Too baroque, too complicated, and untidy. These are the initial impressions that come to mind when observing this particular thing. I found myself struggling to find a single word that could accurately capture its essence. After much thought, the word "overwrought" emerged. It implies that it has been worked on or crafted to an excessive degree. It gives the sense that there has been too much effort put into it, perhaps resulting in a state of being overly elaborate or convoluted. It is as if it has been over-written, with an abundance of details and flourishes that may have detracted from its overall simplicity and clarity.

The book seemed too short, I thought when I was around page 84. Damn, it's definitely too short, I thought again at about page 102, and on many other occasions before reaching the end.

In reality, it's probably exactly the right length it needs to be. However, when I'm engrossed in a book, I don't want it to end; I want to keep reading. Still, this must be the shortest Iain M Banks novel I've read, although a couple of his other novels might have been shorter.

Anyway, I had been postponing reading this book for a while. I was a bit hesitant because I knew it used phonetic spelling. I just didn't feel like I had the mental energy to decipher it. But I should have known better.

Firstly, I've read numerous books by Banks and enjoyed every single one of them. I find his writing very easy to read; it's right up my alley. And it's not all spelled phonetically. As it turns out, only the best and funniest parts are. It reminded me a great deal of the barbarian sections in The Bridge. Secondly, typically when I put off reading a book, I end up regretting the delay when I finally get around to reading it.

I liked the ending. For me, it was a bit of a lesson in how a story can be resolved.

I truly desired to have a liking for this book. Many of my friends are fond of it, and I have a penchant for the Culture books as well. However, this particular book proved to be a laborious read.

One of the reasons was Bascule's phonetic writing, which made it a bit of a challenge. Additionally, the sheer volume of information and characters introduced seemed rather overwhelming. They didn't really appear to be connected or essential to the plot in a meaningful way.

I'm not entirely certain if I failed to understand certain parts of the plot because the author didn't articulate them clearly or because I found the book so unappealing to read that I didn't pay close attention. I persevered until the end, but in the end, I felt that the thinness of the plot didn't warrant the use of so many devices. It left me with a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling that the book could have been much better if it had been more streamlined and focused.

Overall, it was a disappointing read for me, despite my initial expectations and the recommendations of my friends.

The new GOAT. Incredible.

This simple statement holds a world of meaning. The term "GOAT" stands for "Greatest of All Time," and when we refer to someone as the new GOAT, it implies that they have achieved something truly remarkable.

It could be in the field of sports, where an athlete has broken records, won numerous championships, and shown unrivaled skill and determination. Their performances have left fans in awe and have set a new standard for excellence.

Or perhaps it's in the world of business, where an entrepreneur has revolutionized an industry, built a successful empire, and made a significant impact on the global economy. Their vision and leadership have propelled them to the top, earning them the title of the new GOAT.

Incredible is the word that best describes the achievements of the new GOAT. Their feats seem almost超乎想象, defying the odds and pushing the boundaries of what was previously thought possible. They inspire us to dream big and reach for the stars, knowing that with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.

The new GOAT is a symbol of greatness, a role model for future generations. Their story serves as a reminder that with passion and perseverance, we can all strive to be the best version of ourselves and leave a lasting legacy.

I'm not going to lie. This is by far the most challenging Iain Banks novel I've delved into, and it would be an extremely poor choice as a starting point for exploring his science fiction works. As others have pointed out, one of the main point-of-view (POV) characters has a disability that leads him to write his narration in Banks' idiosyncratic version of phonetics. In this system, 1/2 means "have", & means "and", and it requires a significant amount of adjustment to follow along with Bascule. However, it's well worth the effort because Bascule is fearless, observant, and incredibly funny, perhaps even the most likable character in the book.

But this is really a minor aspect. Meanwhile, Banks introduces a plethora of POV characters. Some of them are more or less dead (mostly less), and some are clearly antagonists. Typically, there are more ideas and preposterous constructs being hurled at the reader on every page than most science fiction writers come up with in a lifetime. One simply has to hold on tight and experience the wild ride because Iain M. Banks is not renowned for making anything easy.

