Dragons & Jetpacks discussion

We are pleased to announce that the next specially chosen moderators read for January and February will be Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks. This is the first book of the culture series and I'm very much looking forward to reading this with the group! If you are new to The Culture books or Iain M. Banks then Consider Phlebas is a great place to start, and if you're already a fan then come join in the chat!

I have this as an audiobook so I look forward to listening to it and discussing.

I am 100% on board with this. Also, merry Christmas.

Good call. I 've read a lot of Iain Banks but oddly none of the Culture books so as good a time to start

Definitely going to read this, I've been looking to start an Iain M. Banks books so going to give this one a go.

This has been on my to read list for a long time. Finally got a reason to get to it heh. Already ordered it from my local library branch.

I haven't read anything of his, but this has been on my to read list for a while.

Interesting choice. I love the book, but it's rather different from the rest of the Culture series and some folks bounce off it while others love it. If you (yes, you) do bounce off this, try Player of Games before deciding the series isn't your thing.

I don't mean to say that Phlebas is a weak book - far from it. But it's quite philosophical in a way that others in the series arent. Should be a good discussion.

I started this last night and was hooked by pg 25. It is not as hard sci fi as I thought it would be. More space opera? I'm at pg 75 now and like Horza a lot.

Glad you're enjoying it Shawnie! But, hold those thoughts! I'll start up some discussion threads over the next couple of days.

Ok, I'll do a cut/paste when it's up. :)

I have started listening to it. It throws you right into the characters and I am audiobooking it so I am having a hard time grasping who is who and on what side and why they are there etc.

Chakara wrote: "I have started listening to it. It throws you right into the characters and I am audiobooking it so I am having a hard time grasping who is who and on what side and why they are there etc."

I am having the same trouble - I had to restart the story because I was so lost - I may have to wait to get the actual book. Let me know if it gets better for you!

And the guy reads really really fast!!!

Sandy wrote: "Chakara wrote: "I have started listening to it. It throws you right into the characters and I am audiobooking it so I am having a hard time grasping who is who and on what side and why they are the..."

lol yes he does i thought it was because I have it on 1.5 but my other audiobooks aren't going that fast so it has to be the reader.

Chakara wrote: "Sandy wrote: "Chakara wrote: "I have started listening to it. It throws you right into the characters and I am audiobooking it so I am having a hard time grasping who is who and on what side and wh..."

I even turned it down to normal speed and it is not helping. Maybe I will try slower than normal. :-)