Unlike many science fiction series which tend to
work linearly, continuing the story lines of favorite characters book after
book, Iain Banks’ Culture series has the benefit of being open to any variety
of new characters, settings, and plots. Like
pieces of a pie, with each new Culture offering, more of the Banks’ universe is
set before the reader. Fresh tech, new AI
personalities, and whole, previously unexplored corners of his galaxy are exposed
in detail. After six books and an eight
year hiatus from the series, Banks returns in 2008 with Matter, proving there is still plenty more pie to be eaten.
Matter
is the story of the three Hausk siblings: the oldest Anaplian, the middle Ferbin,
and the youngest, Oramen. Born and
raised on the middle level of an artificial planet structured like an onion (called
Sursamen), life is not always easy. Their
quality of life existing at a state circa the US Civil War, steam power,
rifles, and the telegraph are beginning to take shape, but battles are still largely
fought with horse and sword. After
witnessing the murder of their father the king, Ferbin runs into exile and
attempts to escape to the surface of Sursamen and ask their sponsor species for
help in revenge. Believing his father to
have been killed in battle, Oramen, too young to take power, willingly allows
the rebel tyl Loesp regency but soon finds himself evading assassination.
