Use of Weapons
by Iain Banks · first published 1990
63% recommend28% neutral9% critical
Why HN recommends it
Culture novel with an interwoven structure, one thread in reverse chronology, and dark, existential themes. Fans prize Zakalwe as a compelling character; suits readers ready for something harder than Player of Games.
Common criticism: Some find the ending a frustrating twist, and the structure hard going
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
The man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks and military action. The woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscurity and pushed him towards his present eminence, but despite all their dealings she did not know him as well as she thought. The drone known as Skaffen-Amtiskaw knew both of these people. It had once saved the woman's life by massacring her attackers in a particularly bloody manner. It believed the man to be a burnt-out case. But not even its machin
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…abandoned it after several chapters. I hardly ever abandon books but have done so more often recently - encroaching age does lead to impatience in some things. I'm not sure how I would feel returning to Use of Weapons and The Wasp Factory, both of which I found shocking and profound the first time around. So the point of this is, your opinion of something might change, or maybe it's just that storytelling is like…
on “Nancy Pearl’s Rule of 50 for dropping a bad book” ↗…Banks: I found it ok. Something like an above-average sci-fi action movie. I enjoyed reading it, and it left an impression, but not a spectacular one. However, I stuck with Banks, and by the time I got to Use of Weapons ... that was a book that really did floor me. I think Banks is really something special. Enlightening, maybe. Even if he can be uneven at times, I still haven't read anyone else quite like him. Perhaps…
on “Nancy Pearl’s Rule of 50 for dropping a bad book” ↗My favorite science fiction author, got sucked in by Matter, then quickly proceeded to read all Culture books. Use of Weapons is my favorite, has the perfect mix between the dark character and the utopian Culture space opera.
on “A Personal Statement from Iain Banks” ↗That means you are in the lucky situation of not having read Use of Weapons yet - I'm jealous. It really is very very good!
on “Ask HN: What's your favorite HN post?” ↗"Use of Weapons" by Iain M. Banks. Edit: Overlooked the "fun" and "lighthearted" part. Let me change my answer to "Excession", same author.
on “Ask HN: What are the best Sci-Fi books you've ever read?” ↗…It has a report-like 'stranger than fiction' quality that works very well for the novel I think, as if it is a declassified communist era file. It never lets up, never once winks at you. Contrast say "Use of Weapons" by Ian Banks - I just read this before "Death's End". This is a good book, lauded as one of the best Culture novels. Reading it you can sit back and think oh that's a nice metaphor, and I like how allegory…
on “Black Hole Propulsion as Technosignature” ↗Personally, I think Use of Weapons is by far the best of the Culture series - although I admit it took a few readings for me to get to that view...
on “Player of Games” ↗- use of weapons (ian m banks) - surely you are joking mr feynman (rpf) - origin of order (stuart kauffman) - slaughter house five (kurt vonnegut) - goedel escher bach (douglas hofstadter) - theta-magical memas errr…
on “Ask YC: favorite books” ↗If you are just reading Consider Phlebas then that means you still have the awesome Use of Weapons to go... I'm jealous!
on “The Star Trek Economy” ↗Lord of the Light Dune Neuromancer Hyperion Snow Crash Use of Weapons Pandora's Star / Judas Unchained
on “What are your favourite sci-fi books?” ↗Hofstadter - GEB - for sure The Malazan Book of the Fallen (10 volumes) - Stephen Erikson - redefines impenetrable Use of Weapons by Iain M Banks - master of the interwoven narrative
on “Ask HN: What is the most mind blowing book you've ever read?” ↗…perhaps it was a product of its time? I could imagine it felt a lot more urgent and prescient when it was released than it does today (I read it for the first time earlier this year). Personally, I found Use of Weapons by Iain M. Banks to be much more compelling when it comes to a sci-fi study on the nature of war. Each to their own, of course.
on “The Author of Our Best SF Military Novel Explains the Future of War” ↗…and it made no impression whatsoever; can't remember a single thing about it. I do like the (early) Culture novels, although their most striking novelties (like the the interesting temporal structure in Use of Weapons) aren't always SFnal ideas.
on “Blindsight (2006)” ↗Use of Weapons is a masterpiece, but (or maybe therefore?) is definitely not an easy read. Like most stories with a nonlinear narrative, its true greatness only becomes apparent on a second – or maybe third – read.…
on “The Ambiguous Utopia of Iain M. Banks (2009)” ↗…Carbon - Richard K Morgan The Blade Itself - Joe Abercrombie A Walk Among the Tombstones - Lawrence Block Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Ken Kesey Use of Weapons - Iain M Banks Blood Song - Anthony Ryan Red Rising - Pierce Brown Catch 22 - Joseph Heller The Short Timers - Gustav Hasford
on “Ask HN: What are some must read books?” ↗