#110 Outside context problem: Excession (1996) by Iain M. Banks -

#110 Outside context problem: Excession (1996) by Iain M. Banks

Listen now

Description

Get in touch with a text message! Winner of the BSFA Award for Best Novel, Excession (1996) is the fourth novel in Iain M. Banks ever-popular Culture series of SF novels. In this entry, the awesome power of the post-scarcity Culture civilisation is challenged by two linked threats. One is the increasing aggression of a cruel species, the Affront. The other is the emergence of a vast and mysterious structure, the Excession. On one level a classic "big dumb object" story, Excession explores previously unseen elements of the Culture setting - not least the workings of its super-intelligent AIs. Support the Show. For lots more writing on classic science fiction, other books, video games, and more check our my site andyjohnson.xyz and follow me on Twitter: @andyjohnsonuk

More Episodes

See all »

#128 Space and the mind: The Black Corridor (1969) by Michael Moorcock and Hilary Bailey

The hugely prolific Michael Moorcock is credited with making a major contribution to New Wave science fiction, mainly due to his editorship of the pivotal British magazine New Worlds. Moorcock wrote relatively few science fiction novels, certainly compared to his huge output of fantasy work,...

Published 09/16/24

Classic SF with Andy Johnson

Published 09/16/24

#127 Science fiction in disguise: Inversions (1998) by Iain M. Banks

The time has come to continue exploring Iain M. Banks' Culture series. Inversions is the fifth of nine novels, and also the last to be published in the 1990s. This time, Banks stretched himself further than ever before, experimenting with a radically different view of his post-scarcity setting....

Published 09/05/24