A book of the cycle of contrasts Culture

The eight novels of the cycle of Culture (Inversions we will put aside) are largely independent of each other. Apart from a common framework, it is extremely rare that one of them refers to the protagonists of another (it happens in the last two hells -The Virtual hydrogen- and Sonata). By cons, all are at least vaguely reference to Idirane war, which is described in "A form of war." Thus making reading not really necessary, no, but let's highly useful. Except ... this novel is, for me, the least interesting of the cycle. Indeed, he tells us very little about the culture itself (but after all, the action is seen through the eyes of its enemies) and especially, especially, it suffers from a conspicuous lack of pace. It is very interesting in the beginning, at the end, but between the two is almost endless, it does not happen much, especially (and that's worse), not much exciting. And it is even more obvious for those who, like me, has read the whole cycle of Culture and even the work of SF Banks. Compared to other tomes Cycle, it pales.

Yet all this being said, this novel does not lack, moreover, qualities. His characters are excellent, we learned a lot (especially in its very, very interesting postscript) Idirane this war that we hear about in the other seven volumes of the cycle (and particularly in "The direction of the wind"), and especially It makes us understand why and how a pacifist and non-militaristic society such as culture began, on this occasion, an ascent to the summits martial power that we will Excession glimpses into the Virtual Underworld or The Hydrogen Sonata. Moreover, speaking of the latter, "a form of war" is with him the novel of greatest scenes action / fighting. The difference between the two titles is the rhythm, very good in the Sonata, very flat in a form of war.

In short, to sum up, perhaps the least interesting novel cycle of Culture, but important reading to the influence that the conflict will be described in most of the following novels (especially if you want to read "The direction of the wind ". Reading A form of war, if it is not essential, may be useful). Moreover, it remains a Banks, first point, the cycle of Culture, second point, therefore widely over the vast majority of past production, present and probably future for SF. Finally, for fans of SF militarist, a form of war is one of the books of the cycle of culture adviser, with the Use of Weapons, Excession and Hydrogen Sonata.