Finally discovered Asher

[camouflage]

Most of the way through The Technician by Neal Asher. Pretty surprised I didn't get into his stuff that time I read one of his other books (don't recall the name) but I guess that one just wasn't one of his better books. Having said that I have an app read to me these days, I barely recall what it's like to operate one of those paper-blocky things where the touch screen doesn't work, so maybe it's the voice-actor that's made this one good.

Ashers The Polity can't not be compared to Bank's The Culture, so far the impression I get is The Polity is a lot less shy about power and displays thereof, and comes across as a lot less... cerebral as a creation, with its godlike AI's liking to dress up as big scary predators like a giant black scorpion for example. Compared to the Minds over in the Culture, the Polity kind of reeks of effort. Try-hards iykwim. I reckon in a fight the Culture would definitely win. (also bat-man vs superman- superman obvs).

Anyway comparisons aside I am really enjoying this one, I can't believe and feel a little embarrassed that I'v been getting by on Hamiltons stuff for my space-opera fix all this time (only because there were some special moments in his stories that struck me when I read them, but that was my own imagination doing most of the heavy-lifting). So, will definitely give more of Ashers stuff a try. I chose the Technician because it didn't seem to be part of a series although the characters look like they've been mentioned elsewhere. I'm up for more of a commitment next time, so I welcome any recommendations on which of his Polity stuff to read next.

 

[DotCommunist]

deffo do the Spatterjay sequence and the Line of Polity sequence

Ashers The Polity can't not be compared to Bank's The Culture, so far the impression I get is The Polity is a lot less shy about power and displays thereof, and comes across as a lot less... cerebral as a creation, with its godlike AI's liking to dress up as big scary predators like a giant black scorpion for example. Compared to the Minds over in the Culture, the Polity kind of reeks of effort. Try-hards iykwim. I reckon in a fight the Culture would definitely win. (also bat-man vs superman- superman obvs).

see it as a brash, young strand of humanity/AI- something that might make up one of the dozen or so human cultures we come to know as The Culture

anything involving the Prador is usually good.

 

[maomao]

I've started two and can't get past first twenty pages. Is it worth persevering? I was looking for a Banks replacement I guess this thread just confirms Asher isn't that.

 

[DotCommunist]

I've started two and can't get past first twenty pages. Is it worth persevering? I was looking for a Banks replacement I guess this thread just confirms Asher isn't that.

I'd say its worth it, but banks it is not. Like comparing a vintage wine to a hearty table wine. *adjusts monocle*

 

[DotCommunist]

you want Anne Leckie, the Ancillary sequence

 

[lazythursday]

I couldn't get on with the first Ancillary at all, managed a few chapters. Basically after Banks all space opera sci fi is disappointing and egregiously lacking the Culture and trying to read any is just masochism. I have a couple of Culture books left unread I am planning to do one every ten years or so to drag it out.

 

[fucthest8]

you want Anne Leckie, the Ancillary sequence

I liked those a lot, but they're pretty, um, lightweight I guess, next to Banks. Some great ideas though and def worth a read.

 

[xenon]

Started reading the Polity series recently. First 3 books anyway. It's not gripping me like the Culture stuff if I'm honest. And I'm finding Dragon a bit tedious. The cliche military hardman stuff is a bit irritating too.

That said, there's enough there to make me pick up the next one at some point. And Mr Crane is a great character.

 

[DotCommunist]

yeah its got more than a little of a mil/scifi theme running through the Polity books. The Spatterjay books (same universe, different story) isn't so heavy on that.

 

[xenon]

I liked the first Ancillary book, though it is a bit slow and enough already with the tea ceromony stuff.

 

[xenon]

yeah its got more than a little of a mil/scifi theme running through the Polity books. The Spatterjay books (same universe, different story) isn't so heavy on that.

Yeah I read the blurb on those. The water world place? Will check them out at some point.

I've been listening to Chasm City again recently. Really great naration on the Audible version, (John Lee.) Shame that universe has gone...

 

[Mordi]

Basically after Banks all space opera sci fi is disappointing and egregiously lacking the Culture and trying to read any is just masochism. I have a couple of Culture books left unread I am planning to do one every ten years or so to drag it out.

I definitely think this is the best course of action. I'm planning to do the same with the few of his non-Culture (though it's not always that clear) stuff I haven't already read and gradually re-read all the Iain M. Banks works in sequence.

Now I'm all sad again.

I liked Ann Leckie's series (I really enjoyed the depiction of multiple bodies sharing identity), but wasn't aware they were being touted as Banks substitutes until afterwards. They're good books, but I don't think anyone else writes SF that fills that void.

 

[dessiato]

It's brimful I believe.