The Culture: The Drawings

The Culture: The Drawings is a stunning collection of drawings, diagrams, notes, and schematics from Iain M. Banks, celebrating his worldbuilding in the Culture series of novels. It is praised for its high quality and detail, and is considered a must-have for fans of the genre.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 07 November 2023
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

This extraordinary collection pays tribute to the awe-inspiring world-building of Iain M. Banks, one of the most influential and groundbreaking writers in modern science fiction. Carefully reproduced from notebooks he kept in the 1970s and 1980s, these annotated original illustrations offer a vivid depiction of the ships, habitats, geography, weapons, and language that populate Banks' Culture series of novels.

Superb - well worth it for the hardcore fans. This book is an incredibly well-put-together collection of drawings, diagrams, notes, and schematics from one of the all-time greats of science fiction and space opera. The quality is extraordinarily high, and it truly shines on the pages.

It was well worth the wait, as fans eagerly anticipated the opportunity to see Banks' art in one comprehensive collection. Waterstones bookseller review praised The Culture: The Drawings, stating that it pulls together his art work for the first time, and it becomes evident that he was a skilled draughtsman. Maps of alien archipelagos, sketches of spaceships, guns, castles, and tanks are just a glimpse into the vast array of artistic creations showcased in this book.

Rather than being an archive of ideas, The Culture: The Drawings serves as a melting pot from which Banks' ideas flowed. The Times described Banks as a man who loved his whiskey, and his amateur draftsmanship carries a certain character reminiscent of cask spirit: raw and unrefined but also heady and intoxicating. Eurogamer praised the Culture series, stating that this book showcases how the books could be so intricate and consistent, with Banks designing the entire universe by hand.

Reader reviews have been effusive in their praise for the Culture series. Epic in scope, ambitious in its ideas, and absorbing in its execution, the books have left an indelible mark on the science fiction genre. Independent on Sunday hailed Banks as a talent so manifest and of such extraordinary breadth, while New York Review of Science Fiction praised his extraordinary invention. Scotsman described the book as jam-packed with extraordinary invention, and it is clear that Banks' artistic vision played a significant role in shaping the world of the Culture series.

In conclusion, The Culture: The Drawings is a must-have for fans of Iain M. Banks and anyone who appreciates the art of world-building in science fiction. This extraordinary collection showcases Banks' talent and creativity in a way that has never been done before. Whether you are a seasoned fan or a newcomer to his work, this book will transport you to the vibrant and intricate worlds of the Culture series and leave you in awe of his incredible imagination.

Weight: 1342g
Dimension: 258 x 363 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780356519425