Science Fiction

Inversions

Inversions

  • Downloads：6160
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-08-27 09:55:23
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Iain M. Banks
  • ISBN：1857237633
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

In the winter palace， the King's new physician has more enemies than she at first realizes， but she also has more remedies to hand than those who wish her ill can know about。 In another palace across the mountains， the chief bodyguard of the regicidal Protector General also has his enemies。

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Reviews

Emily ，

I don't mind that this book was basically not sci-fi in any way。 I don't mind that it doesn't have a lot of Culture references。 What I do mind is that when the book ended， I felt like， "What？ Was that it"？It was just a completely unsatisfactory ending - on both stories。 I plodded through a mostly boring book hoping that in the end it would be worth it。 It was not。 I don't mind that this book was basically not sci-fi in any way。 I don't mind that it doesn't have a lot of Culture references。 What I do mind is that when the book ended， I felt like， "What？ Was that it"？It was just a completely unsatisfactory ending - on both stories。 I plodded through a mostly boring book hoping that in the end it would be worth it。 It was not。 。。。more

Jeff ，

6/10

arkadi cloud ，

https://blog。arkadi。one/inversions-by。。。 https://blog。arkadi。one/inversions-by。。。 。。。more

Titus Fortner ，

I'm conflicted rating this book。 In spite of the general lack of action， the plot is well paced and engaging。 The back and forth between the two storylines was not nearly as confusing as what we got in _Use of Weapons_。 The book is obviously well crafted， and I'm almost tempted to grab a copy of Culture Series of Iain M。 Banks: A Critical Introduction to better explore the things I know I missed。 That said， I didn't find the overall book nearly as enjoyable as I wanted， with very little direct r I'm conflicted rating this book。 In spite of the general lack of action， the plot is well paced and engaging。 The back and forth between the two storylines was not nearly as confusing as what we got in _Use of Weapons_。 The book is obviously well crafted， and I'm almost tempted to grab a copy of Culture Series of Iain M。 Banks: A Critical Introduction to better explore the things I know I missed。 That said， I didn't find the overall book nearly as enjoyable as I wanted， with very little direct reference to the Culture or science fiction in general， so ultimately 3。5 stars rounded down。 。。。more

Martin ，

Boy， is this a slippery one。 Banks managed to write a non-Culture Culture novel。 Inversions is the sixth novel in the Culture series， but it's only between the lines of this medieval fantasy filled with court intrigue and battle plans that you catch small， subtle glimpses of Banks' galaxy-spanning utopia。 What's remarkable， though， is that the novel works whether you catch the glimpses or not。 Boy， is this a slippery one。 Banks managed to write a non-Culture Culture novel。 Inversions is the sixth novel in the Culture series， but it's only between the lines of this medieval fantasy filled with court intrigue and battle plans that you catch small， subtle glimpses of Banks' galaxy-spanning utopia。 What's remarkable， though， is that the novel works whether you catch the glimpses or not。 。。。more

WY Rob ，

A 'Culture' novel？ Hardly。 A 'Culture' novel？ Hardly。 。。。more

Stefan ，

This was a good story， not amazing， not really Sci-Fi and not even fantasy。 So a bit unexpected， but not bad。

W。K。 Adams ，

Inversions is a book that changes when you understand that it is a Culture novel。 As an unabashed Culture nerd， I'll admit that the different way this story was told was a bit off-putting， at first。 It isn't the first time Banks has looked at the titular Culture from the outside - Consider Phlebas was also written with an outside character as the POV - but this is， by far， the most immersive of the series that is written in this way。If you're looking for the high technology， the snarky and ultra Inversions is a book that changes when you understand that it is a Culture novel。 As an unabashed Culture nerd， I'll admit that the different way this story was told was a bit off-putting， at first。 It isn't the first time Banks has looked at the titular Culture from the outside - Consider Phlebas was also written with an outside character as the POV - but this is， by far， the most immersive of the series that is written in this way。If you're looking for the high technology， the snarky and ultra-intelligent minds， or the wonderfully diverse and deviant main characters that the Culture series often follows， you might find yourself disappointed by this book， which takes place almost entirely in a quasi-medieval setting with characters who are very much steeped in their relatively backwards surroundings。 There are just enough foreign elements to remind you that you're not on Earth， but beyond that， there are only a handful of distractions from this book's far more barbaric sequence of events。This probably isn't the book you want to read to introduce yourself to the Culture series。 Inversions is best read with some knowledge of the Culture， because really， it's about how certain Culture citizens - Banks trusts you to figure out exactly which characters are from the Culture， not telling you outright - live in a society which is far more primitive than the paradise they came from。 。。。more

