Surface Detail cover art

Surface Detail

Culture Series, Book 9

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Surface Detail

By: Iain M. Banks
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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About this listen

The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.

The "War in Heaven", a simulated war game, rages between civilisations. Its virtual battles have been fought for decades, and the victors will decide the fate of the digital Hells - torturous artificial afterlives with horrors beyond imagination.

In the Sichultian Enablement, Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit.

As the virtual war threatens to spill into the Real, Y'breq is willing to risk everything for her freedom - but she'll need the Culture, and its help comes at a price. The Culture is going to war with death itself.

The Culture series:
Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward
Matter
Surface Detail
The Hydrogen Sonata
The State of the Art

Other books by Iain M. Banks:
Against a Dark Background
Feersum Endjinn
The Algebraist

©2010 Iain M. Banks (P)2010 Hachette Digital Science Fiction Fiction Mind-bending War Banking Game

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Critic reviews

'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson
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Where does Surface Detail rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is very near the best or the best of the culture novels

What does Peter Kenny bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He takes to computer revolution to a possible conclusion

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Want to live forever?

Any additional comments?

This book is very well structure the story is clear . It towers as a work of imagination and perhaps prophecy

Stunning imagination

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There is a deal of use of F and, specifically C words in the audiobook which makes for an occasionally uncomfortable moment, for me although it is not that gratuitous and is intrinsic to the character building. I am not a prude but I do feel it is disrespectful to women in general, and I think it is this aspect of the book which will date it most quickly. All science fiction is of its time, and listening again to some audiobooks of "classics" that I soaked up uncritically as a young man, I find the prevalent social attitudes at the time of creation can anchor the stories firmly in a past, less enlightened era, no matter how futuristic the story content is.
That caveat made I found the audiobook a wonderful excursion into Ian's splendid "Culture" universe, with much to enjoy, to wonder at the author's magnificent and inventive imagination, to smile with pleasure at moments of excitement., and to be enraptured and deeply involved by the fantastic descriptions of events no human will or ever could see in our mundane reality.
I was a little perturbed by the author's enthusiastic relation of events in cybernetic "hells" invented for masochismic alien religionists, but it did open the way for the author to take the rise out of elements in society that possibly deserve it.

Properly educated readers of literature often have a pop at science fiction for its supposed lack of characterisation.. I say let such myopic critics fester in their dreary, hidebound, rehearsals of the everyday mundane. Science Fiction is often broad-minded and imaginatively penetrative into society's ills and often comes equipped with some fairly deep thoughts on big scientific and philosophical questions, and sometimes it doesn't. Ian M.Stewart is basically about excellent entertainment within a well-realised universe broadly consistent with known science but never limited by it. He knew how to break the rules in pursuit of a good yarn, and he will be missed after a tragically early death. You don't need to have A-level Physics to enjoy his creations.

Lastly I need to say that the performance of the book by the audioartist was wonderful. Of all the audiobooks I have listened to this year it was the best. Energising, captivating and hugely enjoyable. I am going to look for more performances by this artist - he left me wanting more!

Ian M. Banks is a big loss to S.F. lovers

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this story has everything. revenge, politics, war, brilliant characters and a sci-fi core that is unrivalled in the genre. beautifully read by peter kenny.

contender for the best sci-fi story imho

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I almost can't imagine listening to a book narrated by someone else than Peter Kenny.

great narrator, great story

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best audiobook I've listened to, not sure what could possibly follow it.
definitely worth a listen

excellent

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I’ve been hooked on this series for a while, dabbled with the book-
books a number of years ago but these audiobooks make it so easy. It’s a complicated book, but, having a good narrator actually makes it easier to follow. The book itself - amazing concepts, and remarkably predictive of future/ current technology. I’m just bitter and twisted that I’m reaching the end of Banks’s work :(

Wow. I’ve loved the series, this is the best so far.

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A special circumstance happens when a new 'Culture' novel comes out and Surface Detail is no exception.

The narrative returns to a lower tech world grappling with maintaining their own beliefs in the face of vastly superior civilizations. As ever the story exists on a personal level but the actions of a few soon ripple out to impact upon the wider galaxy.

Banks is now so sure of the Culture genre that the story takes the fore and the 'tech' comfortably exists as if it has always been there. I can't imagine it not going that way you think to yourself.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Surface Detail is the deep exploration of what it is to exist even if your personality can be backed up. You can live for real, live in a virtual simulation , have your personality re vented into a new body or die, perchance to dream - ah there's the rub!

A Matter of After Life and Death

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A great interplanetary dash other banks usual humour, depth and viciousness. Could be a little chatty for some but I enjoyed every aspect of it. Better for less inter-mind chatter in this book. Long live the culture!

Awesome culture fun!

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As usual Peter Kenny's reading is spot on. This story has all the usual Banks tricks and flair, but somehow feels more comfortable, possibly because the story hangs together more. However what makes this excellent is the Ships who are the main characters with fully formed personalities and a complex web of other civilizations the Culture is interlinked with.

Please can we have Excession and Look To Windward read by Mr Kenny

Probably the best culture novel yet

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An interesting study of morality, revenge and how perspective describes the nature of an individuals reality.

One of his best.

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