Use of Weapons

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'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.

Banks writes with a specific sophistication that oft leaves me wondering whether it is my fault or his that I do not fully understand his characters. I thought the reveal of the Chair and Chairmaker was insane, and the reveal that Cheri was instead Elethiomel was confusing. I don't think I ever fully understood our protagonist's motivations, and the end only sort of helped. Despite this, I think the novel's themes still were clear and powerful.