A summary of earlier themes and post cycle of Culture

The direction of Wind is the last novel of the cycle of Culture written by Banks before "pause" 8 years (from 2000 to 2008, imperial editions course). And in fact, when we read, like me, the whole cycle, we can see a kind of synthesis between elements developed in previous novels (A form of war, man games, Use weapons and Excession), and those who came after it (Frames, The Virtual Hell and Hydrogen Sonata). I personally consider as a sort of pivot of the cycle, not because it is the novel the best, the most important or most indispensable but because somewhere, it's a little one around which all the others Air gravitate.

Develop: in its DNA, there is a direct reference to the war Idirane A form of war, the black side, disillusioned and melancholy of the use of weapons, some immersion in the daily life of orbitals (and centered history on one of them) as in the first part of man games, a tragic love story as in Excession, the encounter between two civilizations of different technological levels and consequences of the intervention (or non-intervention) ones in the lives of others (as in frames), an evocation ways to preserve virtually from death through technology (as in The Virtual Underworld), and finally, last but not least, emphasis on music (a symphony, specifically) and the Sublimation (transcendence outside the constraints of the physical body) as in The Hydrogen Sonata. If I add we find a flashback system as in the use of weapons (but with a literary construction less complex or confusing to the reader), clearly enjoyed the process by which also reuse the Banks in Transition (SF romance non-farming), you really end up with a patchwork / a best-of / a pivotal cycle. A best-of previously written elements and a preview of what was to come at the time of his writing.

Finally, add that the tone is more melancholy than black (we are clearly not in the use of weapons), the humor present since Excession a consistent dose in the cycle is also there, that history is interesting (the central character, although somewhat reminiscent of one of those Larry Niven, so is) that the rhythm is correct, and in the end, m ^ me if I would not call it a summit of cycle, this is certainly not in any case one of the least interesting. Again, a middle, a pivot around which the worst and the best advise tournent.On rigor read A kind of war before, because although this is not strictly necessary, it will give light on the Idirane War commemorated in the wind direction. Or in a pinch, you can just read the afterword of a form of war (if you have it) before attacking the wind direction.

Personally, I reread the whole cycle after the recent death of Banks, and I must say I really enjoyed the reading of this novel, which in my memory was good, but not as much. I almost get the impression that it is enhanced with age. Very nice anyway, and neither too dark nor too cheerful. A balance actually.