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kivt's review against another edition
3.0
this was fine, i guess. i lost interest about halfway through but finished. not a great intro to the culture, i think.
jamesarosen's review against another edition
2.0
Great world-building. Banks is dogged in staying true to the physics of his universe. But the book is both grotesque and boring and the characters are shallow.
leflambeur's review against another edition
3.0
This was a very sting book with lots of hard is Sci fi ideas and wild building. Some great scenes on how futuristic technology might be used on a day to day basis. Only three stars for a lack of characters that you really could like and get behind.
the_pale_woman's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.5
I was a little surprised how comedic this was. Not that it was a comedy but it uses humor enough to balance the tense plot line. There's one moment between Horza and the AI of a shuttle craft that I especially enjoyed. I wouldn't describe this as absurd sci-fi but I think its close to the border.
I know now that this series is a bunch of individual stories revolving around a dominant civilization in this universe, the Culture. I have a feeling this series is going to have a lot of political and cultural themes decorated with lots of wacky space adventures. Awesome.
I know now that this series is a bunch of individual stories revolving around a dominant civilization in this universe, the Culture. I have a feeling this series is going to have a lot of political and cultural themes decorated with lots of wacky space adventures. Awesome.
cunningba's review
3.0
It moves along at a breakneck pace, so it is engaging from that point of view. But, in the end, everybody gets killed off. Ultimately, it just seemed like a tremendous waste of time.
Started Master of Games, but gave it up about 20% of the way into it. It seemed like it was starting to head off into the weeds and I was starting not to care about the characters.
Started Master of Games, but gave it up about 20% of the way into it. It seemed like it was starting to head off into the weeds and I was starting not to care about the characters.
brenna_kcw's review against another edition
My dad loves this series, if you like sci-fi books with complex political issues etc, it’d be a great book just not my cup of tea.
tarnop's review against another edition
4.0
I never finished the Culture series so I've decided to read the whole thing from the start. So the this is a re-read. The rating would probably be slightly lower if this was a first time read and my first exposure to this series. It's a good space opera but I don't think it's the best intro to the Culture. Reading it again with a better understanding improved the experience a lot. Still not up there with the best of the series but a great read nonetheless
samants's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A bit of a slog at times, and I didn't really know what was going on a lot of the time, but I was hooked in the last 20% of the book. The drama! Everyone dies?? It feels like this book wrapped up so tidily that I have no idea where the rest of the series goes. Worth muddling through and I plan to continue the series.
georgethom's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5