Classic Science Fiction Novels, March 2012

Iain Banks introduces The Culture in this novel, the first of a growing series. The Culture is a system by which nothing is scarce, where personal possessions are non-existent, where disease and death have been eradicated, and where Artificial Intelligence serves to lead mankind and keep it free from the human trait of corruption. With non-sentient machines doing the work, sentient beings are left to only do what they enjoy. Set in the midst of a great war, Banks questions the genre cliche of the lone hero and invites the readers, upon completion of the book, to question the validity of all the actions involved. A brilliant opening salvo in a series that gets better as you go.