Iain M. Banks
Look to Windward (2000)
Author: Iain M. Banks
Genre: Science Fiction (Space Opera)
Plot Summary:
The Culture of Masaq' Orbital, overseen by humans thousands of years into the future, had disastrously meddled with the politics of the Chels in the Chelgrian Orbit nearly 800 years prior to the time of the story. Such meddling led to the Caste Wars and subsequently 5 billion Chel deaths, one of which was the death of Worosei, wife of the protagonist Quilan. Now, Quilan has to live without her, although haunted by her memory. Throughout the novel, the reader is given insight into Quilan's memories of recovery from an injury during the Idiran War, his suffering and depression after learning of his wife's death, and Quilan's thoughts of suicide. With this love story, Banks sets up the readers for this heart wrenching "space opera," or soap opera set in space. Quilan's desire for revenge against the Culture makes him the perfect man for the Chelgrian army to send to Masaq' for a suicide mission under the false diplomatic guise of convincing the Chel music composer Ziller to return to Chelgrian, when in fact Quilan hopes to destroy the artificial intelligence running the Culture. However, composer Ziller, who disagrees with the caste system in his Chelgrian home, wishes to remain in Masaq' and will not meet with Quilan. Ziller does not want anything to interfere with his greatest composition yet, which will be preformed when the 800-year-old light of two supernovas caused by the Culture during the Idiran War reaches Masaq'. Little does anyone know, the actions of the human scholar Uagen Zlepe, located deep in the far reaches of space, plays a key role in the final pages of this amazing story.
Geographical Setting: Masaq' Orbital, Chelgrian State
Time Period: Unspecified year in the far future
Series: Culture Universe Series (Book 6)
Appeal Characteristics:
Look to Windward is a compelling science fiction novel written in a measured pace so that foreign settings, creatures, cultures, and technology dissimilar to anything that exists today can all be accurately described by the author. For example, the continent-sized behemothaur and the lion-like Chelgrians need to be developed for the reader to truly understand what these characters are, the characterization, and the plot. However, there is an even distribution between description and dialogue so that the reader does not get bogged down in descriptions. The focus given to the eccentric and unique characters is a highlight of this book. Several of the characters, especially Ziller and Quilan, are well-developed and the reader is sure to recognize qualities that resemble human characteristics. The complex story line set in a futuristic space opera, while entertaining, is really a disguise for Banks to discuss current issues in a different setting, as mentioned above. Banks' style and tone allows for this darker book set in an exotic place to explore philosophical issues in a colorful and unusual way. In addition, Banks tries to deal with several moral and ethical dilemmas that our American culture is facing today but are played out in a space setting. Specifically, this novel is dedicated to the soldiers serving during the Persian Gulf War, and many similarities can be made between the United States government meddling in the Middle East, and the Culture meddling in Chelgrian politics. Other subplots which Banks delves into are those of spirituality (where we go after we die, is there a supreme being), the loss of a loved one, and whether or not we are too busy living to worry about whether or not we deserve to.
Read-alikes: If you would like to know more about the Iridan War and enjoyed the author, Banks' Consider Phlebas (Book 1 in Culture Universe series) set 800 years before Look to Windward will provide more background information. In addition, the Culture Universe Series books only lightly follow the same characters in Consider Phlebas and Look to Windward, so the series does not necessarily have to be read in order. Because of this, readers might want to read The Algebraist or Inversions instead because they are more popular titles by Iain Banks. If space operas appeal to you, Alastair Reynolds's Chasm City set only a few hundred years from now might be a good choice. Although it is the second book in the Revelation Space Universe series, it is set before the first book (Revelation Space) and deals more with revenge and combat than the first book, which centered more on colonization. Another popular author that writes space operas is L. Neil Smith, author of Bretta Martyn and Forge of Elders. Smith's books center around space operas highly influenced by political intrigues, especially Machiavellian and libertarian politics. The Hugo Award winning sci-fi novel A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge will appeal to readers that enjoy a galactic war set far into the future in which both humans and aliens are involved and in which super intelligent creatures reign. If the expatriote character composer Ziller or the widower Quilan and their feelings of guilt and revenge appealed to you, try the psychological thriller by Ward S. Just called Forgetfulness. The novel Honor Bound, the first book in W.E.B. Griffin's Honor Series, is also set in a unique setting (Argentina during WWII) and would be a good read-alike for individuals that want to read more fiction about spies, espionage, sabotage, and military missions during war.
Red Flags: Language, violence, a few sexual situations
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