary gore and violence
1By JeffR.The story and characters were interesting, but I found the level of gore and violence quite unnecessary, so I quit about halfway through as I don’t enjoy this in my sci fi.Surprisingly good!
5By CLos80DDSBeen on a sci fi kick. But many books are so full of pretentious lumbering prose and slow time murdering pages. Was not expecting this book to be so direct, clear, yet evocative, action packed and fun. Can’t believe my luck that this isn’t even his best book and I have so many more to go. Very very puzzled about the bad reviews I’ve seen but ok…to each their own. Cheers Mr Banks. Freaking love your stuff.Instead of considering Phlebas, Banks should have considered editing
1By Matador nel HatadorOverly long, with plodding chapters that don’t build on the story. What you hope is groundwork being laid simply leads to nothing and is not paid off later on. The book doesn’t really move until the final chapters, and the final chapters don’t feel like they cap off the book. A collection of disjointed scenes loosely linked together with rambling asides signifying nothing, this book is not worth your time or money. I paid 99¢ for it 10 years ago and still want my money back.Loved it
5By Pjpj123The whole series is amazing and this is a great place to start. I'm so sad there will never be a new book. Thanks for the great ride.Sickening
1By StoryDelverOk science fiction but descends into gratuitous putrid imagery that does nothing for the story. No one wants these images in their head. Kills the story.A Disappointing Read
3By 3ringbinderI forced my way through it. Very unevenly written ... I found myself slogging through it to find the interesting bits. Definitely not worth $9.99.A Great Introduction to Culture
5By Jc67989I have been working through Banks' Culture novels (out of order) and I think I would recommend this as a great jumping-in point. It is the first novel in the series he wrote, but you don't necessarily have to read them in order, even though there is a lot of chronology and some overlap in characters and events. Banks was a prolific, visionary sci-fi author. His stories jump off the page. Highly recommended.Fi w/o much Sci
3By Polarity ReversalEpisodic space opera with virtually no science and a whole lot of adventure fighting. Reads like a series of short stories without much of an ending.100 Words or Less
3By JRubinoGood, hard hitting, traditional sci-fi is hard to come by nowadays, but Banks’ novel does its best to fit the mold. This is good enough to keep you interested until the end, though I have to admit the series of small battles begin to blend into a nonsensical mess. Individually, the chapters are well written. But as a whole, at times it seems there is blood and guts just for the sake of blood and guts. That detracts from its impact. Too bad. The core of this novel is strong.Good solid space opera
4By MishieFishieA very engaging read, but I wasn't too happy with the ending. Not as much tech as I like in sci-fi, but good character development.
