Scan barcode
synapticmisfire's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
jcoryv's review against another edition
4.0
The big picture of the world and wars involved is fascinating. I mean that an individual thought all of this up. And that it was written in 1987. Anyway, I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. I bought the first three books as a set. I’ll keep reading.
zfeig's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Really great sci-fi. It's a great beginning to the culture series. Very captivating, gruesome torture and battle sequences. A really good read with an interesting philosophical underpinning, though the true AI futurism of the Culture Series comes in the later books.
gunnerct's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I liked the world building more than the adventure plot, excited to keep reading the series
rajs's review against another edition
3.0
Not Banks' best work. The story is about a Changeling named Horza, but it's never clear what the point is.
acaddon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zanish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
mindovertime's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
tanzim's review against another edition
3.0
Consider what the sci-fi greats possess...
They have a compelling protagonist, who has clear wants and needs, who you end up rooting for.
A beautiful backdrop of an environment - one which is just about recognisable and familiar (we are humans after all, and while behaviour changes, human nature is constant), yet there is alieness and novelty to it.
And a compelling dilemma which is philosophically, politically, or socially charged.
It feels as though Consider Phlebas might have all these elements, but on closer inspection it misses the itch.
It does have a lot of fast pace action, however in which direction it is going and why remain unexplained.
They have a compelling protagonist, who has clear wants and needs, who you end up rooting for.
A beautiful backdrop of an environment - one which is just about recognisable and familiar (we are humans after all, and while behaviour changes, human nature is constant), yet there is alieness and novelty to it.
And a compelling dilemma which is philosophically, politically, or socially charged.
It feels as though Consider Phlebas might have all these elements, but on closer inspection it misses the itch.
It does have a lot of fast pace action, however in which direction it is going and why remain unexplained.
alexngaire's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25