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| Author: Iain M. Banks
Publisher: Orbit
Category: Book
List Price: $25.99
Buy New: $13.53
You Save: $12.46 (48%)
New (40) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $13.48
Avg. Customer Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 5932
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 608
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.9
Dimensions (in): 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.9
ISBN: 0316005363
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.914
EAN: 9780316005364
ASIN: 0316005363
Publication Date: February 27, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new item. Over 3.5 million customers served. Order now. Selling online since 1995. Few left in stock - order soon. Code: H20080716212310T
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| Customer Reviews:
 what happened? June 3, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
As a great fan of Ian Banks and the Culture series, I could read 600 or 6000 pages without finding it too long and many of the ideas (such as Shellworlds and the mystery of their purpose) are quite interesting and fun. But Matter has such a rushed and sketchy ending that it's ultimately unsatisfying. If the brief ending is intended to tell us how fragile life is and how war really occurs, then this is done in a way that is pretty sophomoric and not very compelling. Also, many of the characters seem underdeveloped and none, other than a few AIs, are very sympathetic. And without spoiling the ending any further, to have a god-like (apparent) bad guy AI tricked in a simple fashion by the (apparent and frankly not very compelling) hero seems almost silly. Altogether, it feels like the publisher got antsy about the deadline and said "turn in your work now!" when it wasn't really finished. Too bad, because this is one of the most creative and stimulating Sci Fi series out there and Matter v2.0 could have been quite good.
Phone It In May 28, 2008
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
Banks has always been an inventive creator. That said, the Matter here is, well just not so hot, a barely second level effort. Wait for the used paperback on this one. Imagine using the idea, in the super hi-tech Culture, that one of the key characters has to take six months to go from A to B, instead of less than a week, because of airline (opps, spaceship) schedules. And the "world" involved runs on steam engines (lucky are we it was not swords and magic). Much like his last work, also semi-disappointing, this book has a schizoid heart - we talk a lot about the Culture, which, to be honest, is why people buy the book (smart alecky drones, super "minds", interstellar do-gooders and mercenaries, evil aliens getting theirs in the end), but, since Iain is bored with all that, instead we have to slog through some tedious "quest saga" (literally mud and ice and a choo choo train) with displaced princes, loyal but dense servants, and evil throne usurpers. Even Banks eventually loses interest in the "hero"--a sort of wimpy sap who ends up dead 3/4 of the way through - and who cares. Meanwhile, well off-stage, something...well the plot is taking place, not that you'll ever see it. If you take this on a plane, leave it for the hotel maid and don't bother to bring it home.
 Great World Building, and plenty of irony May 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have come to admire Iain Banks' scifi works, and Matter is no exception
he drew the main characters well and provided a vivid set of landscapes for them to experience and change. Two of the three siblings developed remarkably well under their set of stresses, which makes the ending a bit of surprise. His descriptions of the environment were very powerful and his imagination was especially strong in this one. The contrast in outlooks between the culture, other advanced civilizations and the not so well developed denziens of various planets were amusing and thoughtful.
The ending left a few open questions that could have been resolved with a few extra pages, too bad he did not bother. This is not his best scifi book, but i enjoyed it nonetheless, and did not mind that i got the hardcover book, as opposed ot my usual paperback investment.
 Well Written But Poorly Plotted and Very Self Indulgent May 21, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is the first Iain M. Banks that I have read and, for the most part, I'm sadly disappointed.
Banks is a skillful writer, in that any given page is well constructed and interesting. But plotting and character development are dismal. This 600 page book contains the kernel of a great 300 page novel. Hundreds of pages seem like filler. Perhaps Mr. Banks feels his "Culture" universe is so fascinating in general that he can just drone on about it's denizens and the reader will be content.
There are only a handful of main characters and most of them are weakly developed and poorly motivated. Major plot themes are developed and then aborted. And, when I was finished reading (and skimming in parts), I was amazed at how little actually happened.
Mr. Banks has talent. But he sure could use a hearty dose of self-discipline as well as the talents of a tough editor.
Anti-matter May 16, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
Perhaps Iain M. Banks has arrived at the stage of his career where he cannot be edited. That would be a shame as his writing speaks to me very directly. Matter seems overlong for no good reason. It also seems like Banks wasn't sure he was writing a Culture novel as the bulk of the book has nothing to do with the Culture. However, I'm sure putting 'A Culture Novel' on the front cover will boost sales. 'Look to Windward' was a far more entertaining recent culture novel. I also felt (the non-Culture universe) 'The Algebraist' was, in general, a better novel than 'Matter'.
Where Iain M. Banks gets things right is writing within a character's voice. Here, he displays a master's touch. The characters are all well defined and unique. None of them are endearing, unfortunately. The plot drags - mainly because there really are not a lot of unanswered questions driving the story.
Do yourself a favor and read the reviews of this book over at amazon.co.uk where the literacy gap between the US and the UK is revealed dramatically. If you're a hard-core Banks fan, as I am, you might want to get this one in paperback.
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