Banks is also not known for using large chunks of exposition to explain things, and he's a real master of cliffhangers. The only reason I downgraded this to four stars is that finally, even Banks has to have a character essentially explain everything. There is just so much complexity and convolution woven into the story that I, at least, was left gasping with numerous questions like "so does that mean that?" and "well, who the hell is this?"

Oh, and it should be noted that this is in no way a Culture novel. So perhaps it would be advisable to read all those stories first and then come back to this one when you're absolutely desperate for Iain M. Banks and there's nothing else left to read.

3.5 Stars

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This was the first novel I have read from Iain M. Banks, and I must say it was a rather good one to begin with.

Earth in the not-too-distant future is in a state of chaos. The original humans abandoned it for the stars long ago, and now a sort of feudal government struggles to survive on the planet. However, they have access to some rather advanced technology in the form of 'The Crypt', which is类似于 a virtual world or an uber-internet that can be accessed.

Mystery shrouds the events, with a war over something that the populace (and the reader) are not entirely certain of. But looming in the background is the reality that the Encroachment will wipe out all life on Earth for good.

While all of these elements are interesting and provide the broader backdrop for Banks' novel, what truly sets it apart is the sheer imagination of the whole and the depth of the characters he populates his world with. Gadfium, a chief scientist, is attempting to unlock the answers to many questions. Count Sessine becomes embroiled in the diplomacy of the war and finds himself in a precarious situation. But perhaps the most endearing character is Bascule. Through diary entries, Banks creates a character who is both carefree, crucial, and comical all at once. Bascule is not well-educated and therefore writes in a mix of phonetics and text language that is most fascinating to decipher as a reader. After a while, it becomes second nature, and only a few words need puzzling out, but it certainly creates a fondness for the character in its own way. And all this, and I haven't even mentioned Asura yet... which I will leave for you to discover.

Now, Feersum Endjinn is not always an easy read. This is because some of the imagery that Banks tries to create is so foreign that it can be difficult to grasp. I think this book requires a second and perhaps even a third reading to fully understand the nature of some of the locales, particularly within the Crypt. There is no doubt that this novel was partly inspired by advances in technology (such as nano-tech), the internet, and virtual reality as concepts.

I can't quite give this one full marks as I was left somewhat adrift for parts of the middle. However, the opening and climax were riveting. This book has me eager to read more from Banks, and that is about as high a praise as I can give an author.

Highly recommended... 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Feersum Endjinn by Iain M. Banks

I had this book sitting on my bedside table for a considerable period of time. I had heard numerous positive things about it. However, the requirement to read phonetic garbled pseudo-English, given that I am not a native English speaker, initially scared me away. I must admit that this fear was unfounded. As time went by, the reading of those chapters became easier (mind you, it never truly became easy for me, just a bit more manageable), and the book itself is one of the finest hard-SF books I have read in a long while.

The author's imagination clearly deserves praise. Fantasizing is not overly difficult, and many authors can do it reasonably well. The challenge lies in imagining and extrapolating a world that is firmly built upon the foundations of our own, yet is so distinct and unrecognizable that I am inclined to say it is alien. The story is constructed from four narratives that progress simultaneously, each following one character (or entity). They are all interesting, imaginative, and quite diverse. When they converge at the end, you once again get to appreciate the grandeur of the writing.

The only significant issue I had with the book was the ending. I felt that the book was rather long, and yet it concluded abruptly and disappointingly. I do not consider the difficulty in reading as a drawback – I believe it actually enhances the character, and the subject of language, which plays other roles in the story. Nevertheless, with this ending, I cannot claim that this is a masterpiece, and I rate it four stars out of five.

One of the very few books by Banksy that I haven't read multiple times.

When I saw a suggestion on Goodreads to try an audiobook for the phonetic chapters, it proved to be very helpful.

This is a fascinating book for a "M" Banks reader. Many of the ideas about digital afterlives, AIs, and narrative structures appear here in a somewhat rough and unpolished form.

However, ultimately, far too much of the book is basically filler, and the central plot is not told well or tightly. The phonetic sections were impenetrable to me without an audiobook, and there was no good reason to have them in that form (apart from showing how Banksy explored so many original approaches).

So, this is a book for the completist, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else. It's interesting to see that it was written slightly after SnowCrash, which shows how the Cyberpunk genre was changing at that time.

