If you're a die-hard fan of the Culture novels, then this collection of short stories and one essay, titled "A Few Notes on the Culture," is an absolute must-read for you. However, if you haven't yet delved into the world of the Culture novels, it's highly recommended that you do so first. Become a fan, and then come back to explore this wonderful collection.

The title story, which is more of a novella really, features Diziet Sma from "Use of Weapons" as she visits Earth in 1977. What follows is a combination of hilarity and deep thoughts that will keep you engaged from start to finish. Some people might find the title story preachy, but in my opinion, they are completely missing the point. The story presents several different points of view, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.
In addition to the Culture-related stories, this collection also includes some non-Culture stories and a couple of non-science fiction stories. These diverse offerings have piqued my interest and made me eager to explore more of Banks's other work.

EDIT (June 7, 2015): You can check out my reviews of all ten Culture books here: http://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/20...

REREAD Aug. 2024: The novella "The State of the Art" remains one of my all-time favorites within the Culture series, if not the absolute favorite. I envision including it in a future course on utopia and dystopia, perhaps alongside Le Guin's "The Dispossessed." It serves as an excellent introduction to the Culture and the inherently philosophical nature of the concept. This reread has also made me eager to revisit the rest of the Culture stories and explore more of Banks's other works. As a fun fact, this time around, I read a new edition that I purchased at Worldcon in Glasgow, Scotland. It was a truly enjoyable experience to read a book from my time in Banks's homeland!

I have a penchant for the short story format, and Iain M. Banks holds a special place among my favorite authors.

However, when it comes to "The State of the Art," I had expected to be more enthralled than I actually was. It was, to put it simply, just pretty good.

There were a couple of stories within the collection that truly struck a chord with me, their themes and narratives resonating deeply. Others, while not quite as impactful, were still interesting and contributed to the overall Culture ethos in a worthy manner.

In the end, it turns out that I have a greater affinity for Banks's novels rather than his short stories. Nevertheless, "The State of the Art" was still a worthwhile read. It offered glimpses into Banks's creative mind and his unique vision of the Culture universe.

Despite not being a perfect fit for my personal tastes, it is evident that Banks's talent as a writer shines through, even in the shorter form. I look forward to exploring more of his works in the future, both novels and short stories, to see what other literary gems he has in store.

After a discussion with James and the realisation that I had this book on my Kindle, I decided to read it. Having recently read the last Culture novel, I was a little apprehensive. However, I am glad to say that my concerns were unfounded.

This book is divided into two halves. The first half is a collection of stories that showcase the breadth of Banks' imagination. I really enjoyed these stories. They are diverse, well-written technically, and infused with Banks' typical humour.

The second half is a longer Culture story that truly stands out and is in sharp contrast to the last Culture novel. The prose is tight and does not overcomplicate things. It is full of wit and contains some especially funny references to contemporary sci-fi characters. (Although I did worry that it might go too far and ruin the story.) It is also original, allowing for multiple interpretations. If you take the time to read this, you will no doubt come up with your own unique understanding.

I am glad that I read this book, especially after the last Culture novel left a negative impression. This one has restored my faith in Banks' storytelling abilities and the Culture franchise.

I've still not been completely convinced by the Culture series. While it appears to function better in the short story format compared to some of the novels, I've had an enjoyable experience with them. However, they just don't seem to ignite that special spark within me, even though I feel they should. On the surface, these stories seem to be right up my alley.

Like many short story collections, this one is a bit of a mixed bag. The title story is well-crafted, but some of the others are a little lacking in strength. There are moments of brilliance, but also some that fall short of expectations. It's a collection that has its highs and lows, and while I've found some enjoyment in it, it hasn't quite reached the level that I was hoping for.

Perhaps with more exposure to the series, I'll come to appreciate it more fully. For now, though, I'm left with a somewhat lukewarm feeling towards the Culture short stories.

A collection of shorter fiction by Banks presents a mixed bag of stories.

The stories are mostly of average quality, with only the Culture ones truly standing out.

"Road of Skulls" (1988) is a very short story where two men travel along a road to an unreachable city, leaving the reader slightly baffled as to its point.

"Odd Attachment" (1989) features a tree creature tending cattle and worrying about love, with a strange spaceship and an animal with calculative appendices. It's a simple and short tale.

"A Gift from the Culture" (1987) follows a Culture citizen on a non-Culture planet, blackmailed to use a powerful weapon. It's a good story that perhaps ends too soon.

"Descendant" (1987) is a novelette about a man crash-landed on a barren moon, teaming up with a damaged space suit to survive.

"Cleaning Up" (1987) tells of a faulty matter transmitter sending random junk to Earth, with ironic consequences.

"Piece" (1989) is a short letter about religious fundamentalism from a Lockerbie plane crash site, lacking a proper plot.

"The State of the Art" (1989) is a novella where a Culture expedition visits Earth in the 70s, with various agents having different views and actions. It offers a good look at Earth from the Culture's perspective.

