Look to Windward - Iain M. Banks

Iain M Banks' latest "Culture" novel is a satisfying read but at the same time, a deeply frustrating novel. Brief précis of the backdrop, for those not yet Culture-hip: At a remote but unspecified time in the future, one particular human-originated civilization, which did not necessarily start on Earth, has developed into a galaxy spanning organization of immense power, extraordinary technological prowess and an almost unlimited desire to 'Do Good'. The Culture, unlike many of our own contemporary nations, is in the business of breaking down hierarchies and building up democracies in those poor, benighted, semi-barbaric (even if they are ...

If you are one of these people who likes science fiction that is heavy on the plot and light on the techno-babble, Iain M Banks is undoubtedly the man for you. Lets start with some background then. Iain M Banks, is the cunning pseudonym of literary author Iain Banks (solves the problem of bookshops trying to list entirely different books in the same place.) In both his guises, he is a witty, dark and suprising author with a truly weird mind. You almost certianly wouldn't want to meet this man's psyche in a dark alleyway! "Look to Windard" is one of his sci fi pieces. It's not the first in his culture series, but if you haven't read ...

‘Look to Windward’ marks another visit to Iain M Banks far future utopia, The Culture. I always regard a new culture novel with an expectation of pleasure, and have yet to be seriously disappointed (even if they always seem to fall short of the tremendous ‘The Player of Games’). Part of the reason for this is Banks’ readability; his unflagging humour, his ear for dialogue, and his inventive plotting. But the other reason is that The Culture is a feat of the imagination worth devoting a series of books to (indeed, when writing about the Culture, it occurs to me that Banks could probably get away with an awful lot less of his inventive ...