Iain Banks. "Transition".

[iansales]

I think Dave was referring to the collection State of the Art, rather than the novella (novelette?) of the same name.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by iansales

I think Dave was referring to the collection State of the Art, rather than the novella (novelette?) of the same name.

Yes, I was referring to the collection rather than the novelette, though looking at the collection again, it IS published as an "M" and there IS definitely one other 'Culture' story (A Gift from the Culture), and some that may or may not be, and that would be open to debate. I'd certainly have to disagree with you that "all of the stories are set in the Culture universe" as several are most certainly not (Piece).

I haven't read Walking on Glass and I'm in need of something to read.

[Casspar]

everything this guy writes is brilliant, - I always thought that the "M" signified that the book would be SF. So 'Transition without an M' but SF related uuuum! Interesting!

[clovis-man]

Just finished Transition. An atypical Banks SF story. More in common with Use of Weapons than any other Banks tale, but only because of its unrelenting grittiness and salacious sidelights. A worthwhile read. I'll say no more to avoid spoilers, but only add that in the "C" universe, the "Concern" bears little resemblance to either the "Culture" or the "Company" (Kage Baker).

[gully_foyle]

Originally Posted by clovis-man

Just finished Transition. An atypical Banks SF story. More in common with Use of Weapons than any other Banks tale, but only because of its unrelenting grittiness and salacious sidelights. A worthwhile read. I'll say no more to avoid spoilers, but only add that in the "C" universe, the "Concern" bears little resemblance to either the "Culture" or the "Company" (Kage Baker).

But didn't you think more than a passing similarity with Special Circumstances (which has a C in it)?

[clovis-man]

Originally Posted by gully_foyle

But didn't you think more than a passing similarity with Special Circumstances (which has a C in it)?

I'll grant you that. Although somewhat more Machiavellian.

[gully_foyle]

Originally Posted by clovis-man

I'll grant you that. Although somewhat more Machiavellian.

Quite. I wrote a wee review at: Transition by Iain Banks

[iansales]

And I wrote a somewhat longer review here back in October. For those of you who've not seen it already...

[clovis-man]

Gully & Ian: After now reading both your reviews, I have to say I find them both to be pretty much on the mark. And I'm glad I wasn't the only one to see the similarity to Use Of Weapons.

Sometimes it's hard to discern the impetus for Banks' story ideas. In Transition, the first thing that struck me was his reference to not only the twin towers attack, but also the world economic collapse of 2008. It seems to have given him the notion that an exploration of a dimension leaping organization that either forestalls or hastens the demise of societies would be great fun. One way or another, too much meddling insures bad results. Perhaps there's a message for the Culture in there somewhere.

I had no problem assuming this to be another of his "M" styled tales. But, for all that, I also saw something of a parallel to Dead Air, one of his non-"M" stories which also noted current events such as 9-11 and which also used a variety of characters representing a fair range of modern culture (small c).

[Rackon]

Newby here...and late to the party.

I enjoyed this book tremendously, flaws and all. In fact, it's one of the few recent books I've wanted to re-read immediately upon finishing.

I should probably mention that the first Banks book I ever read was The Bridge, what now seems eons ago, and that I quite like his non-Culture SF, including The Algabraist. Use of Weapons is my favorite Culture novel, so I didn't find any of the narrative threads difficult to follow. In fact, I loved the structure and multiple points of view.

It will probably never happen, but I would love to see another book with Oh and Mulverhill.

And there are definitely echoes of Use Of Weapons and The Culture in Transition.

[AE35Unit]

Interesting to note on his website that the US edition has the M in place!

[Rackon]

Originally Posted by AE35Unit

Interesting to note on his website that the US edition has the M in place!

Ah, yes...old news.

I'm gazing at my copy of Transition by "Iain M Banks" as I type. Although highly regarded in SF circles, Banks is not quite as big a noise here in the US as he is in UK. I suspect the publishers felt Transition would appeal to US SF readers more than his "literary" fiction fans, hence the "M".

In truth, I don't think it probably makes much difference.

I've never quite understood the division myself. But I've run into several people in the last 6 months who've never read IMB's SF and asked for recs.

[Dave]

I've only just started reading this so I'll skip the reviews for now. I'd say the style was typically Banks with the multiple story-lines running together and the asides (some of which I thought reminiscent of Douglas Adams.) There is a lot of humour.

As for it being framed by major events, my impression, so far, is that they are signposts and markers used by the flitters/transistioners (sliders). The same reason they have headquarters in Istanbul and Jerusalem - cities with long histories that do not change much. However, taken for granted I haven't read the whole book yet.

[AE35Unit]

Originally Posted by Rackon

Ah, yes...old news.

I'm gazing at my copy of Transition by "Iain M Banks" as I type. Although highly regarded in SF circles, Banks is not quite as big a noise here in the US as he is in UK. I suspect the publishers felt Transition would appeal to US SF readers more than his "literary" fiction fans, hence the "M".

In truth, I don't think it probably makes much difference.

I've never quite understood the division myself. But I've run into several people in the last 6 months who've never read IMB's SF and asked for recs.

Banks has a unique position. He exists as an SF writer, lauded by fans on here, but also, out there in the world of 'Oh I don't read sci-fi, I read literature'! Most people mention books like The Crow Road or The Wasp Factory, blissfully unaware he's also a successful 'sci-fi' writer!

[Dave]

I liked this a lot, and would have to move it near the top of my list, though below Use of Weapons and Whist, but if I had to compare it to anything I would say it was 'inspired by Quantum Leap'. I did guess who the patient would turn out to be early on, why else would the sub-chapters not use names?

I was interested in Iansales review and his discussion of 'Christianity/Islam terrorism' because in the first half of the book I was expecting Banks to make more of a big political play that the 'Concern' is like GW Bush (or any World Power) - meddling in countries like Iraq and Afghanistan, ostensibly for the greater good, but actually making things worse. For Madame O, it was also a case of 'Power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely'.

The only thing is, that by the end of the book it was all reversed, and it seemed that instead, rather all the problems in our world, and the vast majority of all murders committed, were actually a result of people from an alternative reality - a bit of a cop out really, absolving us of any wrongdoing at all.