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Surface Detail
- Culture Series, Book 9
- Narrated by: Peter Kenny
- Length: 20 hrs and 22 mins
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Surface Detail
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Summary
The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.
The "War in Heaven", a simulated war game, rages between civilisations. Its virtual battles have been fought for decades, and the victors will decide the fate of the digital Hells - torturous artificial afterlives with horrors beyond imagination.
In the Sichultian Enablement, Y'breq is one of the Intagliated, her marked body bearing witness to a family shame, her life belonging to a man whose lust for power is without limit.
As the virtual war threatens to spill into the Real, Y'breq is willing to risk everything for her freedom - but she'll need the Culture, and its help comes at a price. The Culture is going to war with death itself.
The Culture series:
Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward
Matter
Surface Detail
The Hydrogen Sonata
The State of the Art
Other books by Iain M. Banks:
Against a Dark Background
Feersum Endjinn
The Algebraist
Critic reviews
'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson
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What listeners say about Surface Detail
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matthew
- 04-10-17
Excellent narrator, very enjoyable
As a fan of the books (and audiobooks), this was the first one I've listened by this narrator. The quality of character voices actually helped keep track of the plot and really added to my enjoyment. Great book, one of the better culture series, an epic!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Gavin Jones
- 04-02-17
A Joy
Any additional comments?
Though provoking. Action packed. And one of the very best Ship/Avatar/Bio relationships in any of The Culture novels.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Tired Parent
- 29-09-16
A great book... again.
Awsome story, excellent personalities for the ships and characters as usual in the culture novels, you can not beat Banks for truly epic Sci fi. Nice touch with Zakalwe too. A must read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Steve K
- 23-07-19
Outstanding!
I read this book, amongst others of iain banks years ago and loved them. I am not surprised to find it's as brilliant now as it was then, but I am surprised to discover that it's even better when listening to the story. Brilliantly written and amazingly read.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- mark
- 14-12-21
Great books
Love the culture series! I can read and reread Iain M Banks time and again.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Neal Warburton
- 16-08-21
Outstanding!
Best culture novel by far. Enjoyed every bit of it.
Demison is a ledgend
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Narom
- 08-01-24
The best of the series
The Culture series is special and thought provoking, none more so than this one. Touching, comical in places, it is a reflection of the complexities of the human condition and the daily battles we fight both internally and as a society.
The performance was fantastic as it always is by Peter Kenny.
It's great fun from start to finish.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Alasdair Scott
- 23-06-13
Banks + Kenny = Pefection
Would you listen to Surface Detail again? Why?
Peter Kenny is incredible. Basically I'll listen to anything he's done, his talent is that good.
What other book might you compare Surface Detail to, and why?
While this is definitely a Culture novel it feels more like "Look to Windward" in the sense that much of the main action takes place away from Orbitals, GSV's and Drones. Although don't worry - there's a fair share of Culture elements, including some wonderful "Ship" names.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Kenny's description of "hell" is pretty spooky.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
It's a long book, ideal for a holiday. There are five or six key characters and the plot jumps location for extended periods, so it's an idea to try an nail this is a few sittings rather than 30 minutes a day.
Any additional comments?
Iain M. Banks died last week. It's a terrible shame for his fans as I'm sure there were another two dozen Culture novels waiting in his incredible mind.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
- Jibrail
- 24-12-10
Pretty Good
A longish, complex but fascinating novel. If you're new to the world of The Culture, best start somewhere else and work your way up to this one. Good quality recording, well read and performed throughout.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Stephen Gordon
- 01-01-18
An intelligent sociopath
Forget about Hannibal Lecter, Dexter or any other earth bound serial killer. In Surface Detail Bank’s has created the Ultimate Serial Killer, a weapon heavy AI free from the compulsive cycle of murder, elation and shame.
Presented as a mischievous anti-Hero the ship ‘Falling Outside The Normal Moral Constraints’ is a look at what a predator with complete self-control is capable of wrapped up in an always engaging Culture story.
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