I've been reading "Judas Unchained" for the last 6 months on and off
Massive massive sci-fi book with more detail and background stories rolled in than 10 years worth of Eastenders. I managed to read the 1st one quick enough (Pandora's Star), been struggling to finish this one though.

Which is odd as the book has really opened up now and everything is being blown up to shit :)
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:08, 1 reply)

Background stories can be so rewarding though
In TV/Film, the difference between something like the Wire where you have episode after episode of background story before the climax of the final 3 episodes in a series is so much more fulfilling than a 2 hour gangster movie.

I started Matter by Iain M.Banks last week and, well it's my first Sci-Fi book in a while. I'm kind of wavering on forgetting about it. There's something about Sci-Fi books in that names mean absolutely nothing to me.. I mean: "'Now, sir...' Fanthile said, before turning to see Harne, the lasy Aelsh, the King's present consort and mother to Ferbin".. this means nothing to me and my eyes kind of gloss over uninterested.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:15, closed)

Well "Pandora's Star" is a massive book establishing technologies that become commonplace
along with different characters and communities. It also explains general politics and how everything becomes divided into different houses and eventually planets, but it's all done in a sensible way.

Peter F. Hamilton does seem like he's over-doing it at times with the detail but it is all coming into play on the 2nd book, very good read. I would've also thought it would have made an awesome TV series if done right.
( Jeccius Steam Borderlands 2 junkie, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:30, closed)

It's worth sticking with Matter
the plot accelerates as it goes on.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:43, closed)

"Matter" is a poor example of Banks' work.
Please don't judge him on it. Read the Player of Games; there's only two names you need to remember in that. Even if the names are "Jernau Morat Gurgeh" and "Flere-Imsaho".
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:45, closed)

That's good
because my brother has the entire collection. I'm not sure why he intended for me to start on 'Matter'. Must give Player of Games a try. By the way the premise of the series is really interesting so I do hope to get into them.
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 10:57, closed)

Ah!
FSS is right, it's not a book to start on Ian M. Banks.

Player of Games or Consider Phlebas IMO.
( Ring Of Fire A petty, drooling belming butthurt retard., Sun 27 Jun 2010, 11:06, closed)

I consider "Use of Weapons" to be a masterpiece.

(Pie of Meat ___°¬¯O¯____\o/_____/\_,____Y¯¯Y, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 12:05, closed)

Use of Weapons is an absolute masterpiece.
Although possibly not the best if you want to avoid confusion, since half of it is written backwards, interspersed with the bits preceding it, but written forwards. Simple.

I actually got to appreciate it twice. Read it once, half-comprehending it, absolutely shat myself at the bit with the chair. I then promptly forgot about the whole thing, which meant when I came back to it years later I got to enjoy it for the first time, all over again.
(Falstaff's Spiritual Successor, Sun 27 Jun 2010, 12:56, closed)