#93 An enemy of the Culture: Consider Phlebas (1987) by Iain M. Banks
04/25/23 • 8 min
This second episode in a series on Iain M. Banks' Culture series of science fiction books covers the first novel, Consider Phlebas (1987). In this subversive take on the space opera, Banks introduces the Culture from the outside - by using as his protagonist the ruthless, shape-changing agent Bora Horza Gobuchul. Expect space pirates, cannibals, a fugitive AI, and a deadly game of "Damage" in the book that helped shape the rest of Banks' career.
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This second episode in a series on Iain M. Banks' Culture series of science fiction books covers the first novel, Consider Phlebas (1987). In this subversive take on the space opera, Banks introduces the Culture from the outside - by using as his protagonist the ruthless, shape-changing agent Bora Horza Gobuchul. Expect space pirates, cannibals, a fugitive AI, and a deadly game of "Damage" in the book that helped shape the rest of Banks' career.
Get in touch with a text message!
For more classic SF reviews and discussion, visit andyjohnson.xyz. To get free weekly classic SF updates, sign up here.
Previous Episode
#92 Remaking humanity: Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang (1976) by Kate Wilhelm
An expansion of her 1974 novella, Where Late the Sweet Birds Sang is Kate Wilhelm's best-known work in the science fiction genre. Winner of three major awards for Best Novel in 1977, it is often called one of the most important SF novels to deal with the issue of cloning. This episode looks at how Wilhelm's scientific shortcomings are compensated for by her philosophical thoughtfulness.
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Next Episode
#94 Sleeping with the fishes: what I played in March and April 2023
The 2020 "definitive editions" of Mafia and Mafia II are the stars of the show in this latest overview of the games I've played recently. This bumper instalment features:
- Supplice [Early Access] (2023)
- Gun Jam (2023)
- Oni (2001)
- Urban Chaos (1999)
- War Mongrels (2021)
- Mafia: Definitive Edition (2020)
- Mafia II: Definitive Edition (2020)
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011)
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For more classic SF reviews and discussion, visit andyjohnson.xyz. To get free weekly classic SF updates, sign up here.
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