Marek ，

Banks dedicates the entire book to a mediaeval world in the Culture universe， so there is effectively nothing science-fiction-y about it。 I feel like Banks felt the need to write this， maybe it helped him flesh out his understanding of the universe or something。 But for me the detailed （so， so detailed） exploration of petty politics， court intrigue， and indirect references to a far-off war were just tedious and unsatisfying。 I felt almost tricked into reading this - hey wait a sec， this isn't sc Banks dedicates the entire book to a mediaeval world in the Culture universe， so there is effectively nothing science-fiction-y about it。 I feel like Banks felt the need to write this， maybe it helped him flesh out his understanding of the universe or something。 But for me the detailed （so， so detailed） exploration of petty politics， court intrigue， and indirect references to a far-off war were just tedious and unsatisfying。 I felt almost tricked into reading this - hey wait a sec， this isn't science-fiction！ 。。。more

Laurie ，

Another idiosyncratic entry in the Culture series， as ever well-written and engrossing。 Two tales， being told in sequential chapters， in a landscape somewhat medieval - a world of crossbows and torturers， Kings and Dukes - at first this annoyed me， as this book， while enjoyable， has no intersection or relationship with any of the other Culture novels。 It is barely SF - a few unearthly animals， different celestial bodies， a Doctor who knows modern medical terms and techniques - without those elem Another idiosyncratic entry in the Culture series， as ever well-written and engrossing。 Two tales， being told in sequential chapters， in a landscape somewhat medieval - a world of crossbows and torturers， Kings and Dukes - at first this annoyed me， as this book， while enjoyable， has no intersection or relationship with any of the other Culture novels。 It is barely SF - a few unearthly animals， different celestial bodies， a Doctor who knows modern medical terms and techniques - without those elements it could be a historical fantasy。 Still， Banks is such a skilled writer that the well-told tales subdued my pique， and I enjoyed this pleasant read。 。。。more

Stacy ，

In Banks'usual brilliant way the story talks about so much more than what is written， challenging and thought provoking。 In Banks'usual brilliant way the story talks about so much more than what is written， challenging and thought provoking。 。。。more

Ericdedwar ，

This one is a culture book by the skin of its medieval teeth。 I loved the dual storylines， and if one doesn't really know The Culture， and also pay attention， the connections are so subtle they'll sneak right by。 Culture or not it's still Banks and therefore still great。 You can tell in some of these that he's trying to re-invent The Culture a little bit in each installment， and succeeding beyond what is reasonable to expect。 This one is a culture book by the skin of its medieval teeth。 I loved the dual storylines， and if one doesn't really know The Culture， and also pay attention， the connections are so subtle they'll sneak right by。 Culture or not it's still Banks and therefore still great。 You can tell in some of these that he's trying to re-invent The Culture a little bit in each installment， and succeeding beyond what is reasonable to expect。 。。。more

Andrew Bush ，

Amazing as always

Mikołaj ，

Z jednej strony wspaniale przeczytać kolejną świetną książkę Banksa， z drugiej - wielki smutek że to ostatni tom Kultury i więcej nie będzie :（

Taueret ，

If you're new to the Culture， don't read this one first or early。 Read a bunch of others， then this will make sense。 That said， even though I miss everything that you normally find in a Culture novel， I loved this inversion。 If you're new to the Culture， don't read this one first or early。 Read a bunch of others， then this will make sense。 That said， even though I miss everything that you normally find in a Culture novel， I loved this inversion。 。。。more

Test User ，

Excellent

Abhi ，

Quite hard to figure out when the plot thickens but it thickened and became soapy。 Fun read nevertheless and delightfully short。

