On Wed, 25 Oct 2000, Richard Baker wrote:
> Brad said:
>
> > I thought that the consensus on the Culture list was that _Player of
> > Games_ was the best first Iain M. Banks book to read, with _Consider
> > Phlebas_ a close second.
>
> 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.
True, but I'd argue that much of that impact is lost just by knowing that
the books are, as a whole, known as the Culture books. The exact nature
of the way in which that advice is given usually ends up spoilering the
point of reading it first, as well.
_Consider Phlebas_ is also a much weaker novel. (I read it first, and nearly
didn't continue with the rest; I like it better now, but the first time
through it didn't do much for me.)
> > _Use of Weapons_ should not be read by the underage or
> > the psychologically sensitive...
>
> 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...
After reading _The Wasp Factory_, _Use of Weapons_ seems very tame indeed.
I don't know if it's my favorite. It's widely regarded as the best-written,
but I *liked* _Player of Games_ much more. To be fair, I haven't re-read
UoW, and I have reread PoG, so I'm not comparing them on quite fair grounds.
(Have you read _Look to Windward_?)
--
Andrea Leistra [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ROU Doomsday Marshmallows
