[Diosces]

I'm considering Iain's Banks Cultures series as the reviews on the last two have been great. However I don't prefer not to have to read the older titles. I'd like to start off with Matter and then Surface Detail.

Are the plots of Matter and Surface Detail very dependent on the earlier of Culture Series books?

[pox]

not especially no. Can I ask why?

[odo]

Are the plots of Matter and Surface Detail very dependent on the earlier of Culture Series books?

I don't know about Matter, but Surface Detail can be read independently from other Culture books. I read it having only read The Player of Games and Excession and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was my favourite book from 2010.

[pox]

There's a significant [enough if you're a big fan] continuity hook in surface detail, but it's not really dependent on what order you read that and the other book in... though that's a counter intuitive statement... nevermind, trust me, it'll be fine.

[Tiltowait]

Very worth reading, and I would not recomend any particular order. I consider them all a bit slow to start, which turned me off a few times, but get a couple chapters in and you will be hooked.

Anyone who likes John Barnes and Alastiar Reynolds will enjoy them.

[Rob B]

This thread might help:
Iain M. Banks - Culture Books (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16134)

[tpetty]

I don't recall there being any specific order -- since the books don't use the same characters. It's a big universe. There are occasional references to the Idiran war (in the book Consider Phlebas) but nothing ever vital to understanding other books.

[owlcroft]

There is a faint sort of philosophical question-and-answer relation between his non-Culture novel The Algebraist and his Culture novel Matter; you don't need to know it, but it slightly augments appreciation of what he is trying to do (unsuccessfully, in my opinion, but that's why they race horses) in Matter. I won't spell it out lest it be any sort of spoiler.

[suupaabaka]

I'm curious as to why you're not interested in reading the earlier novels; I find Consider Phlebas to stand up very well against the test of time, and consider it an excellent introduction to the weird universe of The Culture.

[Diosces]

Thanks for feedback!

With two kids , full day job, several late evening commitments (MMA, social work etyc) I'm constrained by time. Even if it stands the test of time I would prefer not to read the older stuff if not necessary.

Thanks again :)