Iain banks against a dark background

The huhsz, a merciless religous cult, believe that the coming of the messiah cannot take place until her bloodline is ended, and sharrow begins a long, complex and winding quest to find the last lazy gun, the only prize that will buy her enough credit. Against a dark background is another wonderfully complex science fiction novel from iain m banks that combines shakespeare tragedy, gritty cyberpunk thriller, treasure hunt, and comic picaresque. In a colonized solar system far away, the threatened heroine rebuilds her combat team of virally linked neurobondees and goes in search of something called a lazy gun. Banks seems to be experimenting in a limited way with themes he will be using in other works to much greater, and more satisfying, effect. Click download or read online button to get against a dark background book now. Against a dark background is a novel by the noted author of science fiction iain m banks. Against a dark background kindle edition by iain m. Banks novels and he does a superb job of reading the book. Oct 05, 20 like most banks novels, the subtleties in against a dark background will leave you breathless. Banks, as if to further highlight the arbitrariness of any division in his work. Banks is a pseudonym of iain banks which he used to publish his science fiction. She came from one of the more disreputable aristocratic families.

What is the significance of the last line of iain m banks surface detail. Against a dark background is essentially a quest novel. Pringle, the ultimate guide to science fiction, second edition 1995, p. It is less well known that his first published work was the poem 041, in new writing scotland in 1983. Against a dark background has a style and a mood familiar to readers of banks s culture novels, but it itself is not a culture book. Against a dark background is science fiction at its best. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. A description of tropes appearing in against a dark background. Against a dark background 1993 was written after use of weapons 1990 and before feersum endjinn 1994 and excession 1996. If nothing else, he easily demonstrates that he doesnt need to fall back on the established conventions from those novels to spin a good yarn. Against a dark background went from my to be read shelf to before my eyes with the news of banks illness. Sharrow was once the leader of a personalityattuned combat team in one of the sporadic little commercial wars in the civilisation based around the planet golter.

He was a writer and actor, known for consider phlebas, complicity 2000 and stonemouth 2015. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Like the poems that appeared within his novels, this was selected from the many he had written between 1973. By jumping between time frames irregularly, banks accomplishes his goal, but still cannot disguise the blase nature of the overall effort. If you could sum up against a dark background in three words, what would they be. Transition 2009 captures many of the aesthetic and generic crossovers that have come to characterize banks writing. Sharrow was once the leader of a personalityattuned combat team in one of the sporadic little commercial wars in the ci. She came from one of the more disreputable aristocratic. Against a dark back ground has a style and a mood familiar to readers of banks s culture novels, but it itself is not a culture book. Banks fifth published work of science fiction, against a dark background has all the feel of being the authors fledgling.

He was married to adele hartley and annie blackburn. Buy against a dark background new ed by banks, iain m. An epilogue to against a dark background by iain m. A rambling tour of fractured culture closer to gibson and sterling cyberpunk and moorcocks jerry cornelius adventures than bankss usual milieu. Overwritten, narrative fragmented in inconsistent fashion, and plot devices and storytelling all rather overt, the book is good if youre looking for a light read that doesnt require too much thought. Buy a cheap copy of against a dark background book by iain m. Read it expecting a culture novel or as a work of that caliber and youll be disappointed. Against a dark background download ebook pdf, epub. Click to read more about against a dark background by iain m. Always hard to compare a banks book to anything other than his other works. Against a dark background kindle edition by banks, iain m download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Iain banks was educated at the university of stirling where he studied english literature, philosophy and psychology. Against a dark background has a style and a mood familiar to readers of bankss culture novels, but it itself is not a culture book.

Digital rights management drm the publisher has supplied this book in encrypted form, which means that you need to install free software in order to unlock and read it. Iain banks came to controversial public notice with the publication of his first novel, the wasp factory, in 1984. He wrote mainstream fiction under the name iain banks and science fiction as iain m. The paperback of the against a dark background by iain m. His voice is a vehicle that sets the tone for banks apocalyptic backgrounds. Against a dark background is a good story, and i genuinely connected with some, if not all, of the characters. After the publication and success of the wasp factory 1984, banks began to write on a fulltime basis. All of that said, banks is still a skilled writer and can spin an enjoyable yarn. Bankss father was an officer in the admiralty and his mother was once a professional ice skater. Now she is hunted by the huhsz, a religious cult which believes that she is the last obstacle before the faiths apotheosis, and her only. Banks s father was an officer in the admiralty and his mother was once a professional ice skater. Anyway, saw rumours floating around the internet that banks wrote an epilogue to it, but the site it was hosted on appears to be down and i cant find it anywhere. Banks against a dark background ask question asked 3 years, 2 months ago. Just sharrow, no last name, which indicates that she is nobility.

Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. Banks fifth published work of science fiction, against a dark background has all the feel of being the authors fledgling effort in the genre. Banks fourth science fiction novel published, and the first that was not set in his culture universe the algebraist, feersum endjinn, and transition are also nonculture science fiction novels. On an island with a glass shore relic of some even more ancient conflict she discovers she is to be hunted by the huhsz. Sharrow was once the leader of a personalityattuned combat team in. Indeed banks recent novel, transition 2009, was published in the uk and the us under, respectively, iain banks and iain m. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Where the algebraist is a story which simply could not have been told within the culture, im not so sure that this is the case for against a. Peel back a few layers for a fun action packed black comedy, peel back a. Now she is hunted by the huhsz, a religious cult which believes that she is the last obstacle before the faiths. Against a dark background was the 5th novel of scottish writer iain m. Iain banks is celebrated as a novelist and science fiction writer.

The wikipedia article on against a dark background indicates this was an early, unpublished story by banks which he later reworked into a fulllength novel. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read against a dark background. Its more an action adventure book set on a different world, rather than science fiction. With an overdrive account, you can save your favorite libraries for ataglance. Banks fourth science fiction novel, and his first not explicitly set in the culture universe. Sharrow was once the leader of a personalityattuned combat team in one of the sporadic little commercial wars in the civilization based around the planet golter. Jan 07, 2014 as if realizing the story was rather straightforward, banks broke the narrative of against a dark background into pieces to make it more complex. The authors first nonculture sf novel, drafted before. Transition 2009 captures many of the aesthetic and generic crossovers. You dont have to be a science fiction nut im not to enjoyappreciate this novel this is a novel of human drama that explores many different aspects though, mainly the darker sides of. This time, banks leaves the comfort of the culture for a whole new setting.

A superb standalone novel from the awesome imagination of iain m. Banks against a dark background is perhaps his most militaristic novel. For those familiar with frank herberts work and loved dune yet also read jesus incident, lazarus effect, and the dosadi experiment, the effect with against a dark background is very similar. Now she is hunted by the huhsz, a religious cult which believes that she is the last obstacle before the faiths apotheosis. Yes, more banks since crow road and use of weapons he has definetly become one of my favorite authors. Banks, 9781857231793, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Iain banks 16 february 1954 9 june 20 was a scottish author. It was his first science fiction novel not to feature, or be set in, the culture. Anyway, saw rumours floating around the internet that banks wrote an epilogue to it, but the site it was hosted on appears to be down and i. He is now widely acclaimed as one of the most powerful, innovative and exciting writers of his generation. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading against a dark background. Although, as one discovers late in the book in a memorable moment that most summaries of the book spoil but i wont, it could be in the same universe. Against a dark background, however, reads like an extended action film script.

The dark in the books title is reflected throughout the whole novel. Yes, more banks since crow road and use of weapons h. Browse other questions tagged iainmbanks or ask your own question. Just finished against a dark background that ending, ungh. Banks first scifi work not set in the culture, and was written at a relatively early point in his career. Consider phlebas, his first science fiction novel, was published under the name iain m. Sharrow, beautiful and smart, is a strong female protagonist as some men feel urged to write them. The book offers more layers than an onion, and the meat of the story is found in the deepest layers. Probably my favourite iain m banks novel more accessible than his later works. The title is an excellent description of the story, as the vivid plot is drawn against a very dark background death, torture, genocide, religious zealotry, and family secrets. Review of against a dark background by iain banks speculiction. Against a dark background, a book by iain m banks book. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want.

Iain banks was born on february 16, 1954 in dunfermline, fife, scotland. Against a dark background is banks fourth science fiction novel and first such nonculture book. It was his first science fiction novel not to feature. Banks and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. It is a marvelously interesting read, with strangely dark humor and filled with wonders from banks vivid imagination.

That may explain why the storyline has so little cohesion. Like most banks novels, the subtleties in against a dark background will leave you breathless. It actually felt like tomb raider meets the ateam, while based around a planet thats not earth. Very darkly humorous what other book might you compare against a dark background to, and why. Against a dark background is a science fiction novel by scottish writer iain m. Peel back a few layers for a fun action packed black comedy, peel back a few more for a troublesome. I am something of a banks fanboy ive even read his nonfiction book on scotch, for gods sake, but i recognize that some of his books fall short of the mark.

Consider phlebas, the player of games, use of weapons envisioned a future so detailed and. Banks novels ive read that is not set in the culture universe. Against a dark background iain banks she came from one of the more disreputable aristocratic families. To do so, she assembles a team of old buddies and they intend to kick but. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. The only problem is that their attempts plays of against a dark background. Banks, including the initial of his adopted middle name menzies. Banks ever cited his inspirations for the backstory of cheradenine zakalwe.