/lit/ - Literature

Ok, I really want to read more about the culture and the war, but it seems Mr. Banks's primary interest is to try to make me wince or barf at his increasingly elaborate displays of human depravity.
I this book just not for me? Is the whole series like this?

OK, it wasn't bad. It had its weaknesses though.

A certain heavy handed telling, rather than showing, plus repetitive pointing out of the obvious.

Now, I actually liked it over all, but the greatest value to this story was picking up on how I would not have written it were I to write something similar. I also found a few things I enjoyed, as in yeah I'd like to include that in my own works.

The general vibe I've picked up around and about is that this was both his first and weakest novel of the Culture series. So, if I may get your opinions, what is the best novel in the series to read:

1) After this one? Or -

2) The best to read in the series, no matter the sequence?

I finished Consider Phlebas the other day (after taking nearly a one year break in the middle of it, since I wasn't very motivated to finish after that miniadventure on space cannibal island) and though a lot of it just draaaaagged, I really enjoyed the hell out of it. Especially the universe that he created. I just wish the book was shorter.

Which should I plan to read next? You don't really have to read them in order, right? Just not sure if there are books you can skip, or if there are ones much better than Consider Phlebas that are the highlights of the series or anything.

Anyway, Culture thread!

Was honestly a little disappointed with Consider Phlebas.

What's /lit/'s take on it?

If you want Sci Fi with really forward future thinking I'd suggest Iain M Banks' Culture Novels. They're exceptional.

>>1704626
Yes.
Also

>>1313161

I take it that Consider Phlebas is your favourite book in the series then, huh?