Solid as the beginning debate on the evils of human society, but weak in terms of story or entertainment.

Road of Skulls - Meh 1/5

A Gift from the Culture - Touching 2/5

"Money is a sign of poverty. This is an old Culture saying I remember every now and again, especially when I'm being tempted to do something I know I shouldn't, and there's money involved (when is there not?)."

Odd Attachment - Silly 1/5

Descendant - Interesting - 2/5

“There is a saying that we provide the machines with an end, and they provide us with the means.”

"We created something a little closer to perfection than ourselves; maybe that's the only way to progress. Let them try to do the same. I doubt they can, so they will always be less as well as more than us."

Cleaning Up - Dumb 1/5

Piece - Inconsistent - 2/5

The State of the Art - the selfishness of human society 2/5

"'Naturalness?' I said, loudly. 'This lot'll tell you anything is natural; they'll tell you greed and hate and jealousy and paranoia and unthinking religious awe and fear of God and hating anybody who's another colour or thinks different is natural. Hating blacks or hating whites or hating women or hating men or hating gays; that's natural. Dog-eat-dog, looking out for number one, no lame ducks… Shit, they're so convinced about what's natural it's the more sophisticated ones that'll tell you suffering and evil are natural and necessary because otherwise you can't have pleasure and goodness. They'll tell you any one of their rotten stupid systems is the natural and right one, the one true way; what's natural to them is whatever they can use to fight their own grimy corner and fuck everybody else. They're no more natural than us than an amoeba is more natural than them just because it's cruder.'"

"The same technological expertise, the same productive surplus which, in pervading our society, first allows us to be here at all and after that allows us the degree of choice we have over what happens to Earth, long ago also allowed us to live exactly as we wish to live, limited only by being expected to respect the same principle applied to others. And that's so basic that not only does every religion on Earth have some similar form of words in its literature, but almost every religion, philosophy or other belief system ever discovered anywhere else contains the same concept."

"'Sma' the ship said finally, with a hint of what might have been frustration in its voice, 'I'm the smartest thing for a hundred light years radius, and by a factor of about a million… but even I can't predict where a snooker ball's going to end up after more than six collisions.'"

Scratch - Stream of consciousnesses Earth cultural rant 1/5

Overall, this collection of works presents a diverse range of perspectives. The initial debate on the evils of human society is thought-provoking, yet the lack of engaging stories or entertainment value is a drawback. Some of the individual pieces, like "A Gift from the Culture" and "Descendant," offer interesting ideas and emotions, while others such as "Road of Skulls" and "Cleaning Up" are less impressive. The various quotes and rants about human nature, technology, and culture add depth to the overall discussion, but at times it can feel a bit disjointed. However, it does make one reflect on the state of our society and the choices we make.

I completed this short story or novella collection just one day prior to Luke's return from Brazil.

It has been an interesting journey going through these works. The diverse range of stories and the unique writing styles have kept me engaged throughout.

Now that I'm done, I'm really looking forward to discussing it with Luke. We have been part of this book club for a while, and sharing our thoughts and perspectives on different books has always been a great experience.

As soon as he gets back, we will be recording a podcast about this particular part of our book club. I'm sure it will be a lively and interesting discussion as we both have our own insights and interpretations of the stories.

I can't wait to hear what Luke has to say and to exchange ideas with him. It's moments like these that make being part of a book club so enjoyable.

3.75 stars

Funnily enough, The State of the Art was one of my least favourite stories from this anthology. I really wasn't a massive fan of Diziert in Use of Weapons either. It just didn't quite click with me. However, there was one story that truly stood out. The best story, in my opinion, was the one where the guy is in the sentient suit. That one had a really unique and engaging premise. The concept of a person being in a suit that has its own consciousness and abilities was really interesting. It made for a thrilling and captivating read. I found myself completely immersed in the story, eager to see what would happen next. The characters were well-developed and the plot had plenty of twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat. Overall, while some of the stories in this anthology didn't quite hit the mark for me, the one with the sentient suit more than made up for it.

