> but the ideology and technology of the Culture -- there's the entire value of the series. > fascinatingly, banks captures the essence of the Culture in a way

> but the ideology and technology of the Culture -- there's the entire value of the series. > fascinatingly, banks captures the essence of the Culture in a way that few other writers can do with any concept of such complexity. Yes, I couldn't have put it better myself :) The Culture is the main character; the unifying theme. And it is fascinating. More-so than any one person or plot or event. And this surprises me: I generally don't enjoy world-building for the sake of world-building, which many authors have done or attempt to do. But this is something else. It's very special.