Simon Ford ，

Excellent！

Mike Stavrakis ，

Definitely the most unique of the Culture books I’ve read thus far; reads more like fantasy than sci fi which may explain the divisive opinions of this book that I have heard of。 Overall， it had its slow points in the beginning but after a third of the way through， I couldn’t put it down。

Ronnie Bunshaft ，

A fine book but I was totally thrown off。 In no way does this seem like a culture series book and it's just flat out wrong to even call it science fiction。 This is effectively a story told in a medieval era earth-like planet。 I didn't particularly care about the characters and there was very little plot。 Just seemingly telling stories for stories sake in a diary format。 Not impressive。 A fine book but I was totally thrown off。 In no way does this seem like a culture series book and it's just flat out wrong to even call it science fiction。 This is effectively a story told in a medieval era earth-like planet。 I didn't particularly care about the characters and there was very little plot。 Just seemingly telling stories for stories sake in a diary format。 Not impressive。 。。。more

Nick Barth ，

In a break from my callous shit jokes， Iain M Banks is my favorite author。 This was the final book of his that I hadn't read， and even though it was byfar the weakest of his culture series， he was still the god damn man， and the day he died the collective imagination on this planet dropped by 30%。 In a break from my callous shit jokes， Iain M Banks is my favorite author。 This was the final book of his that I hadn't read， and even though it was byfar the weakest of his culture series， he was still the god damn man， and the day he died the collective imagination on this planet dropped by 30%。 。。。more

Derk Zomer ，

A tad too little mention of Culture and Special Circumstances to my liking but still a very thoughtful story。

Wesley Fenza ，

I didn't finish this one。 This was another where Banks just goes off on tangent after tangent， introducing what felt like hundreds of characters who I couldn't keep straight， and an extremely slow paced plot。 I only made it through about half。 I didn't finish this one。 This was another where Banks just goes off on tangent after tangent， introducing what felt like hundreds of characters who I couldn't keep straight， and an extremely slow paced plot。 I only made it through about half。 。。。more

Arnab Chakraborty ，

I'm quite surprised that this is widely considered one of the worst Culture novels。 I think it's the best one I've read so far。 I'm quite surprised that this is widely considered one of the worst Culture novels。 I think it's the best one I've read so far。 。。。more

Sara Maddock ，

Ugh I saved this， one of the last Banks books I haven't read。 Unfortunately， not the best。 The Culture is a barest hint and only because I'm a mega fan， and otherwise the story wasn't as interesting as usual。 Ugh I saved this， one of the last Banks books I haven't read。 Unfortunately， not the best。 The Culture is a barest hint and only because I'm a mega fan， and otherwise the story wasn't as interesting as usual。 。。。more

Mew Manley ，

I found myself constantly waiting for the culture to show signs of it presence， but still not bothered by it at all， because you get absorbed in the characters and their stories。 By the time the culture does "show its face" it's all the more satisfying。 And as always， Iain Banks' perspective fills me with optimism。 I found myself constantly waiting for the culture to show signs of it presence， but still not bothered by it at all， because you get absorbed in the characters and their stories。 By the time the culture does "show its face" it's all the more satisfying。 And as always， Iain Banks' perspective fills me with optimism。 。。。more

Jolyon ，

This was the audiobook version - production of which I can't fault。 Working my way through the Culture novels and I understood from the beginning this was a bit of a departure。 This has been my least favourite of the series so far。 It's not terrible by any means， but there just isn't a lot going on plot wise and the twists are pretty predictable。 This was the audiobook version - production of which I can't fault。 Working my way through the Culture novels and I understood from the beginning this was a bit of a departure。 This has been my least favourite of the series so far。 It's not terrible by any means， but there just isn't a lot going on plot wise and the twists are pretty predictable。 。。。more

Jacob Williams ，

Ah 。。。 the luxury of being able to say No。 Even though not much happens， I found this relatively difficult to put down。 I enjoyed it quite a bit， but I doubt it will prove as memorable for me as most of the other books in the series。

