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Excession

Excession

Science FictionSpace Opera
Pages
499
Published
1997
Language
English

Synopsis

A mysterious artifact, a black sphere that appeared and vanished millennia ago, has returned. This time, its reappearance threatens to ignite a conflict between powerful factions within the Culture. As the artifact's true purpose remains unknown, the fate of civilizations hangs in the balance.

Prose complexity
7/10

Vibe

TenseMysteriousThought-ProvokingComplex
Morally Grey

Genres

Science Fiction Space Opera Literary Fiction

About the author

I
Iain Banks

Iain Banks (16 February 1954 – 9 June 2013) was a Scottish author. He wrote mainstream fiction under the name Iain Banks, and science fiction as Iain M. Banks, including the initial of his adopted middle name Menzies. In 2008, The Times named Banks in their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". Source: Wikipedia

Characters

The ExcessionSupporting
All characters in Excession

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Excession need to be read in order with other Culture novels?

    While Excession is part of Iain M. Banks's Culture series, it functions as a standalone story. New readers can begin with this novel without having read previous books in the series, as it introduces its own distinct conflict and characters.

  • What makes Excession unique among Iain M. Banks's Culture books?

    Excession is notable for its extensive focus on the Minds, the hyper-intelligent artificial intelligences of the Culture, and their intricate political maneuvering. The narrative is largely driven by their internal communications and perspectives, offering a deeper dive into their complex society than many other books in the series.