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Use of Weapons

Authors:: Iain M. Banks (author) and Mark Salwowski (covers)
Language:: English
Original language:: English
Publisher:: Orbit Books
Categories:: Novel, science fiction and space opera
Universe:: Culture
Series:: Culture (3/10)
Publication year:: 1990
ISBN:: 1-85723-135-X
Pages:: 368
Synopsis:: The Culture hires a mercenary, Cheradenine Zakalwe, to do their dirty work, while Zakalwe tries to piece together a terrible secret in his past.
Review:: Banks fans apparently see this novel as the epitome of Culture novels. I hated it, save for the weird party in which people deliberately mutilate themselves and the curious method by which Zakalwe's body is being rebuilt after he's been beheaded. Why do I hate it? The structure. The story follows two threads, one going forward in time and another going backward; the chapters alternate between these two. I wasn't too confused by this, but I was annoyed. Perhaps I should re-read it. If you plan on reading the Culture novels, don't start with this one.
Has read?: Yes
Debut?: No
Images:
High-res images:: [Back (4.9 MB)] [Spine (959.34 KB)] [Front (4.64 MB)]
Table of Contents:: [Toggle visibility]

Acknowledgment

'Slight Mechanical Destruction'

Prologue

1. The Good Soldier

One

XIII

Two

XII

Three

XI

Four

X

Five

2. An Outing

IX

Six

VIII

Seven

VII

Eight

VI

Nine

V

3. Remembrance

Ten

IV

Eleven

III

Twelve

II

Thirteen

I

Fourteen

Epilogue

Zakalwe's Song