Forum: Iain M Banks

Hi guys, I've got a hair brained theory about the mistake not... With all of the talk of gravity wells, appearing in tunnels, his comments on warfare...

So at the end of Consider Phelabs, it's mentioned that 14 thousand or so orbitals were destroyed during the course of the war, and this got me...

Hi, all, First post here... Fell in love with The Culture novels around a year ago and I think I've devoured nearly all of them. Surface Detail...

We do not have minds or GSV's or any of the improvements the Culture citizens have, and yet , there are countries which are probably closer to the...

I struggled through this book, especially through the dense, monotonous and uninteresting start (IMO) with what would seem to be irrelevant flash...

Post your questions/discussion of Surface Detail here. I guess my main question is where in the chronology does 'the reveal' place Surface Detail...

Hi all, first post here! I love Banks' scifi, although I've only recently discovered it. (I've only read the Player of Games and Inversions.) I'm...

Out of the three directors who directed three visually interesting, solidly entertaining (but not amazing) big budget sci-fi movies this past year,...

Since we are talking about an artistic oeuvre, the way each individual appreciates it is subjective. The same book may hold a different significance...

Since there will be no more IMB books (unless the rumored notes are published), we sci-fi fans will have to (1) reread the IMB catalogue or (2) read...

SPOILER ALERT FOR MOST CULTURE NOVELS There has been a lot of adverse criticism of the final three Culture novels. One need only look at the...

I just stumbled over this - maybe it is common knowledge, and it might be an inside joke without deeper meaning or simply coincidence. Either way, in...

"Banks is on the net , but he keeps quiet about it." That's a quote I remember from an interview... My guess is if IMB had some sort of blog or...

The UK paperback is officially out on September 10th but there were copies at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. The interview and Dramatis...

"... we have a reputation for enlightened interference to protect here." Well, somebody had to start this thread. I'm not going to actually post...

A slightly bizarre synthesis of licenced intellectual property, plastic, and synthetic confectionery. Or, a serious idea which is absolutely...

A bit of historical fun! In "The State of the Art" Contact reaches Earth in 1984 IIRC. The ship sucks up all available data, the Contact personnel...

Hi everyone, just something that's been bugging me for a while. The GCU Grey Area is nicknamed 'meatfucker' for delving into people's minds. As far...

I just recalled a poem from Rudyard Kipling:When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted by Rudyard Kipling. Though the poem seems full of religious...