Update for the Third Read (Book club): It's fascinating that some people really enjoyed the phonetic sections (while others hated them). I also liked a comment that there was a fantasy overlay to all of this, with castles, princesses, talking animals, and a wizard's tower.

On a future Earth, mankind has made a remarkable transformation. They now inhabit an enormous space elevator, seamlessly switching between the real and virtual worlds. However, a new threat looms on the horizon. Approaching the Earth is "the encroachment", an extinction level event from the depths of space. Amidst the chaos, various factions engage in hidden conspiracies, jostling for power and control. In the midst of this turmoil, four characters find their lives inextricably drawn into the wider conflict. Each of them has a vital role to play in saving life on Earth.

The book meticulously follows the journey of each of these four characters, skillfully jumping between their individual stories. Three of the tales are presented from the third person perspective, while the last, that of Bascule, is written in the first person.

There are aspects of this book that I both liked and disliked. Banks has a unique approach of simply throwing the reader into his world without any reference guide or liner notes. On one hand, I appreciate this as it allows for a deeper immersion into the author's creation and gives a sense of authenticity. It forces the reader to figure things out on their own, which can be quite engaging. However, on the other hand, it can be frustrating when you don't understand the world or the characters' motivations. It's easy to feel lost early on in the book.

Bascule's chapters, written in first person perspective, are presented phonetically due to his limited education. This initially seems quite interesting, but as the book progresses, it can become tiresome. Bascule's chapters are the longest in the book, and constantly having to decipher his lingo can start to feel like a chore.

Overall, I find this book difficult to rate. Banks' imagination is truly unrestrained, creating a vivid and immersive world for the reader. However, the reading experience can be quite challenging. Between being thrust into an unexplained world and struggling to understand Bascule's dialogue, the book sometimes feels more like work than pleasure. While it is undoubtedly a well-written and imaginative work, there are some flaws that cannot be ignored. For instance, the asura's tale felt rather short and lacking in depth. Additionally, there were many passages that, although well-written, seemed to serve no purpose other than to increase the word count. I didn't enjoy this book as much as some of Banks' other works, and this is reflected in my score.

Man, this book was truly a struggle to get through.

About a third of it is presented from the perspective of young Bascule, who employs an idiosyncratic orthography that combines elements of cellphone text and l33tspeak, along with a touch of Charlie Gordon in his pre-savant phase. In a sense, this is a remarkable feat of sustained creativity. However, having to painstakingly sound out the narrative for those parts word by word really disrupts the flow.

Ultimately, I found this work not nearly as fulfilling as Banks' other writings. Besides Bascule's nearly impenetrable dialect, there is a major revelation near the end that seems to materialize out of thin air, while resolving very little. And the setting, for all its decadent and strange qualities, is one that we have encountered before. It is the post-historical Earth, greatly transformed by catastrophe and time, with ancestors who were much wiser than us and set up autonomous systems that will save us all as long as we can meet a few simple requirements. If only we hadn't lost track of what those requirements are!

This isn't a bad book. I don't believe Banks is capable of writing a bad book, based on the evidence so far. And it does contain memorable lines, such as this one:

\\"In my experience those who are most sincere are also the most morally suspect, as well as being incapable of producing or appreciating wit.\\"

—Pieter Velteseri, p. 132

But Feersum Endjinn ultimately requires a bit more effort than I think we should reasonably be expected to exert.

Is it a Culture novel? It might be.

However, it takes place on Earth eons in the future. There, humans inhabit nanoengineered megastructures built by their ancient ancestors and live in a world of technology that they no longer comprehend.

Powerful factions on Earth are engaged in a feud over a tool that may or may not rescue humanity from The Encroachment, a cloud of interstellar dust that threatens to bring about the ultimate destruction of the planet.

It's a truly wonderful story. I was really captivated by the character of Bascule, a young man with an extraordinary brain. He is only able to write in phonetic English, which is why the title is as it is.

This initially requires some adjustment, but by the end, you'll be breezing through the story without any difficulties.

The plot is filled with excitement and mystery, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

The vivid descriptions of the future world and the unique characters make this a must-read for science fiction enthusiasts.

Overall, it's a great book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an engaging and thought-provoking read.