The ‘Culture’ spans thousands of galaxies and hundreds of intelligent life forms and it looks to incorporate all those it finds that are sufficiently advanced. However this doesn’t always go to plan and after an unsuccessful intervention the Chelgrian civilisation collapses into a civil war which kills five billion! Some years later, a faction of Chelgrians plots revenge.
'In terms of sheer storytelling prowess and verve, LOOK TO WINDWARD is a work of genius' SFX
'A great book' NEW SCIENTIST
'Banks keeps ratcheting up the suspense' GUARDIAN
Author
About Iain M. Banks
Iain M. Banks came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, THE WASP FACTORY, in 1984. He has since gained enormous popular and critical acclaim for both his mainstream (published under the name Iain Banks) and his science fiction novels. Iain Banks died in June 2013.
Maxim Jakubowski's view on MATTER... Banks’ Culture series, of which this the latest instalment, is space opera at its exuberant best: adventures and conflicts on a galactic scale, alien races by the dozen, non-stop action, a gallery of sharply-edged characters in search of the truth and racing against time. All the ingredients are perfectly stirred to provide first class entertainment and science fiction at its most stirring. Makes STAR WARS look simplistic.
