Matter
by Iain M. Banks
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Book Reviews of Matter
Book Review: Phone It In
Summary: 3 Stars
Banks has always been an inventive creator. That said, the Matter here is, well just not so hot, a barely second level effort. Wait for the used paperback on this one. Imagine using the idea, in the super hi-tech Culture, that one of the key characters has to take six months to go from A to B, instead of less than a week, because of airline (opps, spaceship) schedules. And the "world" involved runs on steam engines (lucky are we it was not swords and magic). Much like his last work, also semi-disappointing, this book has a schizoid heart - we talk a lot about the Culture, which, to be honest, is why people buy the book (smart alecky drones, super "minds", interstellar do-gooders and mercenaries, evil aliens getting theirs in the end), but, since Iain is bored with all that, instead we have to slog through some tedious "quest saga" (literally mud and ice and a choo choo train) with displaced princes, loyal but dense servants, and evil throne usurpers. Even Banks eventually loses interest in the "hero"--a sort of wimpy sap who ends up dead 3/4 of the way through - and who cares. Meanwhile, well off-stage, something...well the plot is taking place, not that you'll ever see it. If you take this on a plane, leave it for the hotel maid and don't bother to bring it home.Book Review: Sprawling, but I love it all
Summary: 4 Stars
I DO love Iain Banks, and reading this book reminded me of why this is so. It's been a while since I last read one of his SF works, and I just adore the way he deals with far-future huge galactic civilization technology stuff... it becomes completely transparent, and the book is really about people (or intelligences) and how they deal with their "world" and each other. But still there is a deep, geekly enjoyment of future tech. It makes me think of the "advanced tech being indistinguishable from magic" meme, and yet one believes in Banks' technology.
He also does great big amazing action sequences involving future tech better than anyone else I've ever read.
This book deals a lot with people from a more primitive culture having to interact with those of much more advanced cultures, and it's fascinating to read just for the joy of picturing a medieval Prince dealing with members of an insectoid space-faring alien culture. While I did find the book sprawling and sometimes unfocused, I just enjoy the things Banks does so much that it was very worth reading.
Love the finale, even though it was abrupt after the lengthy travels. Wonderful wrap-up and suggestion of what is to come.
Book Review: Tense and Satisfying
Summary: 4 Stars
It seems to have been a long time since the last Iain M Banks novel about the Culture and Special Circumstances, but it's been worth the wait. This is a meaty novel in which Iain M Banks invents more worlds, particularly the Shell World.
The beginning is somewhat slow, but once it gets going it's both tense and gripping. Anaplian makes a very cool heroine: smart and dangerous. Warning: it's an edgy and dark novel that makes you wonder if there can possibly be a happy ending to look forward to. The four star rating is because the pace slows down from time to time - it felt as if Banks was trying to squeeze too many ideas in.
It's not necessary to have read the other Culture novels to enjoy this - in fact, it wouldn't be a bad place to start, and then you could go back and read through the others.
And now begins the long wait for the next Culture novel. Iain M Banks has created such a rich and complex world with so much to explore. While I understand that some authors like to mix their genres, I sometimes wish that he (along with William Gibson and Neal Stephenson) could stick with what they do best rather than mixing it up from book to book.
Book Review: Anti-matter
Summary: 3 Stars
Perhaps Iain M. Banks has arrived at the stage of his career where he cannot be edited. That would be a shame as his writing speaks to me very directly. Matter seems overlong for no good reason. It also seems like Banks wasn't sure he was writing a Culture novel as the bulk of the book has nothing to do with the Culture. However, I'm sure putting 'A Culture Novel' on the front cover will boost sales. 'Look to Windward' was a far more entertaining recent culture novel. I also felt (the non-Culture universe) 'The Algebraist' was, in general, a better novel than 'Matter'.
Where Iain M. Banks gets things right is writing within a character's voice. Here, he displays a master's touch. The characters are all well defined and unique. None of them are endearing, unfortunately. The plot drags - mainly because there really are not a lot of unanswered questions driving the story.
Do yourself a favor and read the reviews of this book over at amazon.co.uk where the literacy gap between the US and the UK is revealed dramatically. If you're a hard-core Banks fan, as I am, you might want to get this one in paperback.
Book Review: Getting Disillusioned
Summary: 3 Stars
After being disappointed with The Algebraist and now with Matter, I'm not much looking forward to any future Banks novels.
My thoughts on this most recent entry into the Culture Universe can be summed up with two points: too long and unbalanced. The book is simply too long, apparently Banks has reach that point where he no longer has to listen to editors, which is a shame as this book could have been great with a lot of trimming and a few revisions. Then there is the issue of how utterly rushed the conclusion is compared to the sheer amount of time spent setting up for the climax. And the epilogue, placed after the appendix for whatever reason, didn't make up for the short and bittersweet ending.
There were simply too many ideas on this book that were of little-to-no consequence and too many long passages that could easily have been shortened, if not completely skipped. This novel is nearly 600 pages but hardly contains enough real content for a 300 page novel, in my opinion. Hopefully on his next outing Banks will use an editor who can reign him in when he gets too "ambitious" again.