by Ken MacLeod
First published 2018
Ken MacLeod tackles the full spectrum of Iain M. Banks's science fiction output in this scholarly examination. MacLeod argues that while Banks's literary fiction has dominated critical discussions, his SF deserves equal attention and analysis. The study covers both the celebrated Culture series and the overlooked standalone novels like "The Algebraist," "Feersum Endjinn," and "Against a Dark Background." MacLeod traces how academic interest in Banks's SF grew slowly from 1996 onward, then surged after the author's death in 2013. Rather than treating each work in isolation, MacLeod identifies recurring themes and unique connections that bind Banks's science fiction together as a coherent body of work. This analysis offers readers both an introduction to Banks's lesser-known SF novels and fresh insights into the philosophical underpinnings of his imagined futures.
Genres: science-fiction, literary-criticism, literary-fiction, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic, philosophical
279 pages · Paperback · Gylphi Limited