"Scratch" (1987) is a stream of consciousness piece that the reader may struggle to understand or finish.

Let me begin by stating that I have an aversion to short stories. When it comes to authors whom I know and enjoy, my inclination is to pick up their works without having any prior knowledge of what lies ahead.

So, it was with profound despair and sadness that I completed the first two stories in this collection and thought, "God damn it. I think this is a collection of short stories." I had an immediate impulse to stop, but the concepts were captivating enough to compel me to continue, and I'm truly glad I did.

The title story was replete with exquisitely structured diatribes and poetically scathing critiques of human culture, which made the entire experience worthwhile. The imaginative prowess of Mr. Banks as he weaves the words and thoughts within this magnificently creative universe is simply staggering to enter.

His ability to construct such a vivid and engaging world through the medium of short stories is truly remarkable. It has opened my eyes to the potential and power that short stories can possess when crafted by a masterful hand.

Despite my initial reluctance, I have come to appreciate the unique charm and impact of these short tales. They have left a lasting impression on me and have made me reevaluate my stance on short stories in general.

I look forward to exploring more of Mr. Banks' works and seeing what other wonders he has in store for us within the pages of his books.

The article seems to be a reference to a website called "Bettie's Books" with a link to a specific post titled "The State of the Art". It's a simple mention that could potentially be expanded upon in several ways. For example, we could describe what kind of books Bettie might offer on her website. Maybe she specializes in a particular genre like mystery, romance, or science fiction. We could also talk about the importance of staying up-to-date with the latest trends in the book industry, which is what the "State of the Art" post might be about. Additionally, we could mention how readers can benefit from visiting Bettie's website to discover new and exciting reads.

Bettie's Books

Some of the short stories were truly entertaining.

I particularly enjoyed the one about the suit that had a mind of its own and kept going by itself. It was a unique and captivating concept that held my attention from start to finish.

However, the novella about The Culture surveying Earth was a different story. It was rather hard going and, to be honest, pretty boring. The plot seemed to drag on, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged.

I was relieved when it was finally finished. Overall, while some of the stories were enjoyable, others left something to be desired. But that's the nature of a collection - there's bound to be a mix of different qualities.

Perhaps with more exploration and diverse themes, future collections could offer a more consistent and satisfying reading experience.

4.0 stars

This is a really fun collection of short stories.

The variety is wide, covering different themes and genres.

The quality of the stories is also quite good.

I didn't expect to see Diziet Sma and Skaffen-Amtiskaw again, and it was a pleasant surprise.

However, their short story didn't reach the confusing and dizzying heights of Use of Weapons.

Nevertheless, it was still a good read.

The other stories in the collection also have their own charms.

Some are thought-provoking, some are exciting, and some are just plain entertaining.

Overall, this is a great collection of short stories that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys reading.

I am truly glad that this collection exists. It serves as an interesting addition to the Culture books. However, due to the varying quality of the stories, with some being peaks and others valleys, it likely has to take a backseat when compared to Banks' other Culture output.

The title story, "The State of the Art," isn't my personal favorite, but I can imagine it is for many fans. It brings back the beloved character Diziet Sma (Zakalwe's minder from "Use of Weapons") and her ever-arrogant and sarcastic partner, the drone Skaffen-Amtiskaw. Moreover, it is set on late-70s Earth, which disproves the idea that we Earthers might be the progenitors of the Culture and allows Banks to have great fun creating a vivid atmosphere of a decade he knew and loved well. Although not my highest peak, it is still a relatively good story.

My absolute favorite has to be "Descendent." It tells the story of a man and his conscious, AI spacesuit trying to survive after a nasty crash on an unfriendly planet. It is written in a stream-of-consciousness style, which makes it feel raw and real. It is both sad and thought-provoking, and I almost wish I had written it myself.

As for the lowest point, that would have to be the final story, "Scratch" or the rather long and complex title that follows. Now, let me be clear. "Scratch" is the lowest valley in this book, but that doesn't mean it's bad. It is Banks challenging us with a story that is simultaneously playful, experimental, existential, aggravating, dense, cryptic, and a little bit insane. It is perhaps the most quintessentially Iain M. Banks story in this collection. However, it isn't what one would call a fun or entertaining read. Nevertheless, it is vital and well worth the time spent before closing the covers of "The State of the Art."

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

All righty then.

We have short stories along with one Culture novella. It really gives the impression that the publisher might have said to Iain, "Hey Iain, we are doing really well with these Culture books. What else do you have to offer?"

A couple of the short stories seem quite immature or sophomoric. And the Culture novella brings to mind that time when Spock and Kirk visited Earth. It's a bit cheesy, rather contrived, and there's no obvious moral or message being pushed.

It's not really essential except perhaps for the die-hard Culture completist. And if you are one of those, I would suggest reading through it as quickly as possible so that you can move on to something better.

Overall, while the Culture series has had its highlights, this particular offering doesn't quite measure up to the standards set by some of the earlier works.