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Use of Weapons, by Iain M. Banks
This was a sort of different one from Banks. It felt that he really wanted to write a war drama, or at least episodes of one, and the
trappings of the Culture which is the real appeal for me were significantly downplayed. The technique he employed of alternating
chapters closing in on the plot from two different temporal directions was to be appreciated, though overall felt more confusing that interesting most often.
I don't think that I expected such a heavy, thoughtful, detailed and challenging read when I sat down with 'Use of Weapons' which has
left me sort of unsure how I feel about it. The fact that I wasn't prepared for those efforts, even having read 2 of Banks' books previously, shows
that I need to be more honest about his strength as a compelling author, and not just a slinger of Space Operas.
After reading Goshawk Squadron - another war novel, though this one set on Earth - perhaps I was actually looking for some mindless popcorn.
As a result of that toggling between threads of story, each chapter was in danger of feeling somewhat isolated, more like a collection
of short stories tied together only by the central character who was present in them all.
He managed to build a somewhat more clear ending than in the previous two Culture novels, though with a similar result that the reader
will recognize upon reaching that point. The heroics of the drone in the last few pages stand as the most fun I had with the book,
proving what I actually come to these novels for.
I figure it’s still worth pushing forward with his series so will see what the next one holds - hopefully a little more sci-fi and less warfare.
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