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Inversions

Series: Culture
3.96 goodreads logo

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( 19,852 ratings, 858 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Inversions by Iain M. Banks is a thought-provoking science fiction novel exploring themes of political intrigue and cultural conflicts on a medieval-like planet. The narrative follows two protagonists: a doctor serving a king and a bodyguard dedicated to a powerful lord, each from vastly different backgrounds. Their intertwined stories reveal intricacies of their respective societies, subtly hinting at advanced technology and larger intergalactic themes.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you appreciate sophisticated narratives that blend elements of sci-fi with philosophical depth. It weaves two intertwined stories set in a mediaeval world, exploring themes of power and morality through intriguing characters and complex plots. If you're fond of deep world-building and exploring human nature, this book is a captivating journey.

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A stunning new reissue edition of Inversions - a space opera of stunning power and awesome imagination, from the modern master of science fiction, Iain M. Banks

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description
The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson In the winter palace, the King's new physician has more enemies than she realises. But then she also has more defences than even her most hardened adversaries could imagine. In another palace, far across the mountains, sits the regicidal Protector General. His chief bodyguard also has enemies to worry about, with the threat of treachery and assassination never far away. And beneath the surface of these feudal courts β€” behind the spies, murders, politics and intrigues β€” lies an entirely different kind of threat, an entity that nobody would ever suspect. Praise for the Culture series: 'Epic in scope, ambitious in its ideas and absorbing in its execution' Independent on Sunday 'Banks has created one of the most enduring and endearing visions of the future' Guardian 'Banks's sci-fi, at its best, is staggeringly inventive, beautifully written, dramatic and often very funny. His stories are packed with ideas, warships with minds very much of their own, alien races, charismatic drones and intergalactic politics' New Scientist 'Jam-packed with extraordinary invention' Scotsman 'Compulsive reading' Sunday Telegraph The Culture series: Consider Phlebas The Player of Games Use of Weapons Excession Inversions Look to Windward Matter Surface Detail The Hydrogen Sonata The State of the Art Other books by Iain M. Banks: Against a Dark Background Feersum Endjinn The Algebraist Also now available: The Culture: The Drawings - an extraordinary collection of original illustrations faithfully reproduced from sketchbooks Banks kept in the 1970s and 80s, depicting the ships, habitats, geography, weapons and language of Banks' Culture series of novels in incredible detail.

Series: Culture

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  • Surface Detail
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' - William Gibson The "War in Heaven", a simulated war game, rages between civilisations. Its...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matter
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson The intricate structure of a Shellworldβ€”an artificial planet of spheres-within-spheresβ€”is matched only...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The State Of The Art
    The works of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. With breathtaking imagination and extraordinary storytelling, they have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson The State of the Art is the only collection of Iain M. Banks's short fiction...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Player Of Games
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' – William Gibson The Culture – a utopian human-machine symbiotic society – has produced many...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Consider Phlebas
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson War rages across the galaxy. Billions have died, billions more are doomed. Moons,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Hydrogen Sonata
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson The Scavenger species are circling. It is, truly, the End Days for the...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Look To Windward
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson It was one of the less glorious incidents of a long-ago war....
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Use Of Weapons
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson The man known as Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Excession
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson Two and a half millennia ago in a remote corner of space, beside...
    Paperback
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  • Inversions
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson In the winter palace, the King's new physician has more enemies than she...
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Iain M. Banks is celebrated for his inventive and powerful storytelling, seamlessly blending genre elements with literary flair. His work in science fiction is noted for its unique energy and elegance, drawing high anticipation from readers and critics alike. Banks's novels are praised for their poetic and varied qualities, ranging from humour to terror, further highlighting his versatility and creativity.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356521688

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 30 November 2023

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 126.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 287g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Iain Banks (1954-2013) came to widespread and controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, The Wasp Factory, in 1984. Consider Phlebas, his first science fiction novel, was published under the name Iain M. Banks in 1987 and began his celebrated ten-book Culture series. He is acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting writers of his generation.

Also by Iain M. Banks

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  • Feersum Endjinn
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. With breathtaking imagination and extraordinary storytelling, they have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' – William Gibson Count Sessine is about to die for the very last time... Chief Scientist Gad fium...
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  • Against A Dark Background
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. With breathtaking imagination and extraordinary storytelling, they have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson Lady Sharrow was once the fearless leader of a combat team in one of the sporadic...
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  • Surface Detail
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' - William Gibson The "War in Heaven", a simulated war game, rages between civilisations. Its...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Matter
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson The intricate structure of a Shellworldβ€”an artificial planet of spheres-within-spheresβ€”is matched only...
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    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Iain M. Banks Culture - 25th anniversary box set
    Consider Phlebas The war raged across the galaxy. Billions had died, billions more were doomed. Moons, planets, the very stars themselves, faced destructionβ€”cold-blooded, brutal, and worse, random. The Idirans fought for their Faith; the Culture for its moral right to exist. Principles were at stake. There could be no surrender. Within the cosmic conflict, an individual crusade. Deep within a...
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  • The State Of The Art
    The works of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. With breathtaking imagination and extraordinary storytelling, they have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson The State of the Art is the only collection of Iain M. Banks's short fiction...
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    Ships tomorrow
  • The Algebraist
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. With breathtaking imagination and extraordinary storytelling, they have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' – William Gibson It is 4034 AD. Humanity has made it to the stars, but Fassin Taak, a...
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  • The Player Of Games
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' – William Gibson The Culture – a utopian human-machine symbiotic society – has produced many...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Consider Phlebas
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson War rages across the galaxy. Billions have died, billions more are doomed. Moons,...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Hydrogen Sonata
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' William Gibson The Scavenger species are circling. It is, truly, the End Days for the...
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Look To Windward
    The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre. 'Banks is a phenomenon' β€” William Gibson It was one of the less glorious incidents of a long-ago war....
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Culture: The Drawings
    WINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST ILLUSTRATED AND ART BOOK This extraordinary collection celebrates the dazzling worldbuilding of Iain M. Banks, one of the most important and influential writers in modern science fiction. Faithfully reproduced from notebooks he kept in the 1970s and 80s, these annotated original illustrations depict the ships, habitats, geography, weapons, and language of Banks' Culture...
    Hardback
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