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Use of Weapons
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Use of Weapons -- Roll Call and First Impressions **NO SPOILERS!**
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I've read this years ago and hope to re-read and join the discussion in a couple of weeks.
Finally had time to start re-reading Use of Weapons. I'd been slowly working my way through Iain M. Banks culture series in publication order, checking them out from local library or inter-library loan. The first one, Consider Phlebas, didn't really grab me, so it was a while before I picked up the second, Player of Games, which I thoroughly enjoyed, though I disliked the characters. Use of Weapons, however, blew me away. I immediately added to to my "must buy in paper" list.
The first time through, I definitely spent a lot of time flipping back and forth between different chapters trying to figure out the order and the connections between events and time periods.
For me, the way Banks does this heightens the emotional impact of the revelations in a way which reminds me of Faulkner's the Sound and the Fury.
Re-reading the first few chapters, I'm also struck by how well it conveys the ambivalence that at least the human members of the Culture seem to have about how the Culture manipulates other civilizations. I'm not sure which is more chilling, the Culture AI's lack of compunction, or the fact that the humans of the culture continue their manipulation despite their misgivings.
Will continue to update as I re-read further.
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Kathi, Moderator & Book Lover
(last edited Mar 11, 2018 10:15AM)
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David—I, too, am slowly reading the books in publication order, although I did skip ahead for a couple of them when the group read them so I could join the discussion. And I, too, did not care very much for Consider Phlebas.
The jumping-around-in-time in this book is a bit confusing, although I am trying to just flow with it. And I agree that some of the humans seem a bit ambivalent about the Culture’s manipulation, especially those not born into the Culture.
I think further discussion of that aspect might be better in the Spoiler thread.
These books have been sitting on my shelf for years, but so far I have only read Consider Phlebas. In December I read it for the second time. The first time was about 10 years ago. Time to get going on the rest of the series, but I am busy reading Asimov's Foundation Universe books right now.
Iain M Banks is one of those authors i want to like, i know his books will be good, but i dont quite get it or like what ive read.On a side note my girlfriend sat next to him on a Glasgow-Edinburgh train many many years ago, he started the chat as she was reading Battlefield Earth and he mentioned he was an author.
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On a side note my girlfriend sat next to him on a Glasgow-Edinbur..."
I know I don’t get everything I’ve read when I read his books, I still like most of the ones I’ve read. Consider Phlebas was the most challenging for me, and my least favorite.
Cool story about your friend on the train with Banks.
This is one of, if not my most favorite book of Banks'. For several years, Banks has been my favorite science fiction author.
Been meaning to read this for a very long time.I have been picking up the ebooks and when I finish my present read I will read this one
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I have been picking up the ebooks and when I finish my present read I will read this one"
Even though this was the March book, please do post your comments in the spoiler thread after you’re finished. I’m interested in what you think about it.
Beyond Reality
Books mentioned in this topic
Consider Phlebas (other topics)Consider Phlebas (other topics)
Consider Phlebas (other topics)
Babylon’s Ashes (other topics)
Use of Weapons (other topics)
Please, **NO SPOILERS** in this thread