A review by smithjasont01
Look to Windward by Iain M. Banks
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
"Yes. The dead escape death in heaven, and the living escape life in dreams"
Book number 7 of the Culture series. We follow two citizens of a non culture race called the Chelgrians. One is an exiled composer living in the culture on an orbital world. The other is an ex military member who's wife has died and is being sent on a mission to destroy the orbital. This is a revenge mission to get back at the culture because they do what they do and that is meddle in the politics of lesser civilizations to push them into what they consider a morally right path. The only issue is it backfired and caused a civil war killing millions of chel citizens, which causes them to not be allowed into the very real heaven that this civilization has cretaed. Meanwhile Ziller is creating a symphony on the orbital that will coinside with the timing of light from two super novas that were set off during a war against the culture 800 odd years earlier. Quinlan is tasked to destroy the orbital at the same time this light hits and so the two paths come together. The orbital itself is controlled by a Mind that fought in the war and was suffering grief from the things it was supposed to do, including destroying 3 culture orbitals.
This book takes a step back and focuses on the culture of the culture. We see how many of the citizens live and go about their lives on this orbital, seeking out adventure wherever possible.
I loved getting to see the outside view of the culture how their meddling doesn't always go the way they want and how civilizations deal with that meddling.
Grief, pstd, and loss are all big themes throughout. We also see more of his ongoing discussion on religion versus science.
Overall and excellent entry in the series.
Book number 7 of the Culture series. We follow two citizens of a non culture race called the Chelgrians. One is an exiled composer living in the culture on an orbital world. The other is an ex military member who's wife has died and is being sent on a mission to destroy the orbital. This is a revenge mission to get back at the culture because they do what they do and that is meddle in the politics of lesser civilizations to push them into what they consider a morally right path. The only issue is it backfired and caused a civil war killing millions of chel citizens, which causes them to not be allowed into the very real heaven that this civilization has cretaed. Meanwhile Ziller is creating a symphony on the orbital that will coinside with the timing of light from two super novas that were set off during a war against the culture 800 odd years earlier. Quinlan is tasked to destroy the orbital at the same time this light hits and so the two paths come together. The orbital itself is controlled by a Mind that fought in the war and was suffering grief from the things it was supposed to do, including destroying 3 culture orbitals.
This book takes a step back and focuses on the culture of the culture. We see how many of the citizens live and go about their lives on this orbital, seeking out adventure wherever possible.
I loved getting to see the outside view of the culture how their meddling doesn't always go the way they want and how civilizations deal with that meddling.
Grief, pstd, and loss are all big themes throughout. We also see more of his ongoing discussion on religion versus science.
Overall and excellent entry in the series.