<![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up - io9 Comments]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up - io9 Comments]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> bryantpaul, I think the sigularity means different things to different cultures. As a transformational process, it seems less likely that it is the cause of sublimation, but rather a choice. The sigularity needs to be addressed here on io9.

Jeff-Minor

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> Nice interview, I'm really looking forward to getting this... waiting for a softcover to come out though, as over the past two years or so I've picked up all the Culture novels in their new soft bindings with the cool artworks (except my old copy of Look to Windward). I was very sad when I finished The Algebreist, as I had heard rumours that was his last SF as he had apparently "done all he had wanted to do" in the genre - and so was ecstatic when I heard of Matter's upcoming release.
@etho: Use of Weapons is probably my favourite Culture/Banks novel by far, though Feersum Endjinn comes very close. Takes a while to get your teeth into, that latter one.

cmdrfire

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> @braak: Good point. From our perspective they're certainly a post-singularity society. I'd argue (and by argue, I mean posit) that sublimation represents a singularity event for The Culture (and their contemporaries). It's a point past which society is changed beyond recognition.

bryantpaul

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> @mistermac2000: He publishes non sci-fi as "Iain Banks" no "M." He's not the same guy as Ian McEwan.

bryantpaul

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> @mistermac2000: He does publish under Ian Banks (books like The Wasp Factory), but is NOT Ian McEwan. That was just an "Ian" joke, I think.

@bryantpaul: I don't think so. If anything, the Culture seems to be, to a certain extent, a post-singularity civilization. They've developed strong AI, they've transcended essentially all internal social problems. It's a subtle kind of a change, I guess.

braak

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> @Jeff-Minor: Aren't the sublimed civilizations the ones with singularity events?

bryantpaul

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> I'm confused by your first paragraph. Is there an error? Are you saying that sci-fi author Iain M. Banks also publishes in a differnt genre as Ian Banks, or that he is the same person as Ian (Atonement) McEwan?

mistermac2000

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> Nice little chat with Banks. I'm glad he said that part of the reality of any sf universe is the requirement of tension for dramatic use. After all, it can't just be about a carefree Utiopia; that would be boring.

The Culture doesn't seem to have a Singularity event, at least not one that Banks has wanted to talk about.

Rybanis, look for used hardbacks, or paper. Look for the novella State of the Art.

Jeff-Minor

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> I just started reading the Culture series last week. I've started with Look to Windward and I'm loving it. Now they just need to start reprinting the other books, too (which seems to be happening next month).

Rybanis

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> Excession would have to be the most cheerful Culture book I've read so far. I found Matter interesting because I could see the themes from the Alchemist coming through; the fascination with hierarchy and ever-layered alien societies.

Matter also has some of the best characterisation so far. Even if you're a social-blind geek like me you can see the difference between characters who are wise, and characters who are intelligent, as well as the more obvious contrasts between the fallen prince and his trusty servant. The epilogue was perfect. Perfect.

antipaganda

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> Am halfway through Matter now, and it rocks. Against a Dark Background used to be my fav Banks novel, but this one might take the top spot.

Spankermatic

]]> <![CDATA[io9 Talks to Iain M. Banks About His New Novel and Why He Likes to Blow Things Up]]> I just finished Use of Weapons last night. That was... grim. Very, very good, my favorite of the Culture books I've read so far (about half of them), but it was not exactly an upper.

It seemed almost like the SF version of The Wasp Factory, actually.

I can't wait to read Matter.

etho

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