**The Intriguing World of "The State of The Art"**

From BBC Radio 4 - Afternoon Drama:

The State of The Art

By Iain M. Banks

Dramatised by Paul Cornell

In 1977, the Culture ship Arbitrary makes its way to Earth. What it discovers is a planet fixated on alien concepts such as 'property' and 'money', teetering on the brink of self-destruction. Agent Dervley Linter decides to embrace the native way, but can Diziet Sma persuade him otherwise?

The talented cast brings this story to life. Antony Sher portrays The Ship, Nina Sosanya is Diziet Sma, Paterson Joseph is Dervley Linter, Graeme Hawley is Li, Brigit Forsyth is Tel, and Conrad Nelson is Sodel.

Directed by Nadia Molinari, this drama offers a captivating exploration of a world different from our own.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00hv1dz

This is just one installment in the engaging Culture series. Other notable books include Consider Phlebas (Culture, #1), The Player of Games (Culture, #2), Use of Weapons (Culture, #3), and more. Each one delves deeper into the fascinating universe created by Iain M. Banks.

Sort of in the Culture series, sort of not quite. This is the (first?) collection of Iain M. Banks short stories, paired with a Culture novella which gives the book its title.

Taking up half the book, The State of the Art tells the tale of the Culture's first contact with Earth in the '70s. Told as a mission report by Diziet Sma, later translated by Skaffen-Amtiskaw (before their appearances in Use of Weapons).

Sma is on board The Arbitrary in the Contact group. Their role seems more about sampling a planet's feel than actual contact. She samples food, culture, and people in various cities. But it feels contrived, like Banks answering questions: is the Culture us in the future (no), and does the Culture come to Earth (yes). Without a real story, Banks fills gaps with 'why humans suck' and 'why humans are great'. Sma takes the anti-Earth side, while Dervley Linter takes the opposing view. The ships rescue the points, like The Arbitrary sending a postcard to the BBC for Space Oddity.

The short stories before the novella are a mixed bag. A Gift from the Culture is the most conventional and enjoyable. Odd Attachment is a retro-SF story. Cleaning Up and Descendant are interesting. The remaining three are esoteric. Road of Skulls has an interesting start but could go further. Scratch is pure experimentalism. Piece isn't even science fiction. It felt like being beaten with someone else's opinions.

What an odd collection indeed.

Some of the stories within it are irreverent and humorous, while others are quite bizarre.

I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with most of them. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find "Descendant" to be a real gem and well worth the price of admission.

"Descendant" tells the story of a Culture solider and his sentient EVA suit. Both have been injured or damaged and are stranded on a barren alien planet.

Banks does an excellent job of vividly depicting a sense of intense desolation as the man and the suit embark on a harrowing journey.

Their struggle for survival in this harsh environment is both thrilling and touching.

It makes you think about the power of human connection and the lengths we will go to in order to persevere.

Overall, while the collection as a whole may not have been to my complete satisfaction, "Descendant" alone makes it a worthwhile read.

Weird and wonderful collection of stories about the Culture and earth

(and in the particularly excellent titular novella, both). I think what I enjoy about these stories, and Banks’ work in general, is that you can feel the great deal of fun he’s having in his own intergalactic playground.

Honestly, it is inspiring me to keep writing my own stuff, just by the scope and style of stories covered here!

Strong faves were the Earth contact story, which was filled with excitement and mystery as the two worlds interacted.

The long walk of the dying man and his smart suit across a dead planet was a poignant and thought-provoking tale.

The lovestruck herder and the astronaut who was unfortunate enough to encounter him added a touch of romance and humor to the collection.

And the ennui refugee who was forced to shoot down a starship was a thrilling and action-packed story.

Overall, this is a collection of thrilling and enjoyable stuff that is sure to delight fans of science fiction and anyone who loves a good story.

I picked this up because I'm gradually making my way through the Culture books.

To be honest, this is only part of the series due to the title novella (or novelette?) included within.

There were a few 4-star stories here, but overall, I would suggest that this can be skipped.

Banks is an outstanding novelist, yet, in my view, he is less successful when it comes to short fiction.

The Culture books have always intrigued me with their complex and imaginative worlds.

However, this particular collection didn't quite live up to my expectations.

The stories, while having some亮点, didn't have the same depth and impact as his novels.

Perhaps it's because the short format doesn't allow for the same level of character development and world-building.

Nonetheless, I still appreciate Banks' writing style and his ability to create unique and thought-provoking concepts.

Overall, if you're a die-hard Banks fan, you might want to give this a read.

But if you're new to his work or looking for a more engaging and fulfilling reading experience, I would recommend starting with one of his novels instead.

Although this collection contains only a few stories, the main event is the eponymous story "The State Of The Art", which is an interesting Culture story (or perhaps a novella?). Set on 1970s Earth, it features a Culture contact expedition observing humanity. It is truly fascinating to have the Culture citizens observing and being fascinated by our pre-utopia society. It also provides an opportunity for the Culture to engage with the concepts of Star Trek/Wars.

This is a really interesting read that I will definitely read again. There is also a lot of other good material in the collection. It's brilliant stuff.

A slim collection of short stories, well under 200 pages, presents a diverse range of tales. Most of them showcase the author's macabre wit, captivating readers with their unique charm.

