Rating: 
Summary: The best book I have EVER read.
Review: This book is simply staggering. Its the perfect sci-fi for the non sci-fi reader. Its the perfect sci-fi for the sci-fi reader. Its the perfect sci-fi even if u can't read. I love it for its tradgedy, its political statement, its deeper meaning, and most of all for its rather touching ending. Read it. Now.
Rating:
Summary: TheBest Book
Review: I loved this book, from the great discription of the action to the the deeper meaning, it was well written (to say the least). The end really stayed with me and so did almost all of the rest, if you like Banks (or if you don't) read this book. I've never found a book that touched this one, Thank you Iain Banks
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best of his sci-fi work!
Review: The culture novels are without a doubt the best new sci-fi series around at the moment, However, although this novel is, chronologically speaking, the first of the set it is cosiderably less accessible to a new reader than the others. If you are a newcomer to Banks's science fiction don't start with this one, Try "player of games" or "use of weapons" first. Either of these are a much better introduction to the Culture universe and, like me, if you try this title first it may take several insistent friends to convince you to come back (which luckily I have). Otherwise, although difficult to get into, it is a fine book. (one minor niggle however, considering this and the two titles I mentioned earlier, hasn't Iain ever considered a somewhat less than tragic ending for his main characters? I don't think any of them could really be described as having "won" by the end of the story, perhaps his later titles are different, I will have to read them to find out.)
Rating: 
Summary: A cold and cruel story
Review: I found this story difficult to enjoy, but continued to the end out of determination. The characters do not inspire sympathy or empathy, and by the end I just did not care what happened to them. However, if you like neat ideas, this book has lots to admire, with the exploration of the circular world being the best. Some of them, like the emotionally fuelled game, could be expanded (does he bring this into any of the other 'Culture' stories?), but some parts of the story seemed incongruous with the rest of the plot (the cannibals were unnecessary and distracting). As the first book that I have read by Mr Banks I was very disappointed, I recommend 'Feersum Enjin' for a better display of his talents.
Rating:
Summary: this book is one of the best science fiction novels
Review: This book has one of the greatest portrials of a futuristic society. based on the human culture this society shows what is possible in the future of mankind....makes me want to see the distance of our culture tee hee no pun intended.
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Summary: HUGE and f~r~e~a~k~y...
Review: Horza.. wherever u r, can i borrow yor adrenaline glands.I've read 'Against a..', 'Feersum..', 'Player..', and now Phelbas. Its cool like the rest though Feersum was troubling my speech patterns. Phelbas is like being straped to a F-18 at mach 2 while the pilot decides to play bartender with the mixing cups attached to his armrest and when its over,,, starts makin one for u..... just cos u asked for it. back to . . ' ' ' Ground zero Before reading this book, I'd never thought my brain was capable of imagining such 'HUGE' scenarios with such ease, yet conflicting the gulp and the bile to hold the bladder as I had for the last three hours.. cheers Iain Banks Enjoy it whoever u are.. I envy you Himadri
Rating:
Summary: Like a train crash on the London Underground
Review: Be warned! Although this story has potential, it never really lives up to it. I bought it because of all the hype surrounding Iain Bank's novels, but mostly for its cover (at least in the British edition) - an enormous ringworld-like arc floating in space and dwarfing a starship. However, instead of an epic story, after the promising initial premise (two VERY different cultures at war and struggling to beat each other in retrieving a highly advanced "probe" lost on a remote planet) what you get are several different scenarios, none of which actually has any relevance to the next one. It's like a patchwork of your all time favorite action movie sequences: the sinking of the Titanic, Robinson Crusoe and the cannibals, and some enormous train crash desaster on the Underground. In the end, this is light entertainment, but does not create any characters or storyline you really care about.
Rating: 
Summary: Epic scale science fiction, treated intimately.
Review: 'Consider Phlebas' is one of those rare science fiction epics that manages a sense of intimacy at the same time. The setting is vast and fabulous, with empires colliding, the space-lanes pregnant with the sense of great and ominous events underway. And yet, while there is more than enough war, ideology and straight-out action for any space opera aficionado, Banks also manages to imbue the book with a surprising personal pathos. This comes largely from his spare, but affective rendering of his major characters. Two of the protagonists for example, male and female, share a timorous, tentative love amidst a time of great dislocation and danger. Their vulnerability shines beyond their bravado and the outcome of their personal story is painful to watch, but entirely poignant. Banks writes his characters best when he withholds embellishment; in this respect, 'Consider Phlebas' must be one of Banks' most satisfying books, its tone reminiscent of another of his gems, 'Against a Dark Background'.
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Summary: This book is one of the best action sci-fi novels, EVER!
Review: Why can`t they write more books like this? Even though it gets slightly boring near to the end, I recommend it highly to anyone who loves a deep plot with a lot of twists, awe-inspiring action scenes, and violence. If this movie was filmed (properly, mind) it would knock Star-wars out as the "most amazing Space-opera" with ease. Why can`t this guy write more novels like this and "Against a Dark Background"?? Personally, I thought Excession wasn`t so good....
Rating:
Summary: Excellent, action-packed science fiction novel.
Review: This book is chock full of non stop action. It is not geared to the average Trekkie or Babylonian reader. Very high profile technology and astronomical scales are used in this book. The scope of the technology in this book is mind-boggling to say the least and gives pause for thought to take it all in.
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