Consider Phlebas (Culture)

The first book in Iain M. Banks's seminal science fiction series, The Culture. Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination.The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender. Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction. Overview: The War Raged Across The Galaxy. Billions Had Died, Billions More Were Doomed. Moons, Planets, The Very Stars Themselves, Faced Destruction, Cold-blooded, Brutal, And Worse, Random. The Idirans Fought For Their Faith; The Culture For Its Moral Right To Exist. Principles Were At Stake. There Could Be No Surrender. Within The Cosmic Conflict, An Individual Crusade. Deep Within A Fabled Labyrinth On A Barren World, A Planet Of The Dead Proscribed To Mortals, Lay A Fugitive Mind. Both The Culture And The Idirans Sought It. It Was The Fate Of Horza, The Changer, And His Motley Crew Of Unpredictable Mercenaries, Human And Machine, Actually To Find It, And With It Their Own Destruction. Prologue -- Sorpen -- Hand Of God 137 -- Clear Air Turbulence -- Temple Of Light: -- State Of Play: One -- Megaship -- Eaters: -- Interlude In Darkness -- Game Of Damage -- Ends Of Invention: -- State Of Play: Two -- Schar's World -- Command System: Batholith: -- State Of Play: Three -- Command System: Stations -- Command System: Engines -- Command System: Terminus -- Consider Phlebas -- Appendices: Idiran-culture War: -- Reasons: Culture -- Reasons: Idirans -- War, Briefly -- Dramatis Personae -- Epilogue. Iain M. Banks. A Culture Novel--cover. Excerpt From The Author's Novel Matter: P. 519-527. The first book in Iain M. Banks's seminal science fiction series, The Culture. Consider Phlebas introduces readers to the utopian conglomeration of human and alien races that explores the nature of war, morality, and the limitless bounds of mankind's imagination.The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender.Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction.The Culture SeriesConsider PhlebasThe Player of GamesUse of WeaponsThe State of the ArtExcessionInversionsLook to WindwardMatterSurface DetailThe Hydrogen Sonata SUMMARY:"Dazzlingly original." -- Daily Mail"Gripping, touching and funny." -- TLSThe war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destruction, cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender. Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a fabled labyrinth on a barren world, a Planet of the Dead proscribed to mortals, lay a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans sought it. It was the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, actually to find it, and with it their own destruction. Consider Phlebas is perhaps one of the lesser-known, but nevertheless the first, of the revelationary late Iain M. Banks' science fiction books. Consider Phlebas introduces us to the complex world of the mind-controlling, ubiquitous utopia of the Culture, which contrasts to their mortal sentient enemies. Iain Banks creates an imaginative and encapsulating premise to keep the reader hooked for more, with hints of science fiction and alien humour to liven a deadly race against an omnipotent foe. A science fiction novel by the author of the Wasp Factory features a symbiotic human and machine society that is engaged in a galaxy-wide battle to the death between the Idrians, who fight for their faith, and the Culture, which defends its right to exist. Reprint.