Can I read THE ALGEBRAIST?

March 7, 2016 1:32 AM

I have never read any of The Culture series- or anything else by Iain M Banks besides. I happen to have a copy of The Algrebaist in my possession somehow- will I be able to follow if I start from there? Will I miss out on a lot of the finer points if it is my introduction to The Culture?
posted by Philby to Media & Arts (15 answers total)

No, there isn't really a big overarching narrative through the Culture novels - more just a series of books in the same setting.
posted by bifter at 1:36 AM on March 7, 2016

The Algebraist isn't a Culture book; it's stand-alone. Likewise Feersum Endjinn and Against a Dark Background.

Also, while I liked it, my wife terminally bogged down with the bits with the antagonist, so you may want to tune-out/skim those bits.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:36 AM on March 7, 2016 [13 favorites]

I'd start the Culture series with Consider Phlebas or maybe Use of Weapons, but bifter is right that the books are mostly independent of one another.
posted by sebastienbailard at 1:38 AM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Nah just read it.
posted by wilful at 2:05 AM on March 7, 2016

The Algebraist isn't a Culture book; it's stand-alone. Likewise Feersum Endjinn and Against a Dark Background.

Yep, this.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 2:53 AM on March 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

The Algebraist is, as others have said, not part of The Culture universe. It's good, but much less utopian. It also has some bits in it which, if you don't like reading long, creative depictions of torture and sexual abuse, might put you off Banks or at least off your lunch. I've read the Culture novels several times each, but The Algebraist only twice. There are definitely some passages in there that are unpleasant to me.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:22 AM on March 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

Also, this comment from the recent Genre Tropes in SF thread provides a pretty decent capsule summary of some of the major differences between The Culture and The Algebraist.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 3:27 AM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Banks' books really tend to bog down until the last third, at which point the plot goes WHOOSH!
Don't get discouraged too early, is what I'm saying. If you reach the end and still don't like it, maybe Banks isn't for you.
posted by Omnomnom at 4:49 AM on March 7, 2016

To be honest I found The Algebraist my least favourite of all of IMB's books, so I wouldn't judge his works on that.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:56 AM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

I read it first and adored it, then went on to read the rest of his Culture books in more the typically-suggested order and have honestly always been a tad bit disappointed they aren't more like The Algebraist. Not that they aren't lovely books too!
posted by teremala at 9:37 AM on March 7, 2016

It's one of my favorite Iain M. Banks books. As said above, it's a self-contained universe, one I wish he had had time to return to. If you want to get into the Culture, I think Player of Games is the best introduction. I don't think it's the best Culture book (that's Use of Weapons). But it lays out the Culture universe more comprehensively than the others (with the possible exception of Look to Windward). Do not make the mistake I did and start with Inversions, as you will miss what is really going on (or at least I did) without knowledge of the Culture obtained from other books.
posted by Hactar at 9:45 AM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've read all of his books roughly in order, and 'The Algebraist' and 'Excession' are my favourites. Other Banks fans sometimes disagree with me on this.
posted by ovvl at 9:56 AM on March 7, 2016

if you don't like reading long, creative depictions of torture and sexual abuse

As more of his books feature a scene or two of gothic body horrors than not, I'd say if you can't tolerate at least some of this, then Banks isn't for you, M. or no M.
posted by bonehead at 10:46 AM on March 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

My wife read The Algebraist as her introduction to Banks and super did not like it. Mention of the Culture books (which this is not one of) to this day makes her shudder at the recollection of the torture scenes in this book (which, generally Culture books also do not have).

All Culture books are broadly speaking independent. This book is completely standalone.
My favourite (and thus the one I'd suggest starting out with all things being equal) is Player of Games.

But I'd say give it a read, since you have it.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 8:52 AM on March 9, 2016

Response by poster: Thanks all! It's been kind of hard getting into it-but I definitely see the potential!
posted by Philby at 5:28 PM on April 6, 2016