Cillian

Entertaining if a little cliché.

Undoubtedly a good, classic work of science fiction. Would be great if the single female character wasn't a complete bitchy caricature treated with contempt. (I'm not exaggerating - on multiple occasions her husband threatens to cut out her tongue)

Brilliant and devastating, as only Banks can do. The relationship between Lededje and Demeisen is one of my favorites in the whole Culture series (and also, best take on a space battle I’ve ever read).

Veppers is a terrifyingly believable villain and I had to pause the book a couple times because of it.

Altogether a great read.

Like all good gothic stories, sometimes the mysteries are a little more exciting than the answers. Great book though.

Unlike her last book, this isn't just a collection of funny anecdotes (although there are many). A fair amount of her stories and musings are centered on her struggles with depression, and her fight to learn to like herself and find some meaning in life when everything hits the fan. Depending on your own relationship with depression, this book might not hit you quite as hard.