A very mixed bag of short stories

Some of the short stories in this collection were truly outstanding, even mind-blowing. They were the kind of stories that have the power to make you feel insignificantly small in the vast universe. You find yourself lost in the ideas and concepts presented, marvelling at the creativity of the authors. However, one or two of the stories felt very off topic. In fact, they weren't even in the sci-fi genre, which was a bit of a disappointment considering the overall theme of the collection.

The titular novella, on the other hand, was a well-rounded story. It was the first (and as far as I know, only) culture story set on Earth. It featured two culture members engaged in a lively debate about the value of Earth. Their discussions explored various aspects of human civilization, its achievements, and its flaws. It was a thought-provoking piece that added depth and complexity to the collection. Overall, despite a few missteps, this collection of short stories was an interesting read.

Nice set of short stories.

Some are truly memorable, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. However, there was one small story that simply did not resonate with me at all. It felt rather平淡 and failed to capture my interest.

And then there was the final story, which made me wonder what drugs the author was on. It was so strange and outlandish that it left me scratching my head.

The main story in the book, titled "The State of the Art", is longer and more in-depth. This one, along with one or two of the other short stories, definitely deserve 5 stars.

They are well-written, engaging, and offer unique perspectives on various themes.

There is also a BBC radio play of the main story available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRl9D.... However, the radio play is much abridged compared to the full text.

Despite already knowing the outlines from the radio play, reading the full version was still a great experience.

The book allows Banks more room to展现 his eccentricities, humor, and exploration of society and morals. It is a must-read for fans of science fiction and thought-provoking literature.

The first two stories are just okay, lacking anything truly special.

However, the third one is quite hilarious. I've lost count of the number of times I've witnessed a hapless spaceman being torn limb from limb by a bug-eyed monster. But here's the interesting part: what on earth is the monster's motivation? Banks ingeniously comes up with a lovely answer that adds a new layer of depth to the story.

#4 offers a nice perspective flip within a classic SF scenario. We often see the guy in the space-suit having to walk a long and perilous way across the surface of a hostile planet to reach safety, always from his point of view. But what about the suit? This unique angle makes us think about the situation in a whole new light.

#5 is equally amusing. I particularly liked the alien speech translator. It said, "First person singular obtaining colloquial orgasm within a Caledonian sandwich," then looked annoyed and spoke incoherently into a grille set in its belly, which replied. It then looked up and said, "Sorry. As I was saying, I come in peace." We're always encountering problems like that in these kinds of stories, adding a touch of humor and realism.

#6 is a bit too cute for my taste, but the ending was nice.

#7 is the title story, about when the Culture visits Earth. It's not the most successful Culture story. Banks seems to get too indignant about our obvious failings, and there are a lot of rather dull discussion scenes. Nevertheless, there are still enough good ideas in it that it's still worth reading.

#8 is an unusual experimental piece that is only half-successful.

All in all, this collection is not as good as most of his other works. I can understand why he usually sticks to writing novels as he doesn't seem to be a natural short-story writer.

Most of the stories in this collection seem to be unfinished or experimental pieces.

It appears that the author simply set them aside, perhaps not considering them fully developed or ready for public consumption.

However, it seems that a publisher came along and shoved a pile of cash at him, leading to the publication of these works.

If you have a keen interest in delving deeper into the author's creative process, then this collection might prove to be a worthwhile read.

You could potentially gain valuable insights into how the author approaches storytelling, the initial ideas that he explored, and the directions in which he might have intended to take these stories.

On the other hand, if you are simply looking for a collection of fully realized and engaging stories, then you might want to skip this one.

Don't bother reading if you are not willing to invest the time and effort in deciphering the author's unfinished thoughts and experimental concepts.

The only other Banks book I have read is Player of Games which I loved.

However, I think, as a compilation, this book fell a little short for me. I actually have a great affection for short stories, so I was left with a sense of disappointment.

Here are a couple of thoughts on the individual stories:

Road of Skulls - I felt that it wasn't quite long enough or focused enough. It seemed to lack the depth and development that could have made it more engaging.

A Gift From the Culture - I liked this one. It was kind of a little slice of life, showing someone who had left the culture for something much more gritty. It gave a unique perspective and was quite interesting.

Odd Attachment - I liked this one until the very end. I honestly think it got a little juvenile. The ending didn't need to be that cheap. It could have been more thought-provoking and satisfying.

