Paperback, 467 pages
English language
Published April 14, 1988 by Orbit.
Consider Phlebas, first published in 1987, is a space opera novel by Scottish writer Iain M. Banks. It is the first in a series of novels about an interstellar post-scarcity society called the Culture. The novel revolves around the Idiran–Culture War, and Banks plays on that theme by presenting various microcosms of that conflict. Its protagonist Bora Horza Gobuchul is an enemy of the Culture. Consider Phlebas is Banks's first published science fiction novel and takes its title from a line in T. S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land. A subsequent Culture novel, Look to Windward (2000), whose title comes from the previous line of the same poem, can be considered a loose follow-up.
Content warning broad strokes spoilers
Starts as a delightful sci fi romp, giving tantalizing glimpses into the world, but it really doesn't stick the landing. Schlocky fun chaos gives way to an austere nihilism? I suppose it does tease a lot of culture stuff from the outside in an interesting way, but good god, the climax should have been at the damage game.
This is the second Banks I’ve read and I thought they were both terrific. Unlike some epic, galaxy-spanning space operas, this was pacey, smoothly written with great characters and loads of action and adventure.
it was a great pleasure to re-read this first of the Culture novels. Full of Banks's trademark wit, great ideas and action. Next up Player of Games.
This was one of those books that was enjoyable while reading, but ultimately less than satisfying when it was done. The main character only occasionally became sympathetic, and his views of the universe were unrelentingly negative, which were never really explained (especially in light of other viewpoints presented in the novel that were significantly at odds). He was angry, but if there was a cause for his anger, I don't recall it.
The imagination behind the setting, though, is immense. The images and concepts presented as background material are really what kept me reading. From the mind-bogglingly cosmic construction of Orbitals, to the unimaginable size of some of the starships presented, to the intriguing development of some of the alien cultures, there's plenty to gawk at in this book.
With a title like "Consider Phlebas", the better read of us will probably expect what many are calling "a literary, thinking-man's space opera."
Weeelllll...yes, but...
And, those that have the experience of a space opera (i.e. anyone that has watched Star Wars/Star Trek/Really, any sci-fi show set in space) will probably expect a fast-clip, laser-firing romp across the galaxy.
Yes, but...weeelllll...
At its heart, Consider Phlebas is genre fiction. There's a massive galactic war going on between the Culture and the Idirans because each does not like the cut of the others' spacesuits and both are starting to get a little too big for each other's tastes. Admist this war, in a miracle of science, a precious Culture Mind has stranded itself on a Planet of the Dead... monument to the futility of warring civilizations owned by the godlike Dra'Azon. Our hero, Horza, is an agent under the employ of …
With a title like "Consider Phlebas", the better read of us will probably expect what many are calling "a literary, thinking-man's space opera."
Weeelllll...yes, but...
And, those that have the experience of a space opera (i.e. anyone that has watched Star Wars/Star Trek/Really, any sci-fi show set in space) will probably expect a fast-clip, laser-firing romp across the galaxy.
Yes, but...weeelllll...
At its heart, Consider Phlebas is genre fiction. There's a massive galactic war going on between the Culture and the Idirans because each does not like the cut of the others' spacesuits and both are starting to get a little too big for each other's tastes. Admist this war, in a miracle of science, a precious Culture Mind has stranded itself on a Planet of the Dead... monument to the futility of warring civilizations owned by the godlike Dra'Azon. Our hero, Horza, is an agent under the employ of the Idirans. He is a Changer and has been to this world before so he presumably will be allowed there again, and is therefore the perfect candidate for the retrieval of the Mind by the Idirans. All this care must be taken so as not to provoke the Dra'Azon , who may be able to wipe both civilizations from the galaxy.
That is your introduction. This is very much a science fiction genre book. If you do not like science fiction or if the description just given confuses you, this book is not a place to start reading science fiction.
Now, for the flipside: the soul of book is T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland, particularly the section "Death by Water" (which is where the title of Banks's book comes from). The book is bombarded with references to drownings, sermons of fire, sayings of thunder, ritual of burials, and of course that game of chess I was referencing earlier. The galactic war itself is actually modeled heavily on World War I, which coupled with the Phlebian imagery makes for an exercise in the ultimate futility of struggle.
That means if you love science fiction but hate those so-called classics that draw attention away from your beloved novels and prevent them from getting the critical attention they deserve, guess what? Many aspects of the plot will seem pointless, gratuitous, and probably boring.
And that is where Consider Phlebas has decided to make its stand: among the group of readers familiar enough with genre science fiction that they will not be overwhelmed by its various conventions and actually appreciative of some of the finer points of literature.
I have not decided if this is 'groundbreaking' or not. I am pleased at this return to a more old-school science fiction with absurd technologies like Dyson spheres, and it is nice to see it unconstrained by the limitations of pulp magazines. Overall, I enjoyed the adventure and the various uses of imagery from the Wasteland and will eventually return to the Culture Universe.
I found the idea, the story, and the characters to be utterly lovely, and enjoyed reading most of the book.
The writing, however, was to begin with highly untrustworthy: SF generally suffers from the lack of domain knowledge it can depend on in the reader (most of us can imagine chicago without trying too hard, or have used a microwave, or have a passing understanding of the Crusades. most of us don't know what life is like on a spinning space station, nor do we know how to use a infra-laser rifle, nor have we heard of the Great Mars Riots), and most authors struggle to use only as many unfamiliar features as are necessary, and find unobtrusive ways to provide the reader with context for the new information we do need. By contrast, Banks cripples this work by dropping dozens of unknown names, technologies, and historical events without giving …
I found the idea, the story, and the characters to be utterly lovely, and enjoyed reading most of the book.
The writing, however, was to begin with highly untrustworthy: SF generally suffers from the lack of domain knowledge it can depend on in the reader (most of us can imagine chicago without trying too hard, or have used a microwave, or have a passing understanding of the Crusades. most of us don't know what life is like on a spinning space station, nor do we know how to use a infra-laser rifle, nor have we heard of the Great Mars Riots), and most authors struggle to use only as many unfamiliar features as are necessary, and find unobtrusive ways to provide the reader with context for the new information we do need. By contrast, Banks cripples this work by dropping dozens of unknown names, technologies, and historical events without giving the reader sufficient cues as to what will be important later, and what will never again be mentioned.
Characters built up to be of high importance are dropped with hardly a second thought. Last-minute throwaway characters have their futures addressed in the afterword. The title chapter gives little insight as to the significance of the title. Matter of fact, I would've been more satisfied if the title had never appeared in the work at all, than with its presence in an otherwise content-free chapter.
All of these factors make the actual execution of the book highly disappointing, except as a commentary on the eccentricities, disappointments, disorientedness, and unpredictability of real life.
That said, it's worth reading for the story, and also for some of the lower-level writing techniques he employs to convey Changer trance, genofix trance, AI consciousness, and AI crippling.
