My first [a:Iain Banks|7628|Iain M. Banks|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1207926823p2/7628.jpg] novel, and definitely not my last. Not an incredibly easy read, what with non-linear storytelling, but easier than something like [b:Catch-22|168668|Catch-22|Joseph Heller|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1242256344s/168668.jpg|814330], whose story was much more fragmented, if I recall correctly.

I've read reviews where people complain that Prentice was so annoying that the reader couldn't continue, but I didn't find him to be quite that bad. Sure, he has flaws (largely present to be overcome, it seems), but I didn't think they were that much worse than anyone else of his age and generation.

After the introduction, I caught onto the patchwork of story bits and the collection of names being thrown at me, and really got into the story, and actually enjoyed one or two of the characters. Eventually I was involved to the point where I was clamouring for more.

The best part, though, was Banks's language. He's got an awesome ear for prose that made almost every page a delight to read, regardless of what was happening during that bit of the story.