tayvaan's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
cptii's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Torture, War, and Violence
charlibirb's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this, although (complaint session) listening to the audiobook, I found that I got a bit lost at times. I had to start the book over after 3 hours, just to get what was going on. Names were almost like Russian literature - some characters had a bunch, and for some reason, the name of the main drone kept escaping me, and I kept having to remind myself who he was. Also, kept having to remember if we were in the past or the future. Confusing book to audio book. Might have better to read a hard copy.
Loved the visual theme of a certain object appearing in many of the different chapters. Nice ending. Didn't see it coming. Great characters. Love the culture series!
Loved the visual theme of a certain object appearing in many of the different chapters. Nice ending. Didn't see it coming. Great characters. Love the culture series!
adele_atm2468's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
jeand's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
skylar2's review against another edition
5.0
This was an odd book. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. It's not really sci-fi or fantasy, but gets into the heart of what motivates us as people.
As others have mentioned, there are two really two stories here, that aren't connected at all until the very end, when a very tenuous connection is made between them. That said, there are certainly parallels between the two different narrators, and the interplay between them was very well done.
One could certainly read this without being aware of Banks's other Culture novels, but if you are familiar with the Culture universe you'll clearly recognize it. This book is basically like any other Culture novel, but without any of the technology (except for one scene) or alien races.
Spoiler
As others have mentioned, there are two really two stories here, that aren't connected at all until the very end, when a very tenuous connection is made between them. That said, there are certainly parallels between the two different narrators, and the interplay between them was very well done.
One could certainly read this without being aware of Banks's other Culture novels, but if you are familiar with the Culture universe you'll clearly recognize it. This book is basically like any other Culture novel, but without any of the technology (except for one scene) or alien races.
jjw's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexual violence
cburling's review against another edition
Very early on in Consider Phlebos, I could tell that his writing style just wasn't for me.
sbenzell's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book just after the 2016 election, as a substitute for my normal diet of podcasts.
Inversions has been said by Banks to be a non-Culture Culture novel. Just knowing that was enough to 'spoil' the main mystery for me, but don't feel put off about that. If anything, I think the book would have done fine making the connections between this novel and the Culture more explicit.
What would it be like for an early Modern/late Mideaval society to think about the Culture? If you were a Culturenik on such a planet, what would you do? To what extent were our protagonists operating under explicit orders, versus acting on their own? My best guess is that the doctor was under explicit orders to help her society advance and dominate the protectorate. The bodyguard, as an opponent of contact, sought to prevent any of the doctor's societies' unfair advantages from killing his leader.
It feels unfair to give this book only two stars. I really did enjoy it, and the book rarely dragged. Particularly interesting was how the Doctor dealt with the backwardness of her contemporaries - with grace and deference. However, this is the weakest of the Culture novels, and the one with the fewest interesting ideas.
Inversions has been said by Banks to be a non-Culture Culture novel. Just knowing that was enough to 'spoil' the main mystery for me, but don't feel put off about that. If anything, I think the book would have done fine making the connections between this novel and the Culture more explicit.
What would it be like for an early Modern/late Mideaval society to think about the Culture? If you were a Culturenik on such a planet, what would you do? To what extent were our protagonists operating under explicit orders, versus acting on their own? My best guess is that the doctor was under explicit orders to help her society advance and dominate the protectorate. The bodyguard, as an opponent of contact, sought to prevent any of the doctor's societies' unfair advantages from killing his leader.
It feels unfair to give this book only two stars. I really did enjoy it, and the book rarely dragged. Particularly interesting was how the Doctor dealt with the backwardness of her contemporaries - with grace and deference. However, this is the weakest of the Culture novels, and the one with the fewest interesting ideas.
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
The most important note: don't let this be the first Culture novel you read. I believe I've read elsewhere this book is Banks's attempt to write a Culture story without ever saying "Culture", and he succeeds wonderfully, but I can't imagine appreciating much of this book without the background you need.
Besides that, I can't say much, mostly due to the fact that almost anything I do say veers into spoiler territory. I will say that I wish a particular meeting had taken place at some point in the book, but that clearly wasn't Banks's intent.
Besides that, I can't say much, mostly due to the fact that almost anything I do say veers into spoiler territory. I will say that I wish a particular meeting had taken place at some point in the book, but that clearly wasn't Banks's intent.