Gavin Clark ，

"Truth， I have learned， differs for everybody。"Baffled by the good reviews。 2 stories are told chapter about。 Neither engaging， neither with characters or plot to bother or care about。 Not sure I could *spoil* anything here but。。。The fact its included in the culture series， numbered 6， is in fact the biggest spoiler in the book 。 As you get into it you know the 2 protagonists must be culture agents not from the story but from the Cuture #6 label。 Though but for 2 moments， and one of those is 1 i "Truth， I have learned， differs for everybody。"Baffled by the good reviews。 2 stories are told chapter about。 Neither engaging， neither with characters or plot to bother or care about。 Not sure I could *spoil* anything here but。。。The fact its included in the culture series， numbered 6， is in fact the biggest spoiler in the book 。 As you get into it you know the 2 protagonists must be culture agents not from the story but from the Cuture #6 label。 Though but for 2 moments， and one of those is 1 irrelevant， this is not really a Culture novel。 There maybe subtle nods and references in there but ultimately， so what， I think they just serve to fool fans of the series into thinking this is better， cleverer than it really is 。 The odd phrase referencing a "special circumstance" does not make the preceding 400 pages any better。Zoned out through lots of this 。 Maybe I missed all the subtlety - though I dont think so。Hope #7 is better。 。。。more

Chris ，

I read this book very quickly， and enjoyed it， but most of by thoughts about it are meta-textual。 I'm interested in what labelling this "a Culture novel" does to the story。 I don't think I'm spoiling the book， but since this relies on information outside the book I'll put it in the spoilers tag。（view spoiler）[Having read other Culture books， this is clearly a Culture story。 But there aren't any explicit references in the book itself。 DeWar's children's story is pretty clear， but only if the read I read this book very quickly， and enjoyed it， but most of by thoughts about it are meta-textual。 I'm interested in what labelling this "a Culture novel" does to the story。 I don't think I'm spoiling the book， but since this relies on information outside the book I'll put it in the spoilers tag。（view spoiler）[Having read other Culture books， this is clearly a Culture story。 But there aren't any explicit references in the book itself。 DeWar's children's story is pretty clear， but only if the reader if familiar with the contept of the Culture from other sources。 If you hadn't read any other Culture stories and if the volume wasn't labelled "Culture #6， I don't think you'd have any idea of the larger Banksean universe。Having that knowledge changes how I perceived some fairly trivial things about the story。 It was fairly clear early on， for example， that the Doctor was from the Culture and was probably some kind of Special Circumstances agent。 Understanding that， it was also pretty easy to guess what her blunt， battered dagger really was。 The DeWar side of the story was a little more mysterious， although the stories he starts to tell midway through the book spill the beans。 All those things change the stakes significantly。 Knowing the Doctor has a knife-missile means knowing that she's not nearly as vulnerable as Oleph believes， for instance。More significantly， knowing this is a Culture story changes the meaning of the book entirely。 The other Culture books， at least the ones I've read， are usually not directly about the Culture but about outsiders who are visiting， working with， or fighting against it。 Inversions takes that to a whole new level， because the outsiders aren't even aware of the Culture's existence。 This is an examination of a Special Circumstances mission （missions？） entirely from the perspective of the subject。That's really cool， and there are some very clever things Banks does with this。 For example， Oleph's narrative is explicitly patriarchal about the Doctor as a woman， but Banks is able to simultaneously portray her positively。 There's also the usual Culture debates about the propriety of interfering with other people。 If the Doctor and DeWar are both Culture， which seems likely， then they take quite different approaches。 Neither works out as intended， although if the discussion of "good king Lattens" in the epilogue is reliable， then possibly DeWar's methods were more effective in the medium term。This is a reach， but there are also several references to an event in the relatively recent past where fire fell from the sky。 Was this planet the inadvertant victim of an accident or conflict of some kind that involved the Culture？ Is that why Vosill and DeWar are there？ Is that why DeWar seems guilty about what happened to Perrund during the war？ It's suggested that the disaster destabilized an empire and led to the civil war， so does he feel indirectly responsible？（hide spoiler）]But what if you didn't know about the Culture and/or didn't know this was a Culture novel？ I feel like you would definitely lose a lot of the nuance about what's going， since the story would read as a historical fantasy about two largely unrelated characters。 One of the things that makes the novel interesting， though， is that I think that story would work on its own。 The resolution would be a little unsatisfying， but Doctor Vosill， DeWar， and the rest are interesting enough characters， and there's an interesting enough narrative。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Inversions

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Inversions&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Inversions&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0