The worst of the lot is "Scratch", a late cold-war-era story. It vividly depicts the escalation of human misery as the world's superpowers prepare for world destruction. What makes it original is that it presents only mass-media noise, scraps of television commercials, and fragments of radio announcements. Although it can be considered a fascinating failure.

Three stories are set in the universe of Banks' Culture novels. "Descendant" is the best among them. It's a harrowing survival tale where an injured soldier is stranded on an uninhabitable planet and is pushed to carry on by his autonomous artificially intelligent suit. "The State of the Art" will be most enjoyed by devotees of Banks' Culture novels as it shows the Culture encountering Earth. There's a debate among the Culture's Contact division about whether to save Earth from nuclear destruction or spare them from the potentially corrupting influence of their own society. The story has a delightfully queasy set piece that makes you think twice about this question. However, "A Gift from the Culture" is, in my opinion, a bit of a dud.

The best three stories have no connection to that Culture hogwash and can be appreciated by any Banks novice with a suitably sick sense of humor. "Road of Skulls" is like an absurd sci-fi take on "Waiting for Godot". "Odd Attachment" and "Cleaning Up" are first-contact stories, a mainstay of the genre, and both are as gruesome and hilarious as any good first-contact story should be.

Revisited this as I had read this collection of stories on release but couldn't remember it. Now I know why.

It is a usual mix of inventiveness, wit and some anger. However, his stories would benefit from a wider narrative and development.

The State of the Art story is the exception. In fact, it makes up almost half the length of this collection and is nearly a novella in its own right.

This particular story stands out due to its more in-depth exploration and detailed plot.

While the other stories in the collection have their merits, they lack the same level of comprehensiveness.

Perhaps with a bit more expansion and refinement, they could have been on par with The State of the Art story.

Nonetheless, this collection still offers an interesting read and showcases the author's creativity and talent.

It is worth revisiting to fully appreciate the different elements and themes present in each story.

It was okay, until the "Cleaning Up" short story came along and took a turn for the worse.

I simply couldn't suspend my disbelief that the Culture could make such a stupid mistake and keep repeating it. I understand that it was intended as a funny story, but still...

Most of all, I loathed the namesake novella. It felt like a nostalgia trip through earthly places and history. I know it holds great significance for the author, but it was written as if it was equally special for most of the included characters. The constant place calling, name calling, pop culture references, and the central idea that earthlings are so incredibly special ("I wish I was special, but I'm a creep") felt like self-indulgence. I couldn't fathom that in the vastness of the galaxies and among thousands of worlds, Earth had something unique that no other world possessed. Somehow, contemporary Earth just doesn't blend well with utopian science fiction.

It seems that the author's attempt to merge these two elements didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story lost its charm and credibility in the process. Maybe a different approach would have been more successful in creating a seamless and engaging narrative.

Overall, my experience with these stories was a bit of a letdown, especially considering the high expectations I had. However, I still appreciate the author's creativity and willingness to explore different themes and ideas within the realm of science fiction.

The shorter stories were actually better than the two long ones.

They had a certain charm and brevity that made them more engaging. Each shorter story seemed to pack a punch in a concise manner, leaving a lasting impression.

The one comedy one really got me. xD It was hilarious and had me laughing out loud. The humor was well-written and the characters were vivid.

I found myself completely immersed in the story, enjoying every moment of it. It was a great escape from reality and a wonderful way to spend some time.

Overall, I would highly recommend these shorter stories to anyone looking for a quick and enjoyable read. They are sure to bring a smile to your face and brighten up your day.

A selection of short fiction set in the Culture universe offers a unique and fascinating experience. In this universe, your tools and equipment have opinions and can talk back to you.

My own inclination to communicate with my surroundings would surely have to adapt.

I had high hopes for the story where the Culture visits Earth. The question of whether it's still a first contact story when Earth is unaware of the contact is an interesting one.

While the story leans a bit on the preachy side, it's clear that Banks was expressing his concerns about our treatment of the environment and each other when he wrote it. However, he also acknowledges that there is something special about our planet.

I found the story enjoyable, although it didn't completely blow me away.

Banks is undeniably a talented writer, but not all of these stories showcase his finest work.

The collection does feel a bit like a catch-all, with stories of varying degrees of refinement.

Nevertheless, it's well worth reading for fans of the Culture.

Book number 285 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy reading project.

A collection of short tales awaits the reader. The shortest among them is approximately two pages long, while the longest, bearing the same name as the collection, exceeds a hundred pages and serves as the main filler here.

Not all the tales revolve around the Culture or are set within the Culture Universe. However, 'State of the Art' is, and it stands out as the most fully developed and captivating story in the collection. It details the Culture's discovery of Earth in 1977 and the派遣 of agents to study and learn from our planet. Given that it's written by Iain Banks, one likely doesn't need to be informed of the wry and often humorous observations made, such as our flawed, strange, and unequal economic system, our penchant for wars and killing each other, and so on. Debates then ensue among the ship's crew regarding whether to actually intervene and make the Culture known to the planet. One of the agents goes native and decides not to leave as he begins to truly like Earth - and even starts believing in Jesus and converts to Roman Catholicism, despite the protests from the Culture's ship and Sma's attempted intervention to save him. It's an interesting tale nonetheless.

The other tales simply showcase the genius and ability of Iain to craft interesting and sometimes quite abstract tales. This is not a large book, consisting of just over 200 pages, but it's worth a read, if only to read about the exploits of Diziet Sma (who first emerged in Use of Weapons) once more.