eBook, 364 pages
English language
Published Oct. 1, 2012 by Little, Brown Book Group.
The Scavenger species are circling. It is, truly, the End Days for the Gzilt civilization. An ancient people, organized on military principles and yet almost perversely peaceful, the Gzilt helped set up the Culture ten thousand years earlier and were very nearly one of its founding societies, deciding not to join only at the last moment. Now they've made the collective decision to follow the well-trodden path of millions of other civilizations; they are going to Sublime, elevating themselves to a new and almost infinitely more rich and complex existence. Amid preparations though, the Regimental High Command is destroyed. Lieutenant Commander (reserve) Vyr Cossont appears to have been involved, and she is now wanted - dead, not alive. Aided only by an ancient, reconditioned android and a suspicious Culture avatar, Cossont must complete her last mission given to her by the High Command. She must find the oldest person in …
The Scavenger species are circling. It is, truly, the End Days for the Gzilt civilization. An ancient people, organized on military principles and yet almost perversely peaceful, the Gzilt helped set up the Culture ten thousand years earlier and were very nearly one of its founding societies, deciding not to join only at the last moment. Now they've made the collective decision to follow the well-trodden path of millions of other civilizations; they are going to Sublime, elevating themselves to a new and almost infinitely more rich and complex existence. Amid preparations though, the Regimental High Command is destroyed. Lieutenant Commander (reserve) Vyr Cossont appears to have been involved, and she is now wanted - dead, not alive. Aided only by an ancient, reconditioned android and a suspicious Culture avatar, Cossont must complete her last mission given to her by the High Command. She must find the oldest person in the Culture, a man over nine thousand years old, who might have some idea what really happened all that time ago. It seems that the final days of the Gzilt civilization are likely to prove its most perilous.
Tout à fait dans la lignée des tomes précédents. C’est sympa et ça se lit bien.
This was my second read, and I understood more of the plot this time. Not that it's all THAT complicated. This is an excellent book for those who are interested in delving into the thoughts and activities of the Culture's most powerful members, the Minds who constitute the sentient operating systems for their space ships. It's less depressing than some of Banks' earlier Culture stories. Points deducted for a relatively unsatisfying denouement for anyone who likes seeing bad guys get their comeuppance. Still an enjoyable romp through giant ships and small ones, the Gzilt "girdle city" is a fascinating structure to consider, plus various orbitals.
This was my second read, and I understood more of the plot this time. Not that it's all THAT complicated. This is an excellent book for those who are interested in delving into the thoughts and activities of the Culture's most powerful members, the Minds who constitute the sentient operating systems for their space ships. It's less depressing than some of Banks' earlier Culture stories. Points deducted for a relatively unsatisfying denouement for anyone who likes seeing bad guys get their comeuppance. Still an enjoyable romp through giant ships and small ones, the Gzilt "girdle city" is a fascinating structure to consider, plus various orbitals.
My first culture book, but not my last. Not an all time classic, but a good diversion with some interesting science speculation that makes good SF.
Uncharacteristically light on sensawunda for a Culture novel, The Hydrogen Sonata is still a solid installment in the Culture canon. A group of Mind super-sleuths reminiscent of the Interesting Times Gang from Banks' Excession is responsible for much of what I found enjoyable about the book. Additionally, the Mistake Not... and its avatar Berdle are satisfyingly interesting (to the reader) escorts for our main human protagonist. A few enjoyable space and planet-side battles allowed for the occasional high-Culture-tech fix, and a healthy dose of "which is more me, myself or a clone of my current mind-state" continues with the themes touched on but not quite as acknowledged in the previous Culture novel, Surface Detail.
Uncharacteristically light on sensawunda for a Culture novel, The Hydrogen Sonata is still a solid installment in the Culture canon. A group of Mind super-sleuths reminiscent of the Interesting Times Gang from Banks' Excession is responsible for much of what I found enjoyable about the book. Additionally, the Mistake Not... and its avatar Berdle are satisfyingly interesting (to the reader) escorts for our main human protagonist. A few enjoyable space and planet-side battles allowed for the occasional high-Culture-tech fix, and a healthy dose of "which is more me, myself or a clone of my current mind-state" continues with the themes touched on but not quite as acknowledged in the previous Culture novel, Surface Detail.
