Lori's Reviews > Inversions

I loved this so much. It's my last virgin read of A Culture book except for the short story collection, and I'm glad it was the last because I found it be the best kind of fairy tale. It actually has no direct mention of the Culture and takes place on your typical medieval fantasy world where women are secondary citizens. There are 2 separate stories taking place in different parts of the world, each one told in alternating chapters, but the narrator of one section tells us on the prologue they are connected although even he isn't sure how, just that the person relating the second says they are.

But there are amusing little hints like this one that tell us the Culture is involved in both: "[...] had been invited to dine with the vessel's captain that evening, but had sent a note declining the invitation, citing an indisposition due to special circumstances.". Heehee.

Well we already knew Special Circumstances were involved since this inside joke comes at the end. We have the nice vantage point of having an increasing omniprecient perspective of what is going on since this book is listed as a Culture novel and it's fun figuring out the specifics. And perception and understanding of the past and present are major motifs here, what is reality?

And as always with Banks there are twists and turns along the way.

If this intended to be your first Culture book what you'll only read is a medei al fantasy. So again, perspective. I recommend reading other Culture books first.0

I'm so glad I bought this so I can reread and be enchanted again. I even want to do it now to find any other Culture references I might have missed.