Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks Review(ish)

[@pl566]

I know what you're saying about books that you appreciate more as time passes. Frankenstein would be the SciFi book for me. I first read it probably 10 years ago and still think of it often. On the other hand, I read The Great Gatsby about the same time and all I still think "Why do people like that book?" Great video!

[@JosephReadsBooks]

Thanks! I really want to read Frankenstein. I agree with you about The Great Gatsby. I read it in school and then again as an adult and I still don't understand why people like it.

[@sw3dge]

I agree with your ranking of the 3 so far in the series. I love this series so far but it's hard to recommend it to a newbie because of how rough the start is. A pleasure to read this with you!

[@JosephReadsBooks]

It was a great buddy read.

[@michaelzwierzynski728]

So far I have read the first 5 of the culture series and Use of Weapons has been my favourite, although not by much since I enjoyed the other 4 very much. I totally agree that it's not an easy read because of the plot structure but I love when an author tries to do something different. I need to get back to the culture series asap and finish it, my only dilemma is do I start from the beginning and re-read the first 5? Looking forward to your thoughts about the rest of the books.

[@jorgemontesinos8727]

Well, I do think the Culture are the good guys. My favourite in the series, so far, is Look to Windward, followed by Excession and Matter. But I have the same thing you have with the Use of Weapons. If this review were with spoilers I would comment something about the ending.

[@JosephReadsBooks]

I need to read more of the Culture series before I sort out my feelings about them as a civilization. I'm looking forward to reading more of the series. Thanks for watching!

[@jorgemontesinos8727]

​@@JosephReadsBooksAbout the ending, and trying to not spoil anything to any would be reader, this character was deluded or pretending? I think is deluded and sincere, but would need another read to be sure.

[@JosephReadsBooks]

@@jorgemontesinos8727 I think it was a self imposed delusion to cope with what they did.

[@thatsci-firogue]

One of my favourite series! I find it difficult to pick a favourite but this is definitely a contender.

[@JosephReadsBooks]

I'm only three books in and I totally agree.

[@Undone545]

This series seems similar to "the polity" novels by neal asher. Ive only read a few but the polity is essentially what in star trek we might call the federation or the united planets but is run entirely by a.i. that have taken over running the world in benevolent dictatorship. The protagonist is ian cormac (think james bond). The polity (in the books ive read) are portrayed as unambiguously good. But are dealing with problems on a multiplanetary scale. So will not hesitate lose 1 million lives at to save billions of lives.

[@JosephReadsBooks]

Yeah that sounds a lot like the Culture.

[@leonardosoutello8440]

I wonder what you would think about the Culture after reading Excession hahahaha

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

This reaction has me so intrigued-I need to read some Culture books to see what’s up

[@JosephReadsBooks]

They are so good! The narrator is also great!

[@BooksWithBenghisKahn]

@@JosephReadsBooks love to hear it!

[@jhwheuer]

When he said his girlfriend consented to becoming his widow, that made me sit down.

[@JosephReadsBooks]

I forgot about that 🤯.