Descendant - This was my favorite story in the book. It was well paced and interesting. The plot kept me engaged from start to finish, and I really enjoyed the characters and the setting.

Cleaning Up - I thought this was an amusing premise. It had a certain charm and was quite entertaining.

Piece - Classic SF with the ending that makes you grin. However, I do think too many stories in this book focused on philosophical ramblings about religion, which sometimes made them a bit tiresome.

The State of the Art - The longest story in the book. I like the idea and the base story. But this story was the WORST offender for just waxing philosophical and being boring. It seemed to go on and on without really getting to the point.

Scratch - I found this difficult to read and not interesting at all. It didn't capture my attention and I struggled to get through it.

So to sum up, I feel like there was more bad than good in this book. Definitely not my favorite compilation of short stories. It had its moments, but overall, it didn't meet my expectations.

The collection presents an uneven range of works, consisting of several stories and a novella, all firmly rooted in culture.

Each piece offers a unique perspective, delving into the rich tapestry of different cultural landscapes.

Some of the stories may explore the traditions, values, and beliefs that shape a particular community, while others might focus on the individual experiences and challenges within that cultural context.

The novella, on the other hand, has the potential to provide a more in-depth and comprehensive exploration of a specific cultural theme or issue.

However, due to the uneven nature of the collection, some works may shine brighter than others in terms of their execution, depth, and ability to engage the reader.

Nevertheless, as a whole, the collection offers a diverse and thought-provoking exploration of the role of culture in our lives.

It invites readers to step into different worlds, gain a better understanding of various cultures, and perhaps even reflect on their own cultural identities.

Whether one is a lover of literature, a student of culture, or simply someone with a curious mind, this collection has something to offer.

I really enjoyed reading "Descendent". It provided me with a tantalizing glimpse into the vast and sweeping culture universe that Banks has so skillfully crafted in "Use of Weapons" and "Player of Games". The detailed and immersive world-building in these works is truly remarkable.

The actual "State of the Art" novella was just okay. I had been curious to know what the Culture would think of Earth. However, I found it a little bit underwhelming and perhaps a touch too preachy. It didn't quite live up to my expectations, especially when compared to the grandeur and complexity of the other works in the series.

Nonetheless, Banks' writing is still engaging and thought-provoking, and I look forward to exploring more of his Culture universe in the future. There is no doubt that he has created a rich and fascinating fictional world that continues to captivate readers.

I have a great penchant for a captivating short story, and I am an absolute aficionado of Iain Banks. When these two elements are combined, one might expect a literary gem. However, unfortunately, it just didn't quite hit the mark for me.

I did find one of the stories, Descendant, to be truly enjoyable. It had a certain charm and engaging narrative that held my attention. But the rest of the stories seemed rather disjointed and lacked a cohesive flow.

The namesake and longest story, The State of the Art, had a fascinating premise. It had the potential to be a thought-provoking and profound piece. However, it seemed to get side-tracked with an excessive number of philosophical rants, which, in a relatively short story, felt a bit overwhelming and detracted from the overall impact.

If you are a die-hard Banks fan, then this collection might be worth picking up out of sheer interest. But for those who are not as familiar with his work or are looking for a more consistently excellent collection of short stories, this might not be the best choice.

The State of The Art presents a rather mediocre collection of Bank’s short fiction. However, it is elevated by the title novella.

Aside from ‘Scratch’, which is more of an experimental mood piece than a traditional narrative, none of the stories are truly awful. They simply lack the ability to leave a lasting impression.

Even the comedic ones, which did manage to amuse me, have the fleeting quality of a disposable joke. Among the shorter pieces, ‘Descendant’ stands out. It might potentially be a Culture story, although that isn't entirely clear, and it is indeed very good.

Nevertheless, it is ‘The State of The Art’, the novella, that truly shines. It continues the discussion initiated in the previous novels, namely Banks' exploration of the pros and cons of a true utopia.

This novella delves deeper into this complex theme, offering readers a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of what a perfect society might look like and the potential pitfalls that could arise.

Overall, while the collection as a whole may not be a masterpiece, the title novella makes it worth a read for fans of Banks' work and those interested in exploring the concept of utopia.