The Sword and Laser discussion

Hi, A third of the way in on this reread of CP for the first time in over 20 years.

One thing I have picked up on in this reading is how futile the efforts of our protagonist are (if we can call him a protagonist). Certainly nothing he does seems to have any effect of and significance on the wider world. On this reading I am picking up an extremely strong anti war message that may be coming through much more clearly than before since I have witnessed a few additional pointless wars beyond the Falklands (which may be a distant inspiration).

The horror and damage caused for your beliefs seems to be a theme that runs through the Culture books.

First time ever reading this book and finished it up a week or so ago. I enjoyed it, but I definitely agree that it almost seems like nothing that happens in this book really impacts the world around it unless I missed something.

I definitely get the antiwar sentiment, but I also got a bit of a feeling that the lead was on the wrong side here.

This was the first Bank's book I ever read and I remember being a bit confused as to who the good guys were.

Jeremy wrote: "First time ever reading this book and finished it up a week or so ago. I enjoyed it, but I definitely agree that it almost seems like nothing that happens in this book really impacts the world arou..."



This is a very very small incident in a galaxy spanning war and I think Banks kept it that way because it's 'realistic', i.e. most small incidents within a war don't have a large impact. it's also an unsympathetic view the the Culture because the mercenary, Borza, views the AI ruled society as spiritually bankrupt and bad if not evil. But he's a mercenary, outside the Idiran society so he's not the direct enemy either.

Rick wrote: "Jeremy wrote: "First time ever reading this book and finished it up a week or so ago. I enjoyed it, but I definitely agree that it almost seems like nothing that happens in this book really impacts..."


Good point. Very true that some of these events are completely impactless. I also thought it was interesting that Borza thought of the Culture as just morally bankrupt but was working with the Idirans, who seemed to be just a war species bent on slowly conquering everything. They also had a very degrading view of other species. Philsophically I think it said more about Borza's own self than the cultures. Really didn't gel with his judgement, he seemed just as bankrupt.

Now I am about 60% back in and I had forgotten most of this book.

As the first Culture book I think Banks had not fully fleshed out what the Culture is at this point in his career.He just has a very clear idea of what it isn't.

There's an appendix about it and the Idirans.

Tamahome wrote: "There's an appendix about it and the Idirans."

which I always enjoy!