Space Opera Fans discussion

Greetings Space Opera Fans!

Our October READER PICK is Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks.



"The man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks and military action. The woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscurity and pushed him towards his present eminence, but despite all their dealings she did not know him as well as she thought. The drone known as Skaffen-Amtiskaw knew both of these people. It had once saved the woman's life by massacring her attackers in a particularly bloody manner. It believed the man to be a lost cause. But not even its machine could see the horrors in his past..."

Are you reading Use of Weapons? Shout it out in the comments thread below to find out who else is reading it and discuss what you think about the book. Just remember to be kind ...use the spoiler .html (view spoiler)[so you don't ruin the fun for other people (hide spoiler)] or open your own spoiler-filled discussion thread in the Book Buddies Club folder located w-a-y at the bottom of the main community page where you can discuss the book in spoilery goodness.

this is the third book. is it a continuing story or more like sequels?

Chakara wrote: "this is the third book. is it a continuing story or more like sequels?"

Space Opera Fans? Anybody able to answer this question?

To my shame, I've not yet read any of his 'Culture' books, but my understanding is that they're stand-alone novels in a shared universe.

I have read the first two books in the series. My understanding is, and that was true for the first two books, that you can read each book as a stand alone. It simply plays out in the same universe.

I am very excited to read this book (it was my nomination ;D). The Player of Games was a treat, and Use of Weapons is supposed to be similarly good.

Great timing! I am on the last 40 pages of The Player of Games and have read the first of the Culture Series. From this limited sampling, it does appear as if these books can be read out of sequence. The Culture environment is an interesting one and acts as a vector to present the story. It is not the focus of the plot.

It can be read out of sequence no problem.

I've read five culture novels and even though they're set in the same Universe and sometimes reference certain events, they are very much individual stories with no connection. Player of Games is my favorite.