Consider Phlebas

Quick answers about Consider Phlebas

What is Consider Phlebas about?

In a vast war between a religious empire and the machine-run, post-scarcity Culture, a shapeshifting agent is sent to retrieve an escaped artificial Mind. It is the first novel in Iain M. Banks's Culture series and works as a standalone.

Who should read Consider Phlebas?

Read it if you want sprawling space opera with big set pieces, a morally tangled hero, and a dry sense of humour. Skip it if you want a tidy plot or a likeable protagonist, since the episodes are wild and several are very grim.

How long and how fast is Consider Phlebas?

It is a medium-paced, long read of about 469 pages, first published in 1987.

Does Consider Phlebas have content warnings?

Content we flag: Violence, War, Death, Gore.

Can I borrow Consider Phlebas for free?

Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Consider Phlebas; the borrow button above searches it for you.

What should I read after Consider Phlebas?

Readers who liked it often move on to Hyperion, Leviathan Wakes, The Forever War.