by Iain M. Banks
Second time around this book is still weird. Overall I liked it, but not as much as the Culture novels that I've read. The characters just don't have as much texture and the whole universe feels like there's some back story missing, sort of. Some elements don't seem to really tie in, either (e.g....
I rounded this UP to 4 stars because the ending is really very good and well written so you finish the book with satisfaction. The first half is very confusing - the time line of events is something you have to work out yourself from hints and bits and pieces scattered around. It's not the first tim...
As I write this review Iain M. Banks has passed away about three weeks ago. It makes me sad that our genre has lost another great writer. So I picked The Algebraist to be my "tribute read", alas I find that prefer his Culture novels. That said The Algebraist is not at all shabby.The Algebraist (corr...
Walking mp3: Tjörn Reserve: http://www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/kretsar-lan/vastra-gotaland/tjorn/Unabridged. (Clipper Audio) [Audio Cassette]Geoffrey Annis (Narrator)Publisher: W F Howes Ltd (2005)ISBN-10: 1845053079ISBN-13: 978-1845053079 There is an abridged version read by Anton Lesser out there...
a non-Culture sci-fi adventure from Banks, one whose intriguing major topic is the relativity of morality. the aliens are pretty much humans in alien form - not much attempt to convey a truly alien viewpoint. but it is all fascinating nonetheless, and many of the characters - alien and otherwise - a...
This one did not work as an audiobook for me - Halfway through and I had not much idea of who anyone was or what was going on! I liked the dwellers, but not the Evil Guy(tm). Finally gave up.
Iain Banks is one of those authors who just makes you realize that other books are just Not As Good. I love him.'The Algebraist' takes place in the same universe as other Banks SF novels, but is a fully stand-alone novel. It is the story of Fassin Taak, a Seer (basically, an alien anthropologist), w...
A science fiction "space opera," but one that's not set in (as far as I could tell) Banks's Culture universe, The Algebraist is interesting and enjoyable, more for the little details that Banks throws in from time to time than the overall plot or characters. There's a central mystery here that the l...
The author's imagination is big, his humour is raffish and clever, his characters are sharp and rich and, while not always entirely memorable, interesting enough while you spend time with them.
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