I’ve been trying to write a review of this book for some time, and failing dismally. There are things about it that are very good. Banks is an experienced writer. He knows what he is doing with words. But there are parts that are just awful. And it seems to me that mostly they are a result of trying to present SF ideas to an audience that you assume is made of up of people who won’t understand them and are mainly after a sex, drugs and murders story. Still, I guess it will go down in history for having the chutzpah to dress up an “As you know, Bob” section as a sex scene. Not Mr. Banks’ finest hour, I’m afraid.