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  • Consider Phlebas

  • Culture Series, Book 1
  • By: Iain M. Banks
  • Narrated by: Peter Kenny
  • Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (430 ratings)

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Consider Phlebas cover art

Consider Phlebas

By: Iain M. Banks
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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Publisher's Summary

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.
War rages across the galaxy. Billions have died, billions more are doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, face cold-blooded, brutal destruction. The Idirans ­fight for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles are at stake. There can be no surrender.

Within this cosmic conflict, a crucial battle of wits is waged. Deep within a fabled labyrinth, on a Planet of the Dead forbidden to mortals, lies a fugitive Mind. Both the Culture and the Idirans desperately seek it. It is the fate of Horza, the Changer, and his motley crew of unpredictable mercenaries, human and machine, to actually ­find it - and with it their own destruction.

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

©1987 Iain M. Banks (P)2010 Hachette Digital

Critic Reviews

'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson

What listeners say about Consider Phlebas

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
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    4 out of 5 stars

good if somewhat longer than necessary

enjoyed the story but struggled to finish. i thought the postscript did not do justice to the story

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant universe. Decent plot and characters

Didn't focus on the things I found interesting like the Culture and the Idirans and their conflict, technology and ideologies. instead all of of that just formed a backdrop. The main character was unlikable at times and one chapter was hard to stomach but other than that a good read!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Witty, intelligent writing.

Although not hard science this book is rich in the possibilities of the enormous engineering constructions of the far future. Beautifully written, witty and intelligent. The reading is also superb.

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2 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Up and Down

Book starts well with some 'thats cool' moments and then descends into large sections of mediocrity. There are large sections of writing that are just boring, entirely irreverent to the story/plotline and it was a challenge to sit through because of how long they extended on and on. Did not like how it all ended.

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1 person found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars

cool universe, boring story.

random chapters of time with great detail that lead nowhere.

final chapters became boring and repetitive and I ended up having to skip sections out of impatience.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic and exciting

Great character development, a wonderful story, and the performance by Peter Kenny is flawless. A great opening outing into Banks’ series. Horza is a super memorable character, as are some of the supporting cast. Definitely recommend to any fans of sci fi.

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1 person found this helpful

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A worthwhile trip into the future

Quite a artfully constructed future, easy to listen. A brilliant escapism of future fantasy, poses reflective prompts to being back to today.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Thoroughly enjoyed this one!

I don’t usually go in for science fiction but this was recommended in a podcast by Lex Friedman speaking to Elon Musk.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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The worst of the culture novels

Truly drags , Excession is so much better avoid this one.
The worst scenes are with characters going on and on about their “philosophy” very dull .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Iain Banks is unparalleled

Great place to start with Iain Banks’ culture “series” although going in random ordering was no less enjoyable for me first time through all his books. Genius. Can’t believe it’s from 1987. Stands up to, and surpasses most (hard ) sci fi since . Really can’t recommend enough. His universe creation, and trust in the reader to think a bit is perfect

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