Where James Rollins makes you grit your teeth as your favorite characters are seemingly killed only to pop up safe at the end, Iain Banks pushes your favorite characters through gut-wrenching punishment and still has the sadism to kill ‘em all at the end anyway. Don’t worry, it’s the ride that counts (or at least that’s what I keep telling myself).
by Iain M. Banks
4 Stars
Recommended
Whilst in comparisons, where Dean R Koontz will adeptly employ language in the first chapter to lure in unsuspecting readers only to spank them with an artistic wasteland the remainder of his book, Banks consistently delivers throughout the reading experience. Koontz makes an interesting story, but Banks weaves a tapestry of depth and complexity akin to Frank Herbert. Banks is a true master of the genre, capable of applying the sciences in new and intriguing ways. More than that, however, he’s a master of characters and personas. The physical descriptions of characters are frequently minimal, yet the reader comes away with nearly exact knowledge of who and what each character is and stands for. The chapter ‘The Eaters’ is almost a story unto itself, yet characters introduced even in brevity within it have clear personality.
Allegiances figure largely in the works of Banks, whether they be mocked, supported, or simply observed. Consider Phlebas takes the reader through a galactic conflict exploring it from the perspective of the offense, the defense, and the neutral profiteers caught in the middle. Although the protagonist is of a particular persuassion, Banks doesn’t brow-beat the reader into believing one side is right or wrong, but rather provides persuassion for both fronts, almost permitting you to choose for yourself. The epilogous victory also remains balanced in a way which makes one wonder if the victors are really that victorious.
Overall, an intelligent and amusing read, with an ending that proved more intelligent than I.
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