When Neil Madden reviewed Look to Windward last month, I was
both pleased and disappointed. Pleased because it meant there was
another Banks novel on the horizon; disappointed because I figured he was
reading a British edition and that it might be months before it hit the
shelves in the U.S. Much to my surprise, I found a copy of it the next
time I went the book store.

I won’t repeat the plot; Neil covered that in Ex Libris.

This is one of the more accessible Culture novels; and as always the
scenery is gorgeous. Banks has an outstanding imagination. The story
itself, however, is only so-so; some of his other books (notably
The Player of Games) are much better. But I have to admit,
the scenery is just about worth the trip. I wish I had Banks’ gift for
names; the “dirigible behemothaur” just about made my day.