Which is the best of Iain M Banks' Sci-fi novels?

Question

I'd like to try them but not sure which to try first

Answer 1

It's a good question to ask, because there are some which are not really representative of the bulk of his SF novels. Still good in my view, but could put you off or send you on the wrong track. So I'm also suggesting a couple to avoid as your first ones.

I agree that Use of Weapons and Look to Windward are both good ones to start with - after reading one of those, you'll know if it's your kind of thing or not. There is no real sequence to the Culture novels that you have to follow, they all stand on their own, but I think you appreciate them more as your read more of them.

Don't read 'Inversions' first, read it after (and if) you have read a few of the others. It was one of my favourites but it's quite different from the rest and it is one of the only Banks SF novels where you get more out of it if you have read some of his others. A lot of fans don't like it because it is different (virtually no high-tech/space travel etc) but I thought it was excellent. The Algebraist was also good, but again, not such a typical one to start with.

Answer 2

I started with the first Culture novel 'Consider Phlebas', which actually turned out to be an anti-Culture novel. I found that a little surprising, but it didn't put me off reading the others.

I really enjoyed Excession, as it was a little different from most of the Culture novels in that the main characters were almost all Minds (artificial intelligences running huge starships), rather than humanoids. And they've all got amusing names, which they choose for themselves :-)

But 'The Player of Games' or 'Use of Weapons' would probably be the best all-rounders. I'd suggest you start with PoG, as it's fairly linear--UoW is written in Banks' trademark flashback style, and if you're not used to it, it's kind of hard to figure out what's going on at first.

For Banks-lite, you could also start off with his short story collection 'The State of the Art'. It's a mix of sci-fi and straight fiction, but very entertaining.

Answer 3

All of them, Look to Windward was great and is a personal favourite but any of the Culture novels is a joy to read.
The Algebraist is also a great read.
I would suggest you read the Culture novels in the correct order because they do refer back to earlier stories but generally each novel does stand on its own.

Answer 4

I really like 'Against A Dark Background' it's a really gothic sci-fi story, very dark, but with a great original storyline. The one I really hated was 'Fersum Endjin' which is written phonetically and is really hard to read.

Answer 5

Consider Phelbas is great. Try his other novels too. The Crow Road is brilliant and The Wasp Factory is a classic.

Answer 6

I've never managed to get through any of them, but my friend adores Use of Weapons and continually quotes from it.

Answer 7

The Player of Games (if you like mind games) or Use of Weapons (if you like grisly tales).

Answer 8

That one over there, on your left.