Banks likes twists. The Culture is his attempt at writing a viable techno utopia. Every other book has a more pro-culture viewpoint.
But if you're after 'good guys' and 'bad guys' Banks might not really be for you.
But if you're after 'good guys' and 'bad guys' Banks might not really be for you.
Edit:
CNN: Would you like to live in the Culture?
Iain M. Banks: Good grief yes, heck, yeah, oh it’s my secular heaven….Yes, I would, absolutely. Again it comes down to wish fulfillment. I haven’t done a study and taken lots of replies across a cross-section of humanity to find out what would be their personal utopia. It’s mine, I thought of it, and I’m going home with it — absolutely, it’s great.