A reread of an old favourite. I still really enjoy it and though it's not my absolute favourite Banks book, it's in the running for a spot at the top. I love the writing, the characters, their stories, the layers. The puzzling out what's actually going on and lack of a true, definitive, answer is delicious. Do not read as a first Culture novel. If you appreciate sci-fi, absolutely do read it (ignoring the fact that at first glance it doesn't look like sci-fi) and the rest of the Culture series.