Iain M. Banks

Ooooh, there's a new Iain M. Banks "Culture" novel out! It's called "Matter".

And it's already available as audio book, unabridged, on iTunes. Wonderful.

Bert asked:
I don't know Banks. How would you describe his style? Anybody you would think of comparing him to?

It's hard to say, because he's more cameleon than most writers. He's written quite "mainstream", and yet very good books, like The Crow Road for instance. And he has written bizarre surrealistic fantasies like The Bridge. And He has written sweeping Space Opera like most of his "Culture" books.

"The Culture" is a galactic civilization, unusually advanced and peaceful, though the stories usually takes place on the edges, where the action is. I love those books, particularly.... mmmm, Use Of Weapons and The Player. I love the intelligent machines (with quirky personalities) and the huge spaceships, also intelligent, and citizens in their own right.

The Bridge and Espedair Street are other favorites. I don't like all his books, there's a few I never got through.