Not sure why I didn't rate this a 5 the first time. It's the first Banks novel I read (I believe), and it's responsible for getting me "into" the author, as well as the art of Michael Whalen, who painted the beautiful cover. I am in the midst of re-reading it, only because I'd run out of steam on the other novel I was reading, and wanted a "sure thing". It's sucked me back in, and I'm definitely finding it quite enjoyable the second time through. (Though it likely helps that it's been long enough that I remember basically nothing about the plot from the first time.)

Edit: finished it, was not disappointed. If you can get past the one plot line that is written in its own English (definitely difficult to read), then this is one of Banks' better books, IMO.