Ian Banks, where do I start ?

[Gottaa]

Edit: Oops put this in the wrong section 'cos I wasn't paying attention, Imagine your actually in the Books section

So with my new kindle I find I'm churning through books at the moment, just started on Ender's Game, and with the new of Ian Banks I realised I don't think I've actual read anything he's written and don't know quite where to start. Anyone here have any suggestions on a good place to start, be it either a series or stand on it's own book ?

I've had a look through on Amazon, but I find it's never really clear what is and isn't a series.

As Ender's Game is 4 books (I think it's more 2 in one series and 2 in another but the series are linked ?) I should be busy for a month or so but then I'd like to dive into Ian Banks Fiction and Sci-Fi

 

[Requiel]

The Culture novels aren't a series per se but Consider Phlebas is the first one and the events in it are sometimes referenced in later novels. It's fine to start there but you don't have to as there's no big arc or anything that continues through the books. Player of Games and Excession are my favourites and they are eminently readable whether or not you've read Consider Phlebas.

 

[Bunty]

excession is very good. surface detail is also very good. i wasn't overly fussed for consider phlebas.

 

[Zeus]

consider phlebas isnt as strong as some of the others, but its not a bad book - and its interesting to have the first book in the series be written from a perspective outside the culture looking in.

excession is probably my favorite. use of weapons is very good, but a bit strange. Surface Detail is excellent, but you should read use of weapons first.

 

[Dareos]

Espedair street. its not sci fi, its just very very good

 

[Pictelf]

If I remeber correctly his non-sci-fi was under Iain Banks and his sci-fi he used Iain M Banks I haven't read much of his non-sci-fi, only the classic Wasp Factory. Loved 'Consider Phlebas' tbh loved any of the 'Culture' novels. Actually I think I am due a wee order of a few books...

 

[Cadfiel]

I would really recommend his Fiction rather than Sci-fi. Consider Phelbas is ok and i really liked The Player of Games, however his books like The Crow Road and Whit are very good. Overall i think hes a better Fiction writer than Sci-fi.