Book Review: Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks

[Allegra]

Hmmm... So the Culture knew from the start that Zakalwe was in fact Elethiomel... Of course... only Sma and the drone didn't know (better for the task)... Gosh that makes so much sense and it all seems more intriguing and interesting... Very insightful analysis of the Culture's nature, Till.

[Tillane]

Well...I certainly think Special Circumstances would very closely check out every agent they pick, and they certainly aren't shy about keeping their own operatives out of the loop. It's a theory, and one I think fits the novel - but I know many will disagree.

I actually did one of my politics essays at uni on the Culture - specifically the Culture as mixture of utopia (for those living within it) and dystopia (for those societies meddled with - accepting the point that the Culture meddles in order to do "good") - and spent an awful lot of time trying to wrap my brain around stuff like that. It's one of the reasons I've always found Use of Weapons a much more satisfying book than Player of Games: the latter is (IMO) far too preachy, as well as being much more simplistic and written with much more bias toward the Culture's point of view - again, accepting the fact that the society into which Gurgeh inveigles himself is a pretty nasty one. It's always read to me like Banks on his political soapbox: Use of Weapons, for all its faults, has always seemed a more subtle tale better told.

[Allegra]

I agree with your comparison of the two books. While I like them both, Use of Weapons has more depth, is darker, more complex and thought provoking. I think it's one of the best books I've read.

I'm also fascinated by the Culture's politics, social structure, moral status and 'foreign' policy & strategy such as use of (human) weapons. I found after Use of Weapons it's rewarding to read The State of The Art in which speculations of Culture's utopia (and dystopia) and the earth's dystopia were expressed quite directly. While I love the Culture and wish to hell to be a denizen of it - I don't mind to be ruled by machines though they (specially the Special Circumstances) can be devious and ruthless but at least they are sane and fair and trying to do good (not to mention I'd love to have a drone like Skaffen-Amtiskaw!), I think Linter's view is not entirely unreasonable: where there is all good and no bad, there is no hope and it's boring! (I so admire Banks' idea of disposing Linter's body into the Sun, poetic and touching).

[Tillane]

Originally Posted by Allegra

not to mention I'd love to have a drone like Skaffen-Amtiskaw!

But very definitely not Mawhrin-Skel...

What always astonishes me is that Use of Weapons was Banks' first Culture novel - first novel, in effect - and was apparently infinitely more complex in its initial drafts. One of those things I'll always thank Ken McLeod for - if not for him, the novel would never have seen the light of day.

[Allegra]

Oh no definitely not Mawhrin-Skel! That little nasty...

I didn't know Use of Weapons was Banks' first Culture novel. I wonder if I'd think of it any differently had I read it first, perhaps even more impressed? It's really masterfully structured and beautifully written. Apart from the dark, shocking side some passages are poetic and his wry humour is always there. There's something about his voice that just sounds so good to my ears.

[Tillane]

It was the first written - Banks apparently had completed drafts of it as far back as 1974 (at which point he was only 26, which I still find kind of depressing) - but was mothballed and only finally published in 1990 after much cajoling and advice from McLeod.

[Allegra]

Wow, that's truly amazing because his writing is so sophisticated. May be he's been *genofixed*?

[Tillane]

Heh, yeah, that would explain it - especially as my maths was somewhat out on his age. In '74, he'd actually have been 20!

[Allegra]

More antidepressant on demand...

Are you sure it's not '84 or perhaps just before The Wasp Factory? I mean, 26 is incredible as far as talent goes, but 20 is - unbelievable!

[Tillane]

He's definitely used the '74 date in interviews, but exactly what was in these early drafts, it's difficult to say. He certainly had lots of problems with the original version (the one he mothballed) and he's joked that you couldn't understand it "without thinking in six dimensions" - but whether this is a reference to its complexity or the fact that it was a mess, I don't know. The Wasp Factory was definitely written in the very early 80s, prior to its publication in 84, and Consider Phlebas was written directly thereafter as I understand.

There's an interview with him here where he mentions the writing of Use of Weapons, along with some general stuff on the Culture and his writing.

I'd certainly prefer to think that it was 84 rather than 74: I'd feel a wee bit less inferior...

[Allegra]

Okay now I believe you, and thanks for the link - highly enjoyable especially the last bit!

[Rodders]

This was the first Iain M. Banks book that i read. It really is great and a superb ending. Still preferred the Player of Games though.

[bobbo19]

Allegra- I love the Culture and wish to hell to be a denizen of it.

I'm in the same boat as you it would seem!

[bobbo19]

Originally Posted by Rodders

This was the first Iain M. Banks book that i read. It really is great and a superb ending. Still preferred the Player of Games though.

For me The Player of Games was more enjoyable also.I might even go as far to say Consider Phlebas was better than the Use of Weapons, but it too close between those too. Maybe it the bias coming in the the first culture novel i read was Consider Phlebas.

[Coolhand]

Originally Posted by Tillane

He's definitely used the '74 date in interviews, but exactly what was in these early drafts, it's difficult to say. He certainly had lots of problems with the original version (the one he mothballed) and he's joked that you couldn't understand it "without thinking in six dimensions" - but whether this is a reference to its complexity or the fact that it was a mess, I don't know. The Wasp Factory was definitely written in the very early 80s, prior to its publication in 84, and Consider Phlebas was written directly thereafter as I understand.

There's an interview with him here where he mentions the writing of Use of Weapons, along with some general stuff on the Culture and his writing.

I'd certainly prefer to think that it was 84 rather than 74: I'd feel a wee bit less inferior...[IMG]file:///D:/DOCUME%7E1/LUKEWI%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image001.gif[/IMG]

Yowsers! I mean I've got my problems with the book but it's still a damn fine piece work, and to find out that he wrote it in 1974...serious talent that man!
I wonder if the original drafts expanded more on the development of the protagonist from what he was to what he is?

Originally Posted by bobbo19

For me The Player of Games was more enjoyable also.I might even go as far to say Consider Phlebas was better than the Use of Weapons, but it too close between those too. Maybe it the bias coming in the the first culture novel i read was Consider Phlebas.

Since reading Use of Weapons I’ve read Against a Dark Background (which I really enjoyed. It never quite scaled the awesome heights Use of Weapons hit but it didn’t trip up quite as badly as Use Of Weapons either) and Look to Windward (which I actually found very tedious and didn’t finish.) Player of games seems to have a good rep so I’ll try that one next.