Reviews

Materia by Iain M. Banks, Marta García Martínez

iskanderjonesiv's review against another edition

4.0

In a world renowned even within a galaxy full of wonders, a crime within a war. For one brother it means a desperate flight, and a search for the one - maybe two - people who could clear his name. For his brother it means a life lived under constant threat of treachery and murder. And for their sister, even without knowing the full truth, it means returning to a place she'd thought abandoned forever.

Only the sister is not what she once was; Djan Seriy Anaplian has changed almost beyond recognition to become an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section, charged with high-level interference in civilisations throughout the greater galaxy.

Concealing her new identity - and her particular set of abilities - might be a dangerous strategy, however. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else's war is never a simple matter.

MATTER is a novel of dazzling wit and serious purpose. An extraordinary feat of storytelling and breathtaking invention on a grand scale, it is a tour de force from a writer who has turned science fiction on its head.

**

tdodds's review against another edition

adventurous challenging reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

theaurochs's review against another edition

5.0

The great Banks re-read, book the eight.
How can our lives possibly Matter, when we are surrounded by vastly more powerful, skilful, talented, influential, important beings? How can our achievements Matter when they will affect nothing on the true scale of things?
Well, they don't.
And yet, they do- because they Matter to us.
This is the philosophical conflict at the centre of another stunning Culture novel; Baudrillard's idea of the Simulacra and Simulation. Here we have feudal princes trying to right the wrongs done to their family in a pseudo-medieval world. But all the while they are fully aware that they are less than children to their host species the Oct; and they themselves are coddled by the Nariscene; up and up and up the concentric spheres of influence until we reach what could optimistically be called the base level of reality at which exists the infamous Culture.
To reinforce this magnificent theme we have the awe-inspiring creation of a Shellworld; a constructed planet that has over a dozen nested layers of ground, atmosphere and artificial sky. The main characters come from the eight level down- not even that important in their own unimportant world.
Come on, this is a literal, physical representation of the concept of the book! It's magnificent.
But anyway- a lot of people might choose despair at this knowledge- knowing that nothing they do could possibly be relevant on the scales that are really operating around them, but the Prince is adamant that upholding honour and dignity is important, on any scale. This is one of the themes- knowing our lives are meaningless in the greater context, we may as well live them to the best of our ability. The villain of the story is framed as such in large part because he does not desire to break free to a higher/more base level of reality, which was the driving aim of the previous ruler (who the villain disposes of at the start of the story). His aim is to manipulate the level of reality at which he is comfortable and control those within it.

So we do have this story of revenge and righteousness; and the fact that on grander scales it is meaningless do not take away from the fact that it is a great story. Banks's fluency of narrative is truly astounding, and the whole thing is a joy to read.
In addition to that though, we get a large amount of universe-exposure that could easily come across as info-dumping (and doubtless some will feel this way reading it), but it never overstays its welcome and I'm always amazed by his imagination and as such happy to read what he has dreamed up.
The story feels the weight of the inevitable conclusion, which draws the characters and readers inexorably inwards, and has pretty much the only suitable end for such a story.

In short, this book is brilliant, Banks is brilliant, read it.

rangermankin's review against another edition

adventurous funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

mark0's review against another edition

3.0

I picked this up having not read Iain M Banks in a long while. I enjoyed elements of it for sure, but really I struggled to care about either the characters, fantastical places or meta-narrative of galactic civilisations that underpins it. Either this is not Banks's best, or it's been so long that without noticing I've become someone who simply isn't tickled by his sci-fi. Perhaps I'll reread an old favourite like Player of Games to check.

spindleshanks22's review against another edition

4.0

Iain Banks was a sci-fi genius and The Culture series is fantastic.

mjt26's review against another edition

5.0

Very entertaining

rocketiza's review against another edition

4.0

Four stars, five stars? Come from hating the first Culture book I read (Player of Games) to loving every one from their big themes, laugh out loud humor, and always been kept on the edge of my seat never know know whether the culmination is going to be a huge battler, or complete everting a huge conflict. One of the few series that can muck around coming to things and I still enjoy every minute.

Holse is one of my favorite characters of the series so far now.

hirvox's review against another edition

4.0

"The stage is small but the audience is great." sums up life in the Culture series. Someone is always watching and opining, even though it would be improper for them to intervene in the play. So what happens when one of the unwitting actors in a pre-industrialization Macbethian regicide drama decides to appeal to the audience?

While I always enjoy Banks' worldbuilding and how he explores how his premises can go horribly wrong or horribly right, there is just something off with Matter's pacing. Unlike in Excession, the pieces in this particular play move so slowly and so separately that the overall plot doesn't coalesce together until the very end. The level of danger escalates quickly by several orders of magnitude, so it looks like the book is heading to a cliffhanger.. and then it just ends. While there is an epilogue, I would have preferred it to be about the political aftermath of the whole mess.

cmbeam's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5