Use of Weapons

By: Iain M. Banks

Narrated by: Peter Kenny

The man known as Cheradenine Zakalwe was one of Special Circumstances' foremost agents, changing the destiny of planets to suit the Culture through intrigue, dirty tricks, and military action.

The woman known as Diziet Sma had plucked him from obscurity and pushed him toward his present eminence, but despite all their dealings she did not know him as well as she thought.

The drone known as Skaffen-Amtiskaw knew both of these people. It had once saved the woman's life by massacring her attackers in a particularly bloody manner. It believed the man to be a lost cause. But not even its machine could see the horrors in his past.

Ferociously intelligent, both witty and horrific, Use of Weapons is a masterpiece of science fiction.

©1990 Iain M Banks (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Amazing Character Portrait

After over twenty years, this still holds up as a Sci-Fi masterpiece character study into the dark soul of its protagonist, a mercenary named Cheradenine Zakalwe. At first, the unusual story structure of two asynchronous story lines, alternating between the present and an episodic sequence of thirteen key moments in Zakalwe's past (revealed in reverse chronological order), can be confusing. However, it quickly clarifies, and is an absolutely ingenious way of examining the roots of the character's motives, phobias, and mannerisms in such a way that maximum surprise is extracted at each 'reveal'. Of course, as you've guessed from the profession of Mr. Zakalwe, there is no shortage of action throughout, and a good deal of James Bond 007 (I'm picturing Daniel Craig, not the other blokes). The biggest lost opportunity here was to explore, in the book's many settings and locales, some truly alien cultures, philosophies, and biologies, but sadly we see only a large collection of human civilizations in various stages of technological development. At least Gene Roddenberry slapped some prosthetic facial adornments on his humanoid aliens! Nevertheless, the story succeeds in elevating character over deus ex machina; no easy feat considering the persistent omnipotence of the Culture standing behind the mercenary, but here kept at a welcome arm's length, maintaining a high-stakes identification between the reader and the protagonist.

Not quite as good as Banks' other Culture novels

This was an entertaining story and I just love Bank's presentation of the Culture. So, needless to say, this is a great story in that tradition. However, I haven't read a huge number of the Culture novels (I think just "Player of Games" and "Consider Phlebas"), and "Use of Weapons" didn't seem quite up to those.

It felt like it only really colored in the characterization of the main character, Zakalwe. In fact, you could say the entire book was essentially devoted to fleshing out his character. Diziet's character is really only there as a foil or straight-person for Zakalwe, and Skaffen-Amtiskaw gets even less book time. Several other characters are portrayed as seen through his eyes, but he is the only full character.

Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy his character a lot, and I felt like the great reveal at the end was heavily and obviously foreshadowed, if not in the specific details, certainly in outlines of what happened. Add into that the narrative structure choice of interleaving two storylines, one proceeding forward in time and one proceeding backward in time, and I struggled to enjoy the plotline.

The narration by Peter Kenny was excellent, he brings the perfect tone to the Culture series!

Never for a second guessed this was coming!

The story of a man - an assassin, really - but a man who wanted to do the right thing. Died a lot. Had a lot of amnesia. Struggled to remember.

Had a phobia of chairs. Small white chairs.

I never saw the ending coming. I'm in tears. I'll read this again in print. And cry again.

Freaking. Wow.

And outstanding book read by an outstanding orator. The writers method of using flashbacks in reverse order as the story progresses might be a little confusing at first, but when the stories start to click... you'll in for a ride.

Good Mystery w/ no Culture

What did you love best about Use of Weapons?

If your every listened to Banks novel "Consider Phlebas", well, you're in for the same kind of thing. If you want to hear a story told from the perspective of an AI persona -= THIS AINT IT. The story was well written (technique was 1st rate), but it did make me wish they would just tell me why the protagonist was so messed-up (you learn that at the VERY END of the story). Also, the narrator does a good job, as always. I have to say that I rated it a 4 (instead of a 5), because it was not up to the standard of other Culture novels such as "Player of Games" or "Surface Detail" (both 1st rate; buy them now if your haven't listened yet). But, I this novel was still a whole lot better than a lot of other stuff that I rated a 4.

Stellar

Great story...will remember this work for a long time to come. Banks has an incredible imagination.

Great ending, but not as detailed as other stories

What made the experience of listening to Use of Weapons the most enjoyable?

Great interesting world and amazing ending.

What other book might you compare Use of Weapons to and why?

The first two books dug deeper into world building, this one doesn't provide as much backstory to all the characters involved nor spends as much time in one place so it isn't as deeply fulfilled.

Which scene was your favorite?

End twist

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

hard to stop listening to

Solid Culture novel

It’s a book in the Culture series. If you want more Culture books, it delivers. The non-linear storytelling is not my cup of tea, but it’s surprisingly engaging regardless.

wow

like its hard to say how great this was, I loved every second of it. not as straight to the point and easy to pick up as player of games but the prose THE PROSE is so good. twist was ok, lots of hints here and there.

THE FACT THAT THE NEXT FEW BOOKS AREN'T AVAILABLE DUE TO REGION LOCK MAKES ME VERY SAD

Harder the Second Time Around

I have not read this since it first came out. The ending section hits post-PTSD me a lot harder than decades ago pre-PTSD me.