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A review by sbenzell
Matter by Iain M. Banks
2.0
Unfortunately the worst of the Culture novels so far. Lots of interesting details: I enjoyed learning more about the 'pure' culture and to get some glimpses of intergalactic politics.
However, the characters were a bit more sketched, and the ethical questions less thorny than in previous novels. The 'lessons' learned by many of the characters were trite, and the final villain uncomplicatedly malevolent.
The best developed theme in the novel was the importance of the individual and the state in a low tech culture in the broader galactic society. In short the low tech state (and individuals in it) are shown to be completely blind, incompetent, and unimportant. Their only use is as a proxy for larger forces they don't understand. Much of the novel is spent with two ignoramuses trying to navigate the Kafkaesque stellar bureaucracy. We see this most vividly *Spoilers* at the end of the novel, when the final enemy simply vaporizes 99% of the protagonists. On the other hand, after being dramatically empowered by SC, an individual from this society is able to sacrifice himself to preserve a planet of significant galactic importance. So even this theme is confused.
Not terrible, but only recommended for Culture completionists.
However, the characters were a bit more sketched, and the ethical questions less thorny than in previous novels. The 'lessons' learned by many of the characters were trite, and the final villain uncomplicatedly malevolent.
The best developed theme in the novel was the importance of the individual and the state in a low tech culture in the broader galactic society. In short the low tech state (and individuals in it) are shown to be completely blind, incompetent, and unimportant. Their only use is as a proxy for larger forces they don't understand. Much of the novel is spent with two ignoramuses trying to navigate the Kafkaesque stellar bureaucracy. We see this most vividly *Spoilers* at the end of the novel, when the final enemy simply vaporizes 99% of the protagonists. On the other hand, after being dramatically empowered by SC, an individual from this society is able to sacrifice himself to preserve a planet of significant galactic importance. So even this theme is confused.
Not terrible, but only recommended for Culture completionists.