Reviews

Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks

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theciz's review

dark funny reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I’ve often seen this third book as a recommended starting place for the Culture series - I suppose because it’s lighter on the sci-fi, and heavier on the depravity of man/hell of war (and most of the wars feel very 20th century). The general idea of the Culture is developed, so I didn’t feel the lack of the first two books. I liked a lot of the structure of this book: the reverse chronology backstory reveal, the unreliable narrator, the way you’re just thrown into things and have to figure them out for yourself. I did predict the twist at the end, but boy did I underestimate it!

Where this falls down for me is many of the backstories are meandering and repetitive - by design, for sure, but that didn’t make them any easier to read. There’s also the issue that the main plot doesn’t quite go anywhere - there’s what feels like a lot of padding, as it doesn’t mean much without the revelations from the flashbacks, so there’s a lot of waiting around. Also, the main female character is sex mad and underdeveloped- she has some POV sections early on so you think we’ll get some depth, but no, just snark and orgies. Maybe she’s in other books, who knows.

So it was a nice idea, and would probably be an interesting reread, but I feel like this series was too hyped up to me - it was a fun read, but nothing spectacular.

sydsnot71's review

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5.0

This is the third Iain M Banks novel I've read. They've all been superb. His abilities to build characters and worlds are astonishing. The Culture is a fantastic creation in and of itself and how he uses that society to explore big philosophical issues is to be applauded.

The structure of this book of itself would make it worth reading. It is like a Chinese puzzle box and part of the joy is seeing it open up as you read it.

I don't want to go into too much detail. This is a book that deserves to be approached without a hint of spoilers. It is the story of a weapon, but that weapon is a man. It is the story of The Culture's interference and its justification for that interference, which as Zakalwe says at one point sounds like a good excuse for bad behaviour. Do ends justify means?

Zakalwe is the main character in the book. It is his messy story. And there is a lot of story to be told. Again, I'm not going to say much more. There's value in not knowing.

Like the previous two Iain M Banks books I've read this is definitely a book worth reading, especially if you're interested in science-fiction. But, as always, good science-fiction, in this case great science-fiction, is great literature. You should read it because it is a good book dealing with big issues that just happens to be popped into a science-fiction envelope.

smedders89's review

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4.0

My second outing with Iain M. Banks and another solidly written novel. The chapter headings and order threw me at first until I realised there were two threads, one moving forward in time and another moving back. An interesting look at the Culture and overall enjoyable read.