Big Books of 2026
Use of Weapons (Culture, #3)

Questions About Use of Weapons (Culture, #3)

by Iain M. Banks

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Answered Questions (5)

I'm about half way through the book and I'm surprised. It's so much of a harder read than Player of Games which was gripping through out. I'm really not liking the way the forward and reverse story lines are interspersed through the book. It makes it very hard to hold my attention. Anyone else have this experience?
Arius I had the exact same experience! I really enjoyed Consider Phlebas, was totally blown away by Player of Games, and the formatting and content of Use o…moreI had the exact same experience! I really enjoyed Consider Phlebas, was totally blown away by Player of Games, and the formatting and content of Use of Weapons was just too... I dunno... ethereal. Dreamlike. Which, with the reveal, makes lots of sense, but it was a bit of a struggle to get through.

That said, while I was in the midst of any given sequence, I liked it. But then it would shift radically through time and space and I'd have to reorient every single time.(less)
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Do the 10 books in this series tie together in some way? Or are they just 10 books exploring different aspects of this universe? I'm 80% of the way through the second book, and I'm not seeing any connection to the first book yet.
Gena Kukartsev The Culture books are largely unrelated in terms of storylines. That is why, I think, people call them a cycle and not a series. They do take place in…moreThe Culture books are largely unrelated in terms of storylines. That is why, I think, people call them a cycle and not a series. They do take place in the same universe though, and some characters appear more than once but you do not have to know what happened to them in other books to enjoy this one.

On top of that, at least in case of one character, there is a kind of a meta-plot-twist where it is hinted that two characters in two books are in fact the same person, which add fun and complexity if you read both books. But this is a minor kind of twist.

This is probably not everything: I only read 5 of the 10 book, savoring them...(less)
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Soren Kisiel
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I found Phlebas ok, player of games really good, but this one I gave up on. Any point in continuing the series if I do not finish this book. Any of the other books match the player of games?
Gena Kukartsev It seems to be a matter of personal taste. I liked this book better than The Player of Games. I definitely liked Phlebas better than Player. The State…moreIt seems to be a matter of personal taste. I liked this book better than The Player of Games. I definitely liked Phlebas better than Player. The State of the Art is about the same as Player. And Surface Detail is about the same as this or Phlebas. I have not yet read the rest...(less)
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This is my first Iain M. Banks book and about every other page I'm wondering if I should continue or not. Its so confusing to realize - oh - another time line. They seem awkward and illogical. However, I'm half way through and I'm not entirely pissed off yet. As I'm gathering from the other posts, that the first books in the series seem better. Maybe I should give them a shot?
Vicky The first two books are definitely easier to read, as they tell their story in a typical linear fashion. I’ve just finished Use of Weapons and althoug…moreThe first two books are definitely easier to read, as they tell their story in a typical linear fashion. I’ve just finished Use of Weapons and although I found it quite a confusing book to read, I’m still thinking about it several days afterwards so that maybe is a good sign :-)(less)
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