Ian Stewart
The intertwined story structure is innovative, but it took me a while to read this, as I found myself putting it down whenever it was time to switch from one of the forward-moving present tense chapters to a backward-looking flashback chapter. Also, the twist at the end and the buildup to it failed to grab me. Once again, though, Banks' depiction of an agent for the Culture's Contact section provokes worthwhile reflection upon similar characters in our own reality.
2 people found this review helpful
John Lilburn
By far my least favorite Culture book. Did not flow well and the premise is fatally flawed, even by sci-fi standards. Too many loose ends and unexplainable plot twists.
5 people found this review helpful
Keith King
I am really beginning to enjoy Mr. Banks' books. Possibly a worthy successor to Sir Arthur C. Clarke, and that's the highest form of praise I know for a British author.
1 person found this review helpful