first culture novel?

Stephen Graham wrote:
>
> In article <dfiie1$e72$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>, stealth.banana <my@arse> wrote:
> >I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is asking me what book
> >to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the algebraist being an
> >excellent book.
> >
> >Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his first
> >one. I want him to get a background in the culture before 'Excession'
>
> Publication order usually doesn't hurt, so I would recommend Player of Games
> of the two you mentioned. It's also a more conventional novel in structure,
> which many readers may find better for a introduction to a new author.
>
> Plus it's my favorite Banks' sf novel.
> --

I found the Player of Games to have the most "happy" ending of the Banks
books I have read so far - at least that was my impression. Still, a
great book, especially if you have a penchant for games.
Why not recommend Consider Phlebas? It's a Culture novel, just in a way
that the Culture are the antagonists. I found that a very novel way of
introducing a series.
Cheers,
Michael
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

"stealth.banana" <like DeleteThis @I.would.tell.you.gov.saturn> wrote in
news:dfiie1$e72$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk:

> Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his
> first one. I want him to get a background in the culture before
> 'Excession'

Read both of them before Excession. 'Consider Phlebas' is the other
obvious choice.

--
Adrian
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

Stephen Graham wrote:
> In article <dfiie1$e72$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>, stealth.banana <my@arse> wrote:
>
>>I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is asking me what book
>>to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the algebraist being an
>>excellent book.
>>
>>Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his first
>>one. I want him to get a background in the culture before 'Excession'
>
>
> Publication order usually doesn't hurt, so I would recommend Player of Games
> of the two you mentioned. It's also a more conventional novel in structure,
> which many readers may find better for a introduction to a new author.
>
> Plus it's my favorite Banks' sf novel.

I'd also suggest Player of Games first (my favourite too), then perhaps
Consider Phlebas, before tackling any of the weirder or more convoluted
Culture novels.
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

"Mr Scummy" <nospam.DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:431e0b38$0$27022$da0feed9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Stephen Graham wrote:
> > In article <dfiie1$e72$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>,
stealth.banana <my@arse> wrote:
> >
> >>I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is
asking me what book
> >>to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the
algebraist being an
> >>excellent book.
> >>
> >>Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of
Games' for his first
> >>one. I want him to get a background in the culture
before 'Excession'
> >
> >
> > Publication order usually doesn't hurt, so I would
recommend Player of Games
> > of the two you mentioned. It's also a more conventional
novel in structure,
> > which many readers may find better for a introduction to
a new author.
> >
> > Plus it's my favorite Banks' sf novel.
>
> I'd also suggest Player of Games first (my favourite too),
then perhaps
> Consider Phlebas, before tackling any of the weirder or
more convoluted
> Culture novels.

I'd recommend "Use.." first and Player 2nd. If you chose
"Use..." not to be first, it certainly should be 2nd,
because you want to immerse someone in all the aspects of
Culture as early as possible, the good and the bad. No
Culture book does that better than "Use.." (besides the
impression its unique style makes!)

Yes, it's quite dark, but so is the Culture in many ways.
Knowing this helps with the other books I think. I read the
books in that order and was hooked at hello. Then maybe
"Consider Phlebas" would be good and the other ones. I would
leave "Excession" 'till very last, unless your friend is a
real computer geek--even then, 'till one learns more about
"Minds" and stuff in the Culture, it's a tough read IMO.
....tonyC
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

In message <dfiie1$e72$1@news8.svr.pol.co.uk>, stealth.banana
<like.DeleteThis@I.would.tell.you.gov.saturn> writes
>I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is asking me what book
>to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the algebraist being an
>excellent book.
>
>Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his first
>one. I want him to get a background in the culture before 'Excession'
You have to recommend "Consider Phlebas" first. Player of Games is not
his best work and "Use of Weapons" puts a lot of people off.

Consider Phelbas, then Excession! then Use of Weapons would be a good
order to read them in. Once your friend is used to the idea of a damn
fine story *not* having a happy ending, introduce him to "Against a Dark
Background". He should be ready for it by then.
--
steve.DeleteThis@smokering.freeserve.co.uk
Steve Charlton
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

stealth.banana wrote:
> I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is asking me what book
> to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the algebraist being an
> excellent book.
>
> Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his first
> one. I want him to get a background in the culture before 'Excession'
>
>
> Oh yeah, he has not read any on the non sci-fi stuff and I have urged 'the
> wasp factory'
>
>
> neil

So... which book did you recommend and what did he think?
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel? 

Mr Scummy wrote:

> stealth.banana wrote:
>> I have a friend who has heard of Iain M Banks, and he is asking me what
>> book
>> to read first. Now it has to be culture, despite the algebraist being an
>> excellent book.
>>
>> Now I am split between 'Use of Weapons' or 'Player Of Games' for his
>> first
>> one. I want him to get a background in the culture before 'Excession'
>>
>>
>> Oh yeah, he has not read any on the non sci-fi stuff and I have urged
>> 'the wasp factory'
>>
>>
>> neil
>
> So... which book did you recommend and what did he think?

I went for CP, but he just got a new job and has not started reading yet. I
will keep reminding him.
 >> Stay informed about: first culture novel?