Product Description

In a world renowned even within a galaxy full of wonders, a crime within a war. For one brother it means a desperate flight, and a search for the one - maybe two - people who could clear his name. For his brother it means a life lived under constant threat of treachery and murder. And for their sister, even without knowing the full truth, it means returning to a place she'd thought abandoned forever.

Only the sister is not what she once was; Djan Seriy Anaplian has changed almost beyond recognition to become an agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances section, charged with high-level interference in civilisations throughout the greater galaxy.

Concealing her new identity - and her particular set of abilities - might be a dangerous strategy, however. In the world to which Anaplian returns, nothing is quite as it seems; and determining the appropriate level of interference in someone else's war is never a simple matter.

MATTER is a novel of dazzling wit and serious purpose. An extraordinary feat of storytelling and breathtaking invention on a grand scale, it is a tour de force from a writer who has turned science fiction on its head.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28539 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 608 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This magnificent eighth novel (after 2000's Look to Windward) of the Culture, an interstellar posthuman civilization of incredible wealth and technological sophistication, centers on three siblings: Ferbin and Oramen, the misfit heirs of conquering King Hausk of the Sarl, who rules a backward and patriarchal realm deep beneath the surface of the artificial Shellworld Sursamen, and their exiled sister, Djan, now a powerful agent of the Culture's Special Circumstances division. When King Hausk is murdered, Ferbin narrowly avoids the conspirators and sets out across the galaxy to ask Djan's help with revenge against the killer, now serving as Oramen's regent. Soon they learn of the horrific forces a hidden enemy is about to unleash on Sursamen, and must race to save the home that has rejected them both. Beautifully written and filled with memorable characters and startling technology, this tale of intricate politics and interstellar warfare ably demonstrates that Banks is still at the height of his powers. (Mar.)
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From Bookmarks Magazine
It has been eight years since the last Culture novel, and critics have clearly missed Banks’s unique combination of galactic wonder and quirky humor. Their anticipation made for high standards, and for most critics, Matter exceeded them. Many fans of this universe enjoyed the way Banks mixes space opera with royal intrigue, though a few felt he does not quite pull off this cultural collision with his usual finesse. A more common complaint concerned the book’s length and pacing. While most reviewers were, in the end, happy to immerse themselves in 600 more pages of Culture, the novel’s heft may make it a poor entry point for readers hoping to pick up the series for the first time. It may be best to start with the first in the series, Consider Phlebas (1987).
Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

About the Author
Iain Banks came to controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. Consider Phlebas, his first science fiction novel, was published under the name Iain M. Banks in 1987. He is now widely acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting writers of his generation. Iain Banks lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. Find out more about Iain M. Banks at www.iainbanks.net.

Customer Reviews

A few responses to particularly dumb criticisms of Matter
Critic: Its a long book. Isn't that a bad thing.

Me: Boring is bad. Long is not. This isn't boring.

Critic: It doesn't push the boundaries of sci-fi, therefore its lame.

Me: Its interesting, creative, and intelligent. Thus by definition its pushing the boundaries of sci-fi.

Critic: But its meadering. It doesn't stay locked on the central plotline like a pitbull on bologna.

Me: Again, boring is bad, meandering isn't.

Critic: But...but...the ending! It doesn't end the way 95% of the books I've read end! That's bad!

Me: Did you take your medication this morning?

Critic: But, hold on there mister, I just didn't think it was the best book by Banks that I've ever read, therefore I was "disappointed".

Me: Are you high?

Great story
The scope of this story is huge but very finely crafted. The details are very carefully created to add texture to the larger overarching plot. A great addition to the Culture series of books but also a good standalone story.

Getting Disillusioned
After being disappointed with The Algebraist and now with Matter, I'm not much looking forward to any future Banks novels.

My thoughts on this most recent entry into the Culture Universe can be summed up with two points: too long and unbalanced. The book is simply too long, apparently Banks has reach that point where he no longer has to listen to editors, which is a shame as this book could have been great with a lot of trimming and a few revisions. Then there is the issue of how utterly rushed the conclusion is compared to the sheer amount of time spent setting up for the climax. And the epilogue, placed after the appendix for whatever reason, didn't make up for the short and bittersweet ending.

There were simply too many ideas on this book that were of little-to-no consequence and too many long passages that could easily have been shortened, if not completely skipped. This novel is nearly 600 pages but hardly contains enough real content for a 300 page novel, in my opinion. Hopefully on his next outing Banks will use an editor who can reign him in when he gets too "ambitious" again.