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wifi_bifi's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
noranne's review against another edition
4.0
Another excellent book by Mr. Banks. So sad that this is the last new Culture novel I'll ever get to read! It seems appropriate that the focus of the book was Subliming and what is life's meaning/purpose/whatever. Bittersweet in many ways.
mwplante's review against another edition
5.0
This took me a long time to force myself to read this. Not because I thought I would be disappointed by it, but because I didn't want to face the fact that this was the last piece of scifi fiction I would ever read from the masterful Mr. Banks. I didn't want internalize the loss that this fact represents. I didn't want him to be gone.
I finally read the book though and it's a fitting send-off for the "M" side of Banks' career. He pushes even further along with his exploration of the hereafter, which had already become a strong overarching theme in earlier entries of the Culture series. We even get one last inventive method of high tech murder (and a prurient one, at that).
I cannot over-emphasize the impact this man's writing has had on my view of humanity. He has given me hope for the future of our species. Iain M. Banks will be missed.
I finally read the book though and it's a fitting send-off for the "M" side of Banks' career. He pushes even further along with his exploration of the hereafter, which had already become a strong overarching theme in earlier entries of the Culture series. We even get one last inventive method of high tech murder (and a prurient one, at that).
I cannot over-emphasize the impact this man's writing has had on my view of humanity. He has given me hope for the future of our species. Iain M. Banks will be missed.
gourd_pennis's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
julcoh's review against another edition
4.0
Sad to think this is the last novel Culture experience I will get to have. RIP Mr. Banks, you've written perhaps my favorite science fiction series of all time.
jdoherty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
natechai's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Classic Banks. A beautiful work looking at the meaning of life (and death). Struggles with some meandering in the middle.
Has all the things I love about The Culture series in it
Has all the things I love about The Culture series in it
sonice's review against another edition
5.0
5.0 stars. Challenging, funny, and chock-full of allegory, this was a wonderful close to a wonderful series. I'm a kittle sad to have come to the end of it, hut I know I'll be starting over from the beginning in the not too distant future.
RIP to Banks, may he live on in the Sublime forever.
RIP to Banks, may he live on in the Sublime forever.