/lit/ - Literature

thoughts?

Should I read Culture?
I haven't read much sci-fi before, but I like Watts, Reynolds, Morgan and Bakker
Not sure if I'm ready to get into another 10 book series right now, unless its really good.

Worth reading or waste of time?

>hear how Iain Banks' "The Culture" novels are "great sci-fi" and "not like those filthy sci-fantasy mainstream normalfag shit"
>figure that since I'm studying physics at Uni, I might as well give it a shot
>google them
>find an interview
>"Do you think of the Culture as a utopia? Would you live in it, if you could?"

>"Good grief yes, to both! What’s not to like? …Well, unless you’re actually a fascist or a power junkie or sincerely believe that money rather than happiness is what really matters in life. And even people with those bizarre beliefs are catered for in the Culture, albeit in extreme-immersion VR environments."
>try and find out some more
>"Special Circumstances agent Diziet Sma, when studying mid-70s Earth in The State of the Art, considered its civilization to be primitive and barbaric until she encounters a French Holocaust memorial, and is so touched and amazed that she begins to reevaluate the entire planet."
>"As The Culture is a free-love society, there is no stigma attached to promiscuity in either gender. They generally go with the Ethical Slut philosophy. The heroine of Use of Weapons does receive some snark from her Robot Buddy for her sexual habits, such as having an orgy with the entire crew of a starship, but no-one looks upon her badly for this, and the male protagonist of the novel is definitely attracted to her. In fact, in one book the protagonist is called a barbarian because he doesn't sleep with men and hasn't ever done a Gender Bender."
>"All narcotics and recreational drugs available to the entire population (many of them have genetically engineered glands that produce them on demand). Since, you can sober up instantly if you have to (also using the glands) and all medical problems are pretty much instantly curable too, they are just another fun way to pass the day."
So THIS is what GOOD Sci-Fi is then! A self-masturbatory "dude, if we all became space hippies everything would be solved" sort of "utopia". Truly on par with Dosto!

>>12120188
Maybe.

Do you want to live in the Culture?

>>11889011
this any good?

I finished the Inhibitor trilogy and am thinking about starting pic related next.
Is it worth buying? I heard some mixed things about it.

The Culture novels fit the bill
I've only read the first two, of which the second one was vastly superior and I honestly recommend skipping Phlebas, and while the message can be a bit hamfisted at times it still addresses the issues of what hedonism is good for, how justified a "better" society is at enlightening a lesser one and what actually makes people happy

>>10469255
Dune the original novel doesn't spend too much time on that though, other than making it a plot device
still a fantastic book anyone should read but not really for that reason imho

>you will never live in The Culture

Why even live? After reading The Player of Games, it makes life on Earth right now seem like shit by comparison.

>post scarcity economy where basic needs are accounted for and most reasonable wants are granted by advanced benevolent AIs.
>almost completely anarchic - no states or empires in control. The only punishment is for murder, which rather than incarceration is a robot following you around making sure you never commit murder again.
>lack of want allows humanoids to finally tackle space elevators, galaxy colonization, etc. The last real social hierarchy is the Star Trek Contact organization and Special Circumstances - its military intervention arm
>ability to change gender, species, and appearance at will
>genetically engineered drug secretion
>live for centuries in a 20-year old body, can live indefinitely if you so desire
>nonstop orgies/harems in reality and VR

Honestly it sounds kind of plausible. I want to donate money to the Singularity Institute now.