Science Fiction Aficionados discussion
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Excession
Series Read: The Culture
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Book 5: Excession
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My personal favorite. The perspective switch makes it awesome.
Mod
I enjoy the Culture books - and am enjoying Excession (2/3 through). But it is increasingly bothering me, and is referenced by people in this book that in a society where needs are totally filled and anyone can have any need met; why are some people so "special". I.e. where can change look or take in skills why need to fly specific individuals to situations.And as Genar-Hofoen wondered, at least once: why does someone modify their body and look to match someone elses desires.
ANd this is before consider the role of the AIs. Servants? Clearly not, but a curious type of partnership...
But very good reads and concepts - just this aspect is becoming more blatant in this volume
The conceptual meat of this book was wonderful, but the plot was on the boring side. The Affront and the Sublimers and the Eccentric ships kept me going. He's got some big ideas but he could have populated them better this time. Ultimately, I'm glad to have read it.
Okay - I have finished Excession. And I think I can better formulate my earlier comment. Basically this book is sort of "space opera"; which I enjoy some of. But the 'people' are sort of peripheral to my reading of the story - are strangely introduced, and I do not believe add that much.
And is a significant contrast to 'use of weapons', where the people are the central point
So Banks has created this fascinating environment of "the culture", with Minds, AI, Ships, incredible technology. But I believe he used it less well in this work than the earlier ones.
ANd skimming the earlier posts realize am agreeing with Mike's comment. Actually the sublimers in the other volumes are treated as "gone" as in totally separate from happenings in the non-sublimed universe (yes - or am I misinterpreting?). Here they are presented as around and as potentially becoming involved in non-sublimed affairs, although they do not actually become active participants in any sense. Except arguably in the meaning of the Excession itself, a different discussion.
Mod
although I liked it as a different perspective, it's hard to work up much passion about it!
Maggie wrote: "It is quite different, with the focus being on the ship's minds... Though they all have different 'personalities', they still are not quite 'fleshed out', so to speak. although I liked it as a different perspective, it's hard to work up much passion about it..."
Yeah, an interesting and strange, strange book. Took a while to get into. He imbues the various ships, minds, drones, with lots of personality. (view spoiler)
The description on the back of my paperback was completely inaccurate.
The communications back and forth between gigantic ships reminded me of whales singing to each other in the ocean. They had a slow, dreamy quality. After a while, I started realizing there were quite a few things, drastic things, going on underneath the deceptively bland surfaces of the messages.
The Affronts were horrible but he portrays them as funny. And, that name. So amusing just like the names of the ships. They behave sort of like muppets.
My grandfather used to imagine he was different things like streetcars. I wonder if he would have liked this book.
I liked it better when I was finished than when reading it. It's because he does introduce the idea of machines interacting and working at cross purposes, being stealthy, being brave, .... and this will stay with me. Makes me wonder if my grandfather imagined machines with personalities. Probably.
Mod
so if your favorite part about this series are the AIs, and in particular those Culture Minds that often house themselves in deadly and/or gigantic ships with droll and whimsical names such as "Of Course I Still Love You" and "Meatfucker"... then this is The Culture novel for you! it is all Minds, all the time. with some Affront and an Outside Context Problem thrown in to make things interesting.
enjoy!