I started reading this a couple of years back, and abandoned it as hard going but eventually found my way back to it. I’m not a science fiction reader in general and this was out of my comfort zone. I’m glad I’ve read it, and a bit intrigued to read more about the universe it’s set in, but probably won’t find my way back to it any time soon. If science fiction is your kind of thing then you really won’t need me to tell you that Iain Banks is a master!