Welcome to the start of The Culture Books Club, a read-along exploration of Iain M. Banks Culture novels.

In this episode some special guests give us a taste of things to come and we try and unpack the dizzying first few pages of the book that started it all; "Consider Phlebas".

Special thanks to The War Nerd himself, Gary Brecher AKA John Dolan, and Mel Bicket of the Podmoot - Enteresting Tales from Tolkien podcast.

In which we meet Horza, get our first glimpse of the culture, form views about the Gerontocracy of Sorpen, and become acquainted with Idirans.

A short chapter, but a key one for getting this story on the road.

In this chapter we get to know the Idirans, big conversations are had, and Horza steps outside for a long walk!

Horza, floating in deep space, is found, and fights for his life.

Is this an allegory for patriarchal capitalism?

And who is Yalson?

Things go as you might expect for Kraiklyn's Free Company in combat.

And we finally get a look at the Culture on its own turf.

In the staggering vastness of the Vavatch Orbital Kraiklyn's Free Company try their hands at maritime salvage.

But what is this Damage game Kraiklyn's really thinking about?

Horza goes to a very bad place... some might say he's lucky to escape...

How much damage can a game do?

We finally see the game up close and very personal, Horza and Kraiklyn settle their scores, and the scale and glory of a General Systems Vehicle is revealed.