Use of Weapons
Culture Series, Book 3
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from Wish List failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Use of Weapons
Buy Now for $26.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Peter Kenny
-
By:
-
Iain M. Banks
About this listen
The novels of Iain M. Banks have forever changed the face of modern science fiction. His Culture books combine breathtaking imagination with exceptional storytelling, and have secured his reputation as one of the most extraordinary and influential writers in the genre.
The man known as Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks or military action.
Though the woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscurity and aided his stratospheric rise, she did not know him as well as she thought.
The drone Skaffen-Amtiskaw thought it knew both of these people. It had once saved the woman's life by massacring her attackers, and it believed the man to be a burnt-out wreck - but not even its superlative machine-intelligence could see the horrors in his past.
The Culture series:
Consider Phlebas
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
Excession
Inversions
Look to Windward
Matter
Surface Detail
The Hydrogen Sonata
The State of the Art
Other books by Iain M. Banks:
Against a Dark Background
Feersum Endjinn
The Algebraist
What listeners say about Use of Weapons
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Josh
- 12-06-2018
Best book I have read in along time
Amazing book.
Written beautifully, formatted exquisitely and the characters have such sn amazing depth.
All with the backdrop of the culture series universe.
Best scifi I have read since the magician series.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laurence
- 25-08-2022
Another cracker
Struggle to understand why people rate 'Look to Windward' over this.
Any inevitability of the plot adds to, rather than detracts from, its intricate asthetic.
So far, all these Iain M Banks audiobooks are well performed, close enough to how they echoed in my head when first I read them.
Can't go wrong if you've enjoyed any of his others. And, if you've not read a Culture novel, I'd recommend starting with the first, Phlebas. But, either way, you've a treat in store.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Ian Bennett
- 02-04-2024
the history if a soldier
loved the story. disliked the way it bounced around in time though. the ending was a twist.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Elliot
- 26-07-2018
A darker entry, great character development
Banks shines again in creating an incredibly deep world in the Culture series. Although at times the composition of the two story lines can be slightly confusing, the way the two sections (Chapters and Numerals) create depth to the main characters is typical of Banks’ stellar ability in world building and character focus in a huge universe.
There is increased darkness to this story, with heavy themes throughout and some horrid imagery, more so than his previous works.
The ending could possibly be explained more deeply, however it is probably worth a second listen to fully understand the nuance to the eventual twist.
Kenny does, as usual, an amazing job at bringing the characters to life. His use of accents and voices is outstanding. Can’t wait to listen to the next in the series, I only wish there were more stories of some of Banks’ current characters.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- DVDbuff
- 17-03-2022
Not one of his best but some good scenes.
Not one of Banks best. Even I had worked out the plot twist by halfway through. I read the book years ago and just recently decided to listen to all the Culture books in order. There are a couple of errors in the plot or deliberate misdirections but some set pieces are great.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Thomas
- 13-12-2023
Very complex, but stick with it
An extraordinary commentary on the human condition, on the folly of war and the humans that take us to war and the soldiers of war.
Taken to the extreme of limitless energy and power.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 15-07-2021
Awesome start and middle, weak finish.
The main body I think is awesome, I love the two narratives and how the enform each other, and I think the ending only bolsters the character and story of the rest of the book. However to me the ending is also the weakest part of the book.
Without spoiling anything it felt as if though the author tries to "trick" the reader, he gives you all the pieces to figure out the plot twist, you figure it out and it's pretty cool, then the next chapter shows you how absolutely wrong you are that you feel a bit stupid for having come to that conclusion, only for the NEXT chapter to prove that you were right in the first place.
Overall it's a awesome story just with pretty weak climax (though obviously that's jusy my opinion, I have a friend who feels feels polar opposite). Also my god the narrator just kills it, his performance is godly, makes each and every character feel incredibly unique and alive.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Christopher
- 21-09-2017
Incredible.
One of the most interesting and confronting stories Banks ever wrote. Can't recommend enough .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- TS
- 15-06-2019
Always an engaging read
I find Iain’s books it always an entertaining listen... starting completely lost worth the story unfolding in surprising ways, with lots of action!
The narrator is also excellent, able to do different accents and highlight the nuances of people’s moods.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Dale
- 30-11-2020
Good book
It meandered a bit and didn't seem to have a point at times but it really came together at the end with a gut wrenching twist.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!