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  • Inversions

  • Culture Series, Book 6
  • By: Iain M. Banks
  • Narrated by: Peter Kenny
  • Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (98 ratings)

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Inversions cover art

Inversions

By: Iain M. Banks
Narrated by: Peter Kenny
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Publisher's Summary

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.

In the winter palace, the King's new physician has more enemies than she realises. But then she also has more defences than even her most hardened adversaries could imagine.

In another palace, far across the mountains, sits the regicidal Protector General. His chief bodyguard also has enemies to worry about, with the threat of treachery and assassination never far away.

And beneath the surface of these feudal courts - behind the spies, murders, politics and intrigues - lies an entirely di­fferent kind of threat, an entity that nobody would ever suspect.

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

©1998 Iain M. Banks (P)2013 Hachette Digital

Critic Reviews

"A fantastic, awe-inspiring book...I can't imagine anyone not being won over by this deeply entertaining, thought-provoking and humane story" (Express)

"Taut, hilarious and wicked" (Mail on Sunday)

"Compulsive Banksian reading...thoughtful, intelligently bloody stuff" (SFX)

What listeners say about Inversions

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Not the best

This is easily the worst culture book. It’s a fairly boring story of a Bronze Age civ with only hints of special circumstances. SC would not bother with this culture but even if they would who cares

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The most boring book in the culture series.

The most boring book in the culture series. The performance is fantastic as usual but the content has no purpose and is barely in the universe apart from some veiled hints at the existence of a knife missile.

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2 people found this helpful

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A refreshing and satisfying change of perspective

This story weaves two intriguing tales from different perspectives, set in a feudal society yet subtly embedded within the much larger context of the Culture. There are the usual exhilarating twists that we can expect from Banks, and only after these are revealed is the reason for the book’s name, ‘Inversions’, clear.
Finding and understanding the Culture references is part of the enjoyment, but in order to perceive these elements you need to be familiar with the earlier books. Even though each Culture story stands alone, for best enjoyment this shouldn’t be your first Culture book.

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not a culture book at all

review is in the title. this is a alternative universe period drama, not scifi or culture related

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Not quite what I was expecting

Not quite what I was expecting for a culture book but still a good story

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A beautiful tale of culture intrigue

Not for those new to "culture" interference. A great view from outside the culture. Brilliant!

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Don't choose this as your first Culture novel...

Beautifully nuanced tale with just the scent of the Culture, which makes it so brilliant

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solid entry

great culture entry - makes little sense if you're not familiar with the others in the series though.

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