Iain Banks / Iain M. Banks fans discussion
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Chris
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Aug 14, 2012 01:02AM
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I don't know about you, but I've tried this book five times but I just can't seem to get trough it. It is a first for me to be unable to finish a banks novel. Anyone else finding it difficult and is it worth to plough through till the end.
This is one of my top 5 Iain banks/ Iain m banks books. Definitely worth sticking with
Dirk, I don't know which Banks books you have read in the past; is it mainly his SF books (as Iain M Banks)? If so I can understand your view. I have read most, though, not all of his SF books but have only recently started on his 'mainstream' books (I've read The Wasp Factory and Walking on Glass).Before reading those two books I think I too would have struggled with this book; it is just so different to his typical SF books, Culture ones or otherwise.
I found this book had one foot in each camp and read solely as one of his mainstream books I think it would have disappointed or read solely as an SF book it would have disappointed. But, for me, the combination of an SF theme combined with something much closer to his thought provoking mainstream style just worked and I loved it.
As with Amckny this is now one of my favourite Banks books. It is worth noting that it was published in America under the name Iain M Banks and in the UK as Iain Banks. So it would seem even the publishers are unsure which camp it belongs in.
Incidentally I have a little more to say on this book in my review of it here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...Well, it's not really a reivew in the normal sense but rather just some of my thoughts on the book.
Hi Mike,I have read all of Banks' books (not counting the Transition one, but am counting 'Raw Spirit' as well) and I must say that it might have been an expectation let down to be honest. I guess I was hoping for a true fiction one and not a semi-sf one as it is now.
So with comments such as these I guess I think I'll pick it up as soon as I have finished my current reading.
I think if you have read his mainstream books you will find the style of this book much more similar to that writing but it is still an SF book. However it is nothing like his normal space opera style sf it is not far future but instead is a multi-universe type of book where the actual time it is set in is actually a few years back (thought the actual date is not significant).I found it very good but a lot of hard Banks SF fans didn't like probably for those reasons.
I'm just starting this book and was surprised to discover it is regarded by some as SF .... as my edition has it authored by Ian, not Iain M. So far, I'm pleasantly surprised. I don't normally get off on Sf and the only other one by Iain M I tried was frankly awful. Any thoughts?
