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femti11 's review for:
Use of Weapons
by Iain M. Banks
I've read a couple of Banks novels before (The Wasp Factory, The Algebraist) and had been underwhelmed by both. Not that they were bad, exactly, just not as great as everyone seemed to think they were/seemed to think I should find them. Maybe because I had my expectations lowered a little, or maybe because it seems to be the one book most people like, I actually found Use of Weapons to be a solid 4. I found the structure interesting, although I found Zakalwe's backstory more engaging than the current plot (which I don't think would've flown on its own), and while I at first thought there was something off about his backstory I actually did not see the twist coming until the final chapter, and this is always a good thing.
The only thing I didn't really like about the style of writing was how Banks would do multiple 3rd person and jump between the heads of different characters without marking it in any way. In one early chapter I couldn't read it as anything other than one character bowing for a princess twice. I suppose it should've been both men bowing, but it just didn't read that way.
The only thing I didn't really like about the style of writing was how Banks would do multiple 3rd person and jump between the heads of different characters without marking it in any way. In one early chapter I couldn't read it as anything other than one character bowing for a princess twice. I suppose it should've been both men bowing, but it just didn't read that way.