Nomad Scry

I'm not sure why, exactly, but this is my favorite of the Culture. Maybe it's the challenging structure or the unfolding secrets or just characters themselves.

I like the ideas and there's nothing wrong with the writing, which is on part with the prior books, but there are too many characters and too many of them are Culture ships. Perhaps it's just a factor of the audiobook medium but the communications between Minds were opaque and confusing.

I really enjoyed the story. It went places I wasn't expecting. Characters acted out of character and then we would learn why. Good story.

Then there's the politics, which are surprisingly relevant to (2025) current events. The story doesn't shy away from the consequences of the theories and policies in a way that I think is admirable and worthy of consideration. Good story.

I enjoyed just about everything about Consider Phlebas, except for the utter lack of an ending.

I enjoyed just about everything about Consider Phlebas, except for the utter lack of an ending.

It's my own fault. I knew what I was reading going in. But damn, I'm just so bored with every third chapter ending with a 20 minute sex scene. I really like epic fantasy/doorstopper with a primarily female POV and that's slim pickings if I veto romantasies. So, I really liked this but this is also my last straw for this genre. Sadly.