From: "Richard Baker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> I read _Player of Games_ first and thought it was a good introduction to
> the Culture universe as well as an excellent sf novel. In retrospect,
> however, I think that I'd rather have read _Consider Phlebas_ because
> that novel probably loses some of its effect when the reader knows too
> much about the Culture.
Player of Games will always retain a special place in my heart - while I
believe that Use of Weapons is technically the better novel, I still feel
that PoG is possibly the most easy-to-understand and enjoyable Culture book
there is.
Not sure if I read Excession or Consider Phlebas first, but I think that the
latter improves on re-reading.
> You probably shouldn't read _Excession_ first either.
Never mind, eh? I remember picking up a copy of Excession at a bookstore and
flicking through the first dozen pages, thinking 'What the hell is all of
this about?' Luckily, after I'd done this half a dozen times I pressed on
and discovered the gold mine.
> Whilst _Use of Weapons_ was certainly surprising I didn't think it was
> *that* shocking. It's far and away my favourite of the Culture novels to
> date, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone. But perhaps
> that's just evidence that I'm Evil...
Well, do we require any further evidence? I, for one, do not wish to view
any more. UoW definitely improves on re-reading and I have converted a
friend to become a lifelong follower of Banks through it - he was truly
astounded by the ending.
Adrian
GSV 99 hours...
================
Adrian Hon - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ: 2526383
Mars Society Chair of Youth Outreach - http://www.marssociety.org
Website: http://www.vavatch.co.uk - http://www.genmars.com
