Another excellent entry in the Culture series, Excession is more complex than the previous titles and features a broader cast of characters. The story is told from multiple perspectives and includes a couple of subplots.

Because of all this, I found it slightly less enjoyable to read than Use of Weapons. It was a bit less coherent, particularly in the second third of the novel. However, Banks manages to tie everything together in a clear and efficient way, which mitigates the relative confusion.

We also get to know the Culture’s Minds much better here, and they are fantastic. The ships, in particular, are great characters—I actually found them more interesting than the humans.

As always, Banks is highly imaginative, so be prepared for some wild concepts, but they are always executed with intelligence. Highly recommended.