Product Description: The first ever collection of Iain Banks' short fiction, this volume includes the acclaimed novella, The State of the Art. This is a striking addition to the growing body of Culture lore, and adds definition and scale to the previous works by using the Earth of 1977 as contrast. The other stories in the collection range from science fiction to horror, dark-coated fantasy to morality tale. All bear the indefinable stamp of Iain Banks' staggering talent.
Not his best I have been a great fan of Banks for many years and have read nearly everything he has written. I will say I am usually not a fan of short stories and held off reading this one. I finished it last week and was disapointed.
It had the feel of a collection of earlier works that was published later because of the author's popularity. I found the stories to be unsatisfying and almost incomplete.
We also get a good look at the social leanings of the author. his message seemed more important that the stories.
I would skip this one.
Not Free SF Reader Some Culture related stories. Pretty much eminently skippable. This is quite disappointing. I would only get this lot if you get it second hand or really cheap, and nothing of any note at all that I can remember. Definitely give it a miss and read one of the Culture novels instead.
State of the Art : Road of Skulls - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : A Gift from the Culture - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : Odd Attachment - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : Descendant - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : Cleaning Up - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : Piece - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : The State of the Art - Iain M. Banks State of the Art : Scratch - Iain M. Banks
Bumpy.
2 out of 5
Talking smoking gun.
3 out of 5
Loves me, loves me not.
2.5 out of 5
Sentimental suit.
3.5 out of 5
Wrong delivery.
3 out of 5
Religion rubbish.
2.5 out of 5
Terran grass is greener.
3.5 out of 5
Fast rant.
2.5 out of 5
Great Book, must have for collection If you collect books by Ian Banks, you have to have this one in your collection.
"Cleaning Up" is quite the work! Humor & sci-fi wrapped up in a nice little package. Banks works wonders in this regard. Here are my top 5 (of 8) favorites. 5) "Piece" is a look at gritty life outside of the Culture. 4) "Descendant" isn't sci-fi, but a moving and intelligent story. 3) "Odd Attatchment" is about an astronaut and his, sometimes, humorous relation ship with his AI spacesuit. 2) "The State of the Art" is highly original. 1) "Cleaning Up" is weird (my dad says). I say it's head-shaking, tongue-biting, tear-rolling, seen-in-public-laughing-by-yourself sci-fi/humor at its finest. Ever.
Not as advertised I just received my copy of the paperbook verson of this book from the book depository ltd and it does NOT contain the lengthy essay "A Few Notes on the Culture" which was the main reason that I bought the book in the first place. I am very disappointed!
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Not Available Comics
Trevor
