I entirely agree but I'm entirely biased, in a world without Sir Terry Pratchett he'd easily be my favourite writer. It's one of the reason that Musk referenci

I entirely agree but I'm entirely biased, in a world without Sir Terry Pratchett he'd easily be my favourite writer. It's one of the reason that Musk referencing The Culture makes me want to smash my head on a desk (or someone's at least). On a personal level I suspect Banks would have deeply disliked Musk (based on his political leanings during his life time